INSTRUCTORS APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS Introduction • You may also include the study of other styles of tai chi chuan, qigong, wellness exercises like yoga or pilates, Interested association members who meet the requirements or studies of research in the healing arts or meditative may apply to be an instructor for the association. This is an arts. application package for all instructor levels of Yang Family Tai Chi. The five instructor levels are Associate Instructor, • In Section 2-B, describe your teaching experience as a Certified Instructor, Academy Instructor, Senior Instructor, teacher of tai chi chuan. and Master Instructor. • Teaching experience should include number of hours New applicants for instructor must begin at the Associate you taught each year and a description of the types of Instructor level regardless of previous experience or classes taught and number of students taught. background. The association’s instructor levels are sequential • In Section 2-C, describe your professional training and and applicants may not skip any instructor levels. The experience. Include the degrees you have earned, your requirements for each instructor level are listed here in these major areas of study, and the profession(s) in which instructions. These same requirements is also described you have work experience. in Chapter 4 of the association’s Directors and Instructors Handbook. • Applications for Academy Instructor and above should include a separate resume with your professional All the requirements listed in these instructions of the information and experience. Attach the resume to the instructor level of the application must be met for the application. applicant to be successful. The requirements include an assessment of the applicant’s teaching skills and the Section 3. Recommendation applicant’s commitment and adherence to the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Morals and Commandments. Your current teacher should provide information for this Applicants should be very complete in providing the section using the guidelines below. Applicants who do information requested on this application. Please sign the not have a current teacher may submit a recommendation application before mailing it to the address provided on the from previous teachers, from three tai chi chuan colleagues application form. or from three professional associates. Guidelines for the person(s) writing the recommendation: Section 1. Identification 1. Please share how you know this applicant. Fill in all required information on the application. 2. Please share your knowledge about the applicant’s Attach a recent passport-size front view photo of yourself. adherence to the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Morals (Go to page 5 at the end of these instructions to learn how to and Commandments. Is the applicant a trustworthy insert a photo into a PDF file.) and honest person? Select the appropriate instructor level for your application. It 3. Please share your knowledge of the applicant’s martial is required that your association membership is up to date arts training and experience. and current. 4. Please share your knowledge of the applicant’s contributions to the school or center. Was the applicant Section 2. Practice and Experience a teaching assistant? What did the applicant do to help the center or school? In Section 2-A, describe your training in the martial arts with a focus on your tai chi chuan training. 5. Please indicate whether you support or not support the applicant’s application to be an instructor for our tai chi chuan organization. • Provide the names of the teachers, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers of the schools where 6. Please include your name, address, phone number, you have taken classes as well as the seminars you have and email address with the recommendation. attended. Include seminars taken with Grandmasters Yang Zhenduo and Yang Jun and seminars authorized by The person writing the recommendation may write the Yang Family Tai Chi and offered by Academy Instructors, recommendation on the application form or submit the Senior Instructors, or Master Instructors. recommendation as an attachment to the application. INTERNATIONAL YANG FAMILY TAI CHI CHUAN ASSOCIATION Section 4. Requirements 4. A completed Teaching Assessment Lesson Plan. 5. Evaluations of applicant by students. (Required for Instructors Registry Certified and Academy Instructors only.) The association’s Instructors Registry is a list of the 6. Evidence of a minimum of 48 hours of teaching regular group classes each year. Applicants for association’s approved instructors. The registry is a resource Academy Instructor and above who have met the 48 for persons interested in finding an instructor. To view the hours requirement of regular group class sessions each list of instructors in the Instructors Registry. year may use private class teaching hours to satisfy the The registry provides the association a database by which required minimum hours of teaching for advancement it can track the training and certification of its instructors to higher levels of instructor. as well as provide information about which instructors Complete the form titled: Documentation of Hours are qualified to teach for the association’s Tai Chi Chuan Teaching Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan for Instructor Teacher Academy. Application. 7. Seminar certificates or evidence of participation in General Instructor Application Requirements seminars by Grandmasters Yang Zhenduo or Yang Jun, or seminars authorized by Yang Family Tai Chi and Applicants who apply to be an instructor must meet the offered by an Academy Instructor, Senior Instructor, or general requirements, as well as the specific requirements Master Instructor. for the instructor level of the application. Applicants for all instructor levels have the following general requirements: 8. Copy of last ranking certificate earned. 1. Be a current association member. 9. A receipt to show that the applicant has paid the $50 instructor application processing fee. 2. Be of good moral character. Fee and Information for Successful Instructor Applicants 3. Have a history of dedication to the art of tai chi chuan. 4. Demonstrate a commitment to learning and teaching 1. Applicants approved to become an association Traditional Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan by participating instructor to be listed in the association’s Instructors Registry have a required annual instructors registration in association seminars and association training events. fee of $150 US. Once an application is approved, 5. Teach a minimum 48 hours of Yang Family Tai Chi this $150 fee should be submitted to the association Chuan each year. Applicants for Academy Instructor immediately so that the successful applicant could and above who have met the 48 hours requirement of be placed into the Instructors Registry. The annual instructor registration fee is submitted to the regular group class sessions each year may use private association secretary at: members@yangfamilytaichi. class teaching hours to satisfy the required minimum com. This annual fee is for all instructor levels of the hours of teaching. association. Required Application Documents and Fee 2. If the applicant’s instructor certification is approved between October and March, the certification 1. A completed application package. effective date will be January 1st. If it is between April and September, the effective date will be July 1st. 2. Applicant teacher’s recommendation or Certification and recertification effective dates are recommendations from three (3) tai chi chuan from July to July or from January to January only. colleagues or from three (3) professional associates. 3. An assessment of the applicant’s teaching performance Specific Requirements and Required Attachments by a Local Examiner directly in person or a choice of submitting a video recording of the teaching Associate Instructor performance. Besides meeting the general requirements for association If applicant chooses a Local Examiner, the applicant instructors, applicants for Associate Instructor have these should check the association website for a list of Local additional requirements: Examiners. Provide the name and email address of • Be Rank 2 or higher. the Local Examiner who will perform the teaching assessment in person. • Document participation in at least 3 association seminars taught by Master Yang Jun, or seminars The teaching performance by instructor level: Associate authorized by Yang Family Tai Chi and offered by an Instructor-103 Hand Form, Certified Instructor-67 association Academy Instructor, Senior Instructor, or Sword Form, Academy Instructor-Push Hands. Master Instructor. INTERNATIONAL YANG FAMILY TAI CHI CHUAN ASSOCIATION • Complete an interview with a Local Examiner. This • Document 720 or more hours of teaching Yang Family interview must be successfully passed in either a Skype forms since becoming a Certified Instructor. Hours of or face-to-face interview. The interview will, among teaching seminars, private classes and group classes other things, explore the applicant’s knowledge may be counted to meet the required 720 hours and of Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan basics and his or her should include the required 48 hours per year of personal goals for teaching Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan. regular group classes. • Pass an assessment of teaching skills with regard to • Document participation in at least 10 association hand form. The applicant is required to teach a 45-60 minute class on the 103 Hand Form with a group of seminars taught by Grandmasters Yang Zhenduo or 5-10 students. The applicant has a choice to have the Yang Jun, or or seminars authorized by Yang Family Tai class session observed by a Local Examiner in person or Chi and offered by an association Academy Instructor, video recorded. For assessment directly by a person, Senior Instructor, or Master Instructor. the applicant must submit the name of the preferred • Pass an assessment of teaching skills with regard to Local Examiner. For a video, a link to the recording push hands. The applicant is required to teach a 45- must be submitted. 60 minute class on Push Hands with a group of 5-10 Please attach evidence of rank, teaching hours, seminars students.