Teaching vocational crafts at Department of Lifelong Learning
Throughout the last forty years, in an effort to revive the traditional crafts of Weaving, Spinning and Macramé, I have been holding courses with various entities including JobsPlus, Education Department, Trade Department, Gozo University Centre, Elderly & Community Care Department, Ministry for Gozo, Local Councils, Malta Crafts Foundation, and the Department for Lifelong Learning. I have been an adult educator since 1985 when I started with the Education Department and later with the Department for Lifelong Learning. During all these years I gained a vast teaching experience which was later enhanced thanks to the Department for Lifelong Learning when I was given the opportunity, together with other Adult Educators, to sit for the National Diploma in Teaching Adults which was awarded in 2017.
In my classes I always have mixed abilities students of various ages and often of both genders. It is a challenge which gives me satisfaction to succeed in fitting them in groups that work well together while also motivating each other. It is always of great satisfaction for me to watch someone, irrespective of whether he or she is a five-year-old or an octogenarian, learn vocational skills or craft and complete a task or project. Many of my ex-students often tell me that they still use the skills they learnt to create items they use at home or give as gifts to their relatives and friends. Most of the younger trainees concentrate on creating some gifts they later proudly give to their relatives, friends and schoolteachers on special occasions such as birthdays and Christmas. Older trainees confirm that they feel that these crafts are very therapeutic both physically and mentally. I am proud to say that some of my ex-students have opened their own workshops or work from home, while others have organized exhibitions and even won awards.
I affirm that training others is also crucial to keep these traditional crafts alive. Once you tap people’s interest, you’ll discover that there are many out there of every age and gender who would be interested to learn if given the opportunity.
Every lesson has its challenges, and every student has his/her own diverse needs, but this encourages me to always give my best and to be positive so that through my teaching I will not be only passing on knowledge to my students but also fostering their confidence and self-esteem so that they will realise their potential.
