It is a translation. Article published June 10, 2018


Tired of programming? Try to teach others. This is the most pleasant feeling: to teach someone this skill and inspire new leaders in our prolific area. Who knows what they can create? Maybe it will change our way of life. And remember the good old saying: if you cannot do it yourself, then learn! ;)

In this little note, I'm going to explain how to teach programming and how to relate to people who know nothing about programming. Methods of knowledge transfer, strategies for long-term mentoring and, finally, correct thinking.

Real World Explanations

Tehnojargon does not work: polymorphism, multithreading, Typescript and so on. These words mean nothing to people who do not understand programming. Start from the beginning. What do they know? They know the real world . Therefore, in explaining, for example, the superclass, you can say that is a superclass, and an are subclasses. People will understand the analogy.

Patience and reward

Training requires patience. It is extremely important not to rush the process, but you must direct the student at the right moment. In some cases, people get annoyed or upset - and just want to give up! This is the specifics of solving puzzles and the essence of programming, because it requires perseverance . Over time, these qualities will develop in the student. You cannot teach this to words, but you can reward him for his achievements ... and sincerely celebrate the victory!

Another key reason for the importance of patience as a teacher is because everyone learns at different speeds. People are different. If someone does not understand you, try to pick up other words and take this problem as a challenge for you , not for him.

Encouragement and positivity

You know that ... your student can become a person who will create the next Facebook, Instagram, Trello, Slack, Microsoft, Linux, Mac, Google or other crazy product / service. Do not underestimate the power of learning and the power of influence . Encourage ideas to fly, ambitious actions, and unlimited growth — and strengthen this faith with positive ... you can be the teacher of the person who creates the cure for cancer.

You never know how it goes.

Share real stories

People are easily bored. The main question in school: what is the meaning of all this? This is actually a very good question. It is based on the applied value function and counting whether a student is wasting his time or not. So damn it ... just tell us about the prospects. Share what it is to be a developer, what are the fruits of our work. This instills motivation - a very, very powerful tool .

Lead and take responsibility

Of course! This relationship mentor → ward. Just repeat it: it should be clear who leads. Oh ... you do not know the answer? I thought you were a mentor. It is your responsibility to learn on the fly and produce results. Everyone will be much better if you follow this principle.

Let's sum up

Teaching others is good for you. New tasks are emerging all the time, and you should always be one step ahead. But it is also a very useful activity. Comparison with real-world objects helps students better understand new concepts. And do not forget about positivity and patience - who knows what they can turn around!

Good luck in programming!