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SPONSORSHIP

Of Alexander Technique International

ATI's Approach to Professional Standards

ATI has not attempted to set a quantitative standard of Alexander teacher training courses such as a certain number of hours, weeks and years of training or a specific ratio of students to teachers. Some Alexander Technique training's courses run by ATI Teaching Members have a more flexible, extended schedule for those who work full-time or an apprenticeship-like structure. Some training programs are run on the standard three-year training schedule.

Rather than regulating training courses ATI has set up a standard that relies on the qualitative recognition of a teacher's competence to teach. After all, no amount of time in training, by itself, is sufficient to become a teacher. A trainee applying to become a certified teacher must prove that he/she has reached a level of understanding and ability to adequately and safely teach the public as recognized by a head of training or another person with skill and experience.

Therefore, the sponsorship mechanism takes care of allowing everyone who has trained in an apprenticeship or other 'non-standard' approach to become an ATI Teaching Member. They simply need to work with any three ATI Sponsoring Members and from this work gain their Sponsor's written support.

Sponsor Guidelines | ATI¥¹¥Ý¥ó¥µ¡¼¤Î¤¿¤á¤Î¥¬¥¤¥É¥é¥¤¥ó
Sponsorship Application Form | ATI¥¹¥Ý¥ó¥µ¡¼¿äÁ¦½ñ
Sponsor Feedback Form | ATI¥¹¥Ý¥ó¥µ¡¼¼ÁÌäɼ

For Sponsors needing documents for evaluating a candidate and for teaching applicants seeking sponsorship evaluation please refer to and use the following document packet:

ATI Teaching Membership Package via Sponsorship | ATIǧÄ궵»ÕÍÑATI¶µ»Õ²ñ°÷¿½ÀÁ¼ê³¤Ë¤Ä¤¤¤Æ

To summarize, the organization is based on the membership's trust that if three of these Sponsors say they assess someone as a teacher, then the applicant is designated as a competent teacher. It is further based on the willingness of all its members to accept the standards and mechanisms of certification of the other existing societies, even if those mechanisms differ from ATI's. The members of ATI agree to extend an informed trust to all parts of the Alexander profession.

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ATI Criteria for Evaluating the Competencies of Teachers

In order to be eligible for certification by Alexander Technique International, teacher-candidates should be of good character, have a clear understanding of the Alexander Technique concepts and principles and have the basic skills to convey these concepts and principles clearly to a pupil.

I. Conduct

A. Demonstrate qualities of patience, compassion, honesty, and respect in interactions with peers and students.  Completion of an Alexander Technique training process shall be considered representation by the candidate’s trainers that the candidate has satisfactorily demonstrated these characteristics of patience, compassion, honesty, and respect in interactions with peers and students, provided the examining teacher sees no evidence to the contrary.

II. Knowledge

A. Demonstrate an embodied understanding of the commonly used Alexander Technique concepts and principles by consciously allowing a positive change in their own psycho-physical coordination, and continue this change throughout any activity in order to improve the quality of their performance. This positive change can be observed as 1) an initial movement of the head in relation to the spine which results in a quality of lengthening throughout the body, allowing the person to respond in a fluid and continually adaptive way to gravity; 2) an enhanced alertness, awareness, fluidity and poise; 3) and a speaking voice that is full, clear, and fluent.

B. Demonstrate a knowledge of Alexander's ideas by discussing their own understanding of the Technique and how Alexander's ideas have influenced their development as a person and a teacher; and suggest what literature (by Alexander or other authors) they would recommend to a pupil and why.

C. Demonstrate an understanding of anatomy and physiology as they relate to human movement and behavior; be able to help pupils understand how mistaken ideas about their structure interfere with their best use; answer pupils' basic questions about anatomy, and refer them to other sources for more detailed answers.

D. Demonstrate an understanding of the ATI Code of Ethics, an appreciation of safety issues, and know when it is appropriate to refer a pupil to another professional.

III. Teaching Skills

A. Demonstrate an ability to clearly and simply communicate and demonstrate the concepts and principles of the Alexander Technique by giving clear demonstrations and verbal explanations that are appropriate to the pupil's learning in the moment; when using hands, to use their hands sensitively and appropriately. Both verbal explanations and any use of hands will allow pupils to effect a positive change in their psycho-physical coordination.

B. Demonstrate an ability to observe themselves while teaching, and later articulate to an observer the choices they made with regard to using their hands, verbal explanations and physical demonstrations.

 

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Current ATI Sponsors

 

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How to Become a Sponsor

Sponsors are ATI Teaching Members who have been nominated and elected by the membership. These Sponsors have the experience to evaluate the competency and qualifications of those who apply to become teaching members.

Sponsors have had extensive experience in teaching the Alexander Technique in a variety of responsible roles, such as:

• Directors of Alexander Technique training programs
  
• Experienced senior faculty on training courses
  
• Experienced in training teachers and very experienced working in private practice.

In October 2000 by vote of the membership, ATI Criteria were created for evaluating the competency of teachers. ATI Sponsors use these criteria to evaluate candidates for ATI certification. The study of the Alexander Technique is a life long process, which is characterized by continual learning, awareness, and self-development. Teachers certified by Alexander Technique International are committed to continually improving their understanding of the Technique and refining their use of the Technique and their teaching skills. These criteria are intended to establish a starting point for beginning teachers. ATI will address the questions of continuing education, re-certification and opportunities for expanding personal and collective knowledge of the Alexander Technique and its teaching at a future date.

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