Teacher Training Course
The teacher training course is directed by Tessa Marwick and Paul Versteeg, who qualified from Walter and Dilys Carrington's Training Course, The Constructive Teaching Centre (London) in 1983 and 1984. The course is officially recognized by the Dutch Alexander Technique Society NeVLAT, the English society STAT and international society (ATAS).
Course Overview
The Teacher Training Course is a 4-day training course over a period of 3 years with a minimum of 1600 hours tuition spread over 9 terms.
Depending on the student's needs we can also offer a 3-day program over an extended period to fulfil the requirements for certification. Students interested in alternative schedules, apprenticeship, or part-time training towards certification, please contact us for the possibilities.
There are three terms per year. Each term consists of two blocks of 5 weeks, with a two weeks break in between.
The course timetable runs Monday-Thursday from 10:00-13:00 (Term dates)
The course consists of 75% practical (1280 hours) and 25% theoretical work (320 hours).
On satisfactory completion of the course a certificate is awarded authorizing the graduate to teach the Alexander Technique and become eligible to be a teaching member of NeVLAT and other International Affiliated Societies (ATAS).
At the discretion of the directors there is a possibility for a post-graduate teaching term at the training course.
Tuition is in both English and Dutch. Spanish, German and French are spoken as well.
Philosophy of Training
For over one hundred years since FM Alexander began teaching his technique in the last decade of the nineteenth century, the work has been passed on from teachers of the generation closely associated with him personally to the next generation.
In the last years of his life Alexander entrusted the running of his teacher training course to Walter Carrington. Paul and Tessa’s teacher training course is a continuum of this tradition and is based on their experience of the approach developed by Walter and Dilys Carrington, their own experience of 30 years of training Alexander teachers in Amsterdam and their lifetime involvement with Theatre, Education and the Performing Arts.
Outline of the Training
The course work focuses on enabling each student to understand, both in practice and theory, the three key elements of the Alexander Technique: Inhibition, Direction and Primary Movement.
The first year is primarily devoted to learning to improve one's own self- awareness
and 'manner of use'. It involves a process of change and individual development, which builds the foundation for the use of our hands and our interaction with others in teaching.
In the second year, as the growing awareness of the 'use' of the self continues, the focus is on the development and ability to maintain this process while working with each other. At the same time as the understanding of the work deepens, more refined skills and procedures as to the use of the hands with verbal guidance for passing on the Alexander Technique are learnt.
In the third year the confidence to teach the practical aspects of the Alexander Technique is built. The students progress from practicing on each other to supervised practice on members of the public. The student’s continuing self- improvement, knowledge, skills and individual expression developed over the previous years is put into practice in this situation.
Throughout the three years, the group work with movement and voice work is an integral element, embracing and interweaving the core-work. This form of interaction between the individual and the group is used as a preparation for presenting and speaking about the Technique in one's own individual style, with confidence and openness.
The student's progress is assessed in an on-going way, involving internal and external assessors.
Weekly Course Content
During each week a student has:
- One individual short lesson every day (20 minutes). A teacher-student ratio of at least 1-5 is maintained throughout the week and Paul and Tessa are present every day.
- Three half-hour 'hands-on' groups per week (usually three students per group). The student learns through a step-by-step program how to use the hands on each other while under the guidance of an experienced teacher. It is a well worked-out discipline, like a musician learning scales, and is the heart of the whole training. It becomes the foundation from which more complex skills can develop.
- Some form of 'directed activity' or established 'procedure' every day. e.g. chair-work, table work, whispered 'ah', standing, walking, waiting, sitting, squatting, lying and rising, etc. Or a natural and playful group work with either movement or voice work developed from out of Alexander's principles.
- A lecture/discussion period every day, covering the essence of Alexander's books, related literature, anatomy and physiology. Students have access to a substantial library of relevant books, articles and DVD’s.
- Guest teachers with considerable teaching experience on subjects such as medicine, sport, music, voice, working with children etc., are invited.
- Students are expected to work on themselves both during and outside course hours.
Entry to Training Course
There are no formal requirements except for some personal experience of the Alexander Technique. People genuinely interested are invited to visit the course for one or more days (60 Euro per day).
New students can join the training course at any time throughout the year but preferably at the start of a new term. We offer a carefully planned program so that everyone covers all the ground necessary during a three-year cycle.
Who has trained as an Alexander Teacher at ATCA?
People from a wide variety of backgrounds including professionals in music, dance, theatre, psychology, writers, school teachers, IT people, etc. (See gallery and testimonials).
Course Handbook
More information on the training course can be found in the Course Handbook. This describes in detail the outline of the course, as well as practical details, expectations and obligations when you decide to commit to the teacher training after the first term.
The tuition fees are published online and in the Course Handbook.
Questions
For additional questions feel free to contact Paul and Tessa by email or phone.
In addition to the training program Paul and Tessa also arrange courses and introductory evenings throughout the year for the general public and groups with specific interests.
They give individual private lessons from Monday - Thursday from 16.00 - 18:00 hours.
For information about these activities and any queries about the training course, or if you would like to arrange a visit, please contact us.