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This is good advice. I've been helping my partner learn javascript (she's smart and talented but hasn't learned programming), and the other thing I'd add is t
by lsiebert 6y ago
This is good advice. I've been helping my partner learn javascript (she's smart and talented but hasn't learned programming), and the other thing I'd add is that a lot of the time her questions are about how you would use a language feature, and why you would use it, and that teaching her has helped me learn and think about stuff that I took for granted. I think more people should teach/tutor/help others, because it's honestly made me a better more thoughtful and less dogmatic programmer.
- mathw 6y agoWhen I started doing instructor training for aikido classes and started being out on the mat as an assistant, answering questions, helping people correct things they hadn't realised weren't working like they should, I found to my great surprise that my own aikido became better. I mentioned this to the lead instructor on the class I was helping with and he nodded and said that he was always told "to teach is to learn twice". He is overly fond of little sayings like that, but it is true. I am also aware that I became a better programmer in some aspects by coaching junior colleagues. Partly because you have to translate and explain what's in your head in a form that somebody else can understand - which is actually the same as the effect I observed at aikido. I also think it can help us be nicer to people who know less than ourselves, because we see more often the reminder that people can in fact learn things, and also people will ask questions which push the limits of our own knowledge, or we just don't know the answer, and it's okay to realise that you don't know and to admit it.
- rrauenza 6y agoI've also helped teach Aikido ... mostly to kids. Having to step out of yourself and break it down is a great learning experience.