[paulhar]

Hi – there have been some threads in other forums where the virtues & downsides of disallowing advanced or better kibitzers from a beginner/intermediate lesson were discussed. Rather than agreeing to disagree, I’m asking for your help. Hopefully, your votes and thoughts in this thread will help improve BBO lessons you may attend in the future.

Most of the poll responses are too long to put on one line, so I’ll describe them better here in the post and only briefly in the poll.

Please do not vote (although feel free to comment) if you do not consider yourself a beginner, novice, or intermediate. Also, please don’t vote if you would never be interested in an online lesson, even a free one.

All discussion pertains to a lesson that is aimed at your level. Assume a room where questions and discussion are encouraged rather than a lecture where only the teacher (or lecturer) is supposed to chat. My basic question is how you react when there are people in the room (other than the teacher) that are more experienced than the level that the lesson is intended for (i.e. intermediates in a beginner lesson, advanced in an intermediate lesson, etc.)

Description of poll choices:

(1) I don’t mind anybody being in the room. I’m going to freely ask and answer questions and speak my mind as if I were the only student regardless of who is in the room.

(2) I don’t mind anybody being in the room. However, my chat will be inhibited by the presence of better players kibitzing. The reason is that I’m afraid of what they’ll think of me or my ability.

(3) I don’t mind anybody being in the room. However, my chat will be inhibited for some other reason (explain in a post.)

(4) My chat would be inhibited by the presence of any other students, regardless of level.

(5) I prefer to only observe, so I wouldn’t be too talkative or too quick to ask or answer questions even if I were the only student.

(6) I like the better players being there. Maybe I’ll impress one of ‘em with my questions or answers and they’ll offer to play with me.

(7) It’s okay for other advanced people to be there, but only if they’re introduced as teacher’s helpers. I would still be less likely to chat. If other advanced people were in the room, I feel uncomfortable speaking.

(8) It’s okay for other advanced people to be there, but only if they’re introduced as teacher’s helpers. I would still openly ask and answer questions. If other advanced people were in the room, I would feel uncomfortable speaking.

(9) It’s okay for other advanced people to be there, but only if authorized by the beginners/intermediate lounge (because these people would be there to help you.)

(10) I do not like having advanced kibitzers in the room at all. They make me feel uncomfortable and should not be allowed.

(11) I do not like having advanced kibitzers in the room because I have previously received chat from them which made me feel bad.

(12) I do not like having advanced kibitzers in the room because they make me feel dumb.

(13) Other (post below.)

Thank you for your responses.

[Robertn]

13) Other

I appreciate having advanced / expert kibitzers at the lessons as long as they're constructively contributing / learning / just watching / helping teacher etc. However, and this has been more noticeable in lessons outside the BIL, there is a tendency for some people to hijack the lesson by constantly disagreeing with the teacher or moving the discussion to areas most of the class won't be interested in.

Robert

[Cascade]

I have had both very good and very bad experiences with Advanced and Expert players at my lessons.

During lessons when other Teachers or Experts have been present I have asked for their opinion and invited them to contribute to the lesson. This has usually been constructive.

Occasionally, although not recently, I have had other players hijack the lesson. Sometimes this has been uninvited but it has also been from people who have asked or been asked to make a contribution and then those people not knowing when to stop.

In general I think that it would be poor form to interupt someone elses lesson without an invitation. The best people wait patiently for an invite or ask privately if they can make a point. The worst step in publically with their own opinion. At times this is very awkward when it conflicts with the teacher's opinion.

Although I think I am welcoming to players/teachers with good intentions that turn up to my lessons I think that if you are at someone elses lesson you should endevour to only make non controversial statements.

[hallway]

Paul

Just a point you may like to factor in to your calculations when assessing the replies you receive from this Poll - btw I would certainly be interested in the result.
I give you my word I have not voted - although come to think of it as a BIL -beginner, BBO- intermediate (of the very lesser variety ) I have every right to do so.

As of reading this - the Forum has 1912 members which , of course, includes all the Advanced, Expert , World Class and Administrators amongst that figure.

The BIL has some (round figures) 1500 currently active members.

All of whom are encouraged to join the Forum I might add. Firstly when they are granted membership - the Welcome Information they receive directs them to it and then The Lounge - CLUBNEWS introduces Ben (Inquiry) as their Moderator and also supplies a direct Link - which is available to the members to access 24/7.

But you see it is only the brave (sceptic and his pals) who take the plunge and join where the Advanced do prowl

[Rado]

Hi all friends from BIL and BBO:-)
I've been watching several times lessons at BIL, but only answered private questions from members or when the teacher asked me in common chat.
In my view that's the correct and "good" way to behave. We should respect the efforts of the Teacher who had to spend some valuable time for preparing all the topic, examples etc. And not to forget that all are volunteers:-)
Regards
Rado

[hallway]

Hi Rado !!!

For those of you new to the Forums RADO is a very special Honorary member of the BIL.

He was there right from the very first giving help, support and encouragment through those rocky first months .

Don't be a stranger - the door is always open for you.

[Trpltrbl]

I have sat and watch a few lessons, and people start asking me in private if I would do same, and why or why not.
Maybe they want second opinion, so now I only come and play with few of my "students" and if experts sit there and spec and give advice that's fine with me.
There are many times different approaches to a problem, and this way they can make up their own mind about which treatment they like best.

Mike