Tip & Exercise: Every student is different

What is great about improv, is that every improviser is different. What is difficult about improv, is…. that every improviser is different. When we are teaching a group of improvisers, we might run into this particular challenge.

We look around the room and we see how our students are different. For instance: some people need to learn to take initiative, others need to learn to give space. There are exercises to train ‘taking initiative’ and there are exercises to train ‘giving space’.

English, improvisatie, international, Teaching improvLaura DoorneweerdApril 10, 2021teaching, improv, improvisation, exercise, tips, games, applied improv, warm up, covid, corona, social distancing, distance, safe, physicality, moving, online improv, online, zoomComment

How I stay sane & confident in challenging times

One year into the pandemic is not easy. For almost anyone.

I consider myself a relentless optimist, and wow… Is that part of me being challenged! While this is the most important time to take care of yourself

That is why in this video/podcast I will share with you different ways how I stay sane, and how I work on my confidence. Because standing still is not really my thing.

I hope sharing these with you can give you the inspiration to find what makes you happy, and feel great (or just a little better) about yourself.

English, improvisatie, international, Teaching improvLaura DoorneweerdMarch 28, 2021improvisation, improv comedy, improv theatre, improv, pandemic, corona, covid, peptalk, video, career, teacher, teaching, trainer, coachComment

How to teach in English 🌍 (as a non-native English speaker)

Do you ever worry about teaching in English (as a non-native English speaker)?

In this lesson, I will share my experiences teaching in my 2nd language. The mistakes, the shame, and how I became more confident.

Consider this your pep talk: your English doesn't have to be 'good' to teach in it.

English, improvisatie, international, Teaching improvLaura DoorneweerdMarch 20, 2021improvisation, improv comedy, improv theatre, improv, peptalk, video, career, teacher, teaching, trainer, coach, language, ESL, speakingComment

How to come up with a warmup for your workshop

Is it better to play ridiculous failing games as a warmup? Or do complex musical scales?

In this lesson, I am sharing with you 3 angles to find the perfect warmup for your workshop. And I am giving a few examples for each of them.

This is especially great if you find it hard to make up your own exercises or feel like you don't know enough exercises.

English, improvisatie, international, Teaching improvLaura DoorneweerdMarch 14, 2021improvisation, improv comedy, improv theatre, improv, pandemic, corona, covid, peptalk, video, career, teacher, teaching, trainer, coachComment

Tip & Exercise: Are my students liking it?

Whether you are a beginning teacher, or already more advanced, it can be difficult to know: are my students even liking this?

This little voice in our brain is not just annoying: it takes us out of the moment, and into our heads. Exactly where we don’t want to be!

So how do you ‘read the room’? Be it the workshop space or the Zoom room.

The most important tip I have for you is this…

How I helped these 3 improvisers when they said ‘I have nothing to teach'

In my Zoom session about finding a topic, I had a bunch of improvisers in the room and I helped them find something to teach.

In this live video I will share 3 examples of improvisers thinking ‘I have nothing to teach…’ and what I have told them.

These 3 reasons were mentioned:

I am not a full-time improviser.
I am not as funny/fast/loud. I always play [something else].
I am not good at one thing. I am a bit of everything.

Let me explain to you how your 'weakness' is your superpower.

English, improvisatie, international, Teaching improvLaura DoorneweerdFebruary 26, 2021improvisation, improv comedy, improv theatre, improv, pandemic, corona, covid, peptalk, video, career, teacher, teaching, trainer, coachComment

"I am not unique enough to teach improv" - 3 tips for finding a topic

Do you feel like you are not very different from other improv teachers? Or that there are too many teachers out there anyway?

Let's talk!

I have 3 tips for you for finding a topic that you can teach. Easy-peasy!

And afterwards I am inviting you to a free Zoom session with me!

English, improvisatie, international, Teaching improvLaura DoorneweerdFebruary 21, 2021improvisation, improv comedy, improv theatre, improv, pandemic, corona, covid, peptalk, video, career, teacher, teaching, trainer, coachComment

Online courses are my Magical Fairy Land

Do you enjoy learning?

I do. I love it. Always have.

Remember that kid in school that always wanted to say the answer? Miss Smarty Pants? The teacher’s pet? 🙋‍♀️ Yo, that was me.

In improv, I am still that nerd.

Taking all the workshops I can fit in while I teach at a festival. Asking people for recommendations for instructors. Nosing in other people’s bookcases for improv books. (As if I don’t have a dozen unread improv books waiting for me…)

But these times…

English, improvisatie, international, Teaching improvLaura DoorneweerdFebruary 6, 2021teaching, improv, improvisation, tips, covid, corona, online improv, online, zoom, improvising, online workshop, learning, video courseComment