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This of course is all true. You have to be able to actually do the other things right too.

I'm sure Bruce Forsyth would engage the participants but could he do the rest of the stuff right. :)

What I mean is, you could have the greatest technique in the world (although this tends to be in the eye of the beholder), you can know your choreo inside out, you can say the right things at the right time and you can do the connection stuff too. And you can get people who are 10/10 for this sort of thing and become trainers and assessors. But if you don't have 'Fitness Magic' as they twee-ly call it, I don't think you can become a great instructor. And I don't think that can be taught.

I think the other elements can be taught though (with the exception of learning choreo).

And I don't think what LM can class as being a great instructor is exactly the same as what participants do, and I say that on the basis of some of the wooden trainers I've seen at quarterly workshops (and indeed from the DVDs) - one of whom I know from my former life as purely a participant who was often greeted in class with murmers of 'Oh God, not him/her' (i've deliberatly left that without revealing the gender).

Anyway, I agree with what you're saying in the main, and don't worry, I don't take anything you said personally. It's all in the spirit of debate.

SG7982:

What I mean is, you could have the greatest technique in the world (although this tends to be in the eye of the beholder), you can know your choreo inside out, you can say the right things at the right time and you can do the connection stuff too. And you can get people who are 10/10 for this sort of thing and become trainers and assessors. But if you don't have 'Fitness Magic' as they twee-ly call it, I don't think you can become a great instructor. And I don't think that can be taught.

I think the other elements can be taught though (with the exception of learning choreo).

I think we are agreeing. Remember, these  5 elements are the basic stuff. To take your teaching up a level (or two) there is more to learn. You may find, the instructors that you refer to have the basics, but it's the great ones that apply more. Note: I'm not claiming you'll be taught all the extra elemys on an AIM either! 

SG7982:

And I don't think what LM can class as being a great instructor is exactly the same as what participants do, and I say that on the basis of some of the wooden trainers I've seen at quarterly workshops (and indeed from the DVDs) - one of whom I know from my former life as purely a participant who was often greeted in class with murmers of 'Oh God, not him/her' (i've deliberatly left that without revealing the gender).

Now this is a good point. You need to keep in mind, workshops and DVDs are for instructors. They are taught in a very different way for a specific audience. I would not try to mimic every cue, etc on a DVD because I'm not presenting to that audience. 

As for tech - just look back at the thread on BP71 DVD tech to note even the "best" get it wrong.

UPDATE!!!! 

Hot of the press...Kia Ora (the UK Les Mills magazine) will confirm this in the next issue.

To become an Advanced instructor you must complete the Advanced Instructor Modules (AIM) 1 & 2.

AIM 1 is the technique intensive 1 day course and is specific to each programme. These were launched last year in the UK  (there will more held across the UK next year.)

AIM 2 is a NEW 2 day course and will include an assessment. AIM 2 is only open to those who have done AIM1 and been certified for 1 year. You will have an assessment at the AIM2 and must pass to achieve "Advanced" Status. The AIM will only allow you to be "Advanced" in one programme. Yes - that means you have to do an AIM1 and AIM2 for each discipline (kerrrching £££ to FitPro  . 

The AIM2 is not the same as the PDM (Professional Development Module). I was told the idea is that you put in to practice what has been learned at the PDM and AIM1 and get assessed at the AIM2. (not sure if that means you also need to attend the PDM before the AIM2)

AIM2s are due to be held in London Q1 2010 and the UK will be the first country to hold them. The rest of the world will have to wait until Australia hold them in June! I'm told the assessment will be very tough and "you will have to be the best of the best to pass".