Nine Points to Bear in Mind When Approaching a Teacher
by Jayne Tomas

Make sure the teacher is a teacher and that s/he is currently accepting students.

Distinguish yourself from the pack: Explain why you would be a good student.

Tell the teacher why you chose him or her: Do enough research to know about the teacher.

Be prepared to offer credentials and references, but don’t hand the teacher a résumé right off the bat.

Respect the teacher’s right to determine who they can and cannot teach.

Remember that the teacher has to invest time and energy in you, and that the onus is upon you to justify that you are worth his/her time and energy.

Feel free to be unconventional in your approach, but don’t be a jerk.

If the teacher has established reasonable policies regarding who s/he will teach, respect them.

You are not obligated to being taught by any particular person.


© 1980 Jayne Tomas [Some typographical changes, ca 2000]

Back to Handbook Index