Key to the Forum's work is the Teacher’s Certificate course in Tai Chi & Chi Kung for Health. This is for teachers and intending teachers of these arts.
AIMS
1. To offer people with Tai Chi Chuan experience and training a qualification, to help them accommodate people with specific health or other special need within their classes.
2. To offer training relevant to people teaching in both mainstream and specially targeted situations.
3. To ensure that people with specific needs have access to high level, authentic teaching in Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Kung.
4. To offer ongoing support and development possibilities to authorised teachers
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A minimum of 5 years experience in Tai Chi Chuan and/or Chi Kung. In exceptional circumstances applicants with comparable experience will be accepted at the discretion of the Forum.
SYLLABUS AND STRUCTURE
The full course will extend over 3 residential weekends including the annual Gathering of the TCCKF. Successful participants will be enabled to develop their teaching of Tai Chi and Chi Kung in a variety of environments, (health care establishments, for example), and also cater more effectively for the wide range of health needs that are encountered in mainstream classes, whilst remaining firmly rooted in the core principles of the art. The main components will include:
- - Working from the tradition – identifying key principles of our arts and applying them to different teaching contexts
- - Developing and targeting movements and sets for specific needs.
- - Precautions and Contra-Indications.
- - Constructing Form
- - Relating to existing Health Care provision.
- - Setting up classes and finding funding.
In addition both weekends will feature each tutor's individual approach to the subject through led sessions, group work and discussion. Learning will be largely in groups. Assessment will be continuous with students encouraged to lead sessions and participate fully in the course. There will be course work set asking students to complete practical assignments around the setting up, planning and delivery of classes. Students will be expected to abide by the principles and codes of the Forum. If there is doubt over a student’s progress the Forum will endeavour to support them with further learning opportunities and help from approved tutors. In this case the student will be expected to cover any extra costs. In addition successful students will be expected to maintain a current First Aid qualification and other certificates of training that may be required by employers. For instance ‘Protection of Vulnerable Adults’ (POVA) training and the appropriate teaching certificates that may be required by (for instance) Local Education Authorities.
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)
Students will be expected to ensure their continuing professional development and can do so by maintaining a CPD diary detailing relevant activities such as attending Forum or other events each year to ensure the continued validity of the certificate. The Forum will run regular seminars as well as the May Gathering on subjects relevant to its aims to facilitate this.
Course Dates: Weekend One is usually held in October, Weekend Two in March of the following year and Weekend Three is the May Gathering.
