From idea to implementation: how to start teaching?

The other day, on our Instagram page there was a big live broadcast on the topic “From idea to implementation: how to start teaching?”, where we talked about when a master should think about starting to teach, and where to start preparing for the first master -class, and the guest of the broadcast was an international class master, coach of the Ukrainian national team, certified international judge of the compulsory medical insurance - Elena Filonenko .

Let's remember your first master class - what was it like?

Of course, it’s impossible to forget your first master class. This was really scary. It was 2003, Ternopil, there were 150 people in the hall. In the first 5 minutes of the speech, I realized that I had forgotten all the words, I did not understand what I was doing here, but since I had teaching experience (and I have been teaching since 1996), this helped, since there were 30 people in my groups. It’s difficult to lead them, but this experience helped me a lot in the future. After 5 minutes of fear, I pulled myself together and started working.

What was the topic of this master class?

I then conducted a master class together with Khurshed Gaibov. He presented haircuts, and I presented hairstyles. I don’t remember exactly what kind of hairstyles they were, but it was a twist that I put together in buns.

Then we worked with the Wella brand, and I had to present cosmetics, the drugs I work with. This is the general picture of the first master class in my life.

When should a master think about starting to teach?

All masters are divided into areas - some are colorists, others do hairstyles. And when a master comes into the profession, he understands what his specialty is and what he likes to do best. The master also chooses: he wants to stand by the chair, or go to many different master classes, or wants to share his experience.

The most important thing is desire. If the master has it, then it’s worth moving on and teaching. When masters gain enough information and know a lot, it will be easy for them to share their experience and “free up” their minds for new information. Because those masters who teach are always learning. Once you start teaching, you can’t say, “I can do everything,” and end there.

Over 30 years of professional experience, I understood this, because experience can be divided into 10-year stages in which everything changes and you need to keep up with the times. That’s why I’m always learning, always “repetition of mother teaching,” because I can’t stop. It's always about working on yourself. To teach, you need to keep up with the times. And time is changing. You need to be interesting to the person you will be teaching.

Where to start preparing for the master class? What important points should be taken into account?

First of all, you need to understand what kind of master class you want to conduct and what master class to show, what you want to present. Either it’s one day with a show, like a regular master class, or it’s a seminar where you present your work on the first day, and on the second day the masters can stay and work. Our profession is practice. You need to decide what the topic is and what you want to see from this master class, as well as what you want to give to the students.

The second point is to decide on the number of days of the master class. There is a theoretical part, and there is practical work.

Location – where it will take place. If the topic is painting, the location should have sinks, a laboratory, and work stations where it is convenient to connect everything. Here the theme gives us a little hint of what the location should be like.

Information on social networks. Very good advertising that will bring the audience to your master class.

Another point is a diploma. It is imperative to prepare diplomas for the participants, since our masters want confirmation that they attended a certain master class. This is a memory for the craftsmen and an important moment for clients. When a client comes to the salon, he always asks and wonders: where did you go, and what did you see?

And another important point is the administrator. You definitely need someone to help with all the preparation. This is a very important person. When students who want to study call, we need to control the number of people, whether the location can accommodate everyone, and issue diplomas. This is person number 2 after you. He meets the participants, sees them off, and distributes diplomas.

See the continuation of the interview on our Instagram: