20 Minutes

20 minutes, roughly the time it took me to realize the true meaning and feeling of teaching.  That was the total time I spent last March 19, 2015, in teaching and giving feedback which were our activities that day. I experienced being a teacher, a learner, and a feedback-giver.

                After that day, I learned that teaching is not an easy task because even though I prepared very well before our session, I realized I still had important points to improve after the feedback. Because of this, I realized that not only we must know the topic by our minds but by our hearts. Next, I realized that giving feedback is not an easy thing to do. It’s not just telling what the person did. In giving feedback,  one must concentrate on what the person is doing and take down the important things that needs to be improved and the ones that needs to be continued in order for us to give a thorough feedback. We must also be knowledgeable on what the person teaches in order for us to give a good feedback. Lastly, I realized that not only what we are saying matters but also how we say it because this can affect how the person feels about the feedback.

                By the time I teach, whether in front of a student or a client, I will not just memorize the things I will discuss to my patient and teach him like I am reading a script, instead I will master it and learn it by heart so I can give the best to my  patient. I will also ask feedback to my colleagues and heads to further hone my skills. I will make these feedbacks and criticisms as my stepping stones towards becoming the best PT for my patients.