Coaching Concepts: Understanding Linguistic Psychology as you Teach

     I was listening to a lecture series by Steven Pinker, a researcher of psychology at Harvard University, and realized the importance of word choice while teaching, coaching, or instructing. The lecture was based on linguistic psychology, and focused mostly on how the words and sentences we use are recognized, processed, and interpreted by our minds. When you begin to think about the idea, it's a pretty interesting field of study. When we teach, we use our words to express our thoughts, actions, and explain things to help clarify problematic areas. When we learn, most of us would have difficulty recalling what we heard or read word for word. However, we would be able to explain the content of the subject matter in concepts and ideas. A beautiful example of teaching/coaching/instructing by the use of concepts would be the shampoo bottle:

Wet Hair, Lather, Rinse, Repeat

     We know the "Repeat" doesn't mean continue to do it over and over again. It's a one time process. We also know that "Wet Hair" is a one time process and doesn't need to be redone after the first time. Although the words alone don't form a sentence, it is able to relay the concept it a short and concise manner. The learner is able to understand/interpret the words and carry out the process.
     As instructors of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, Judo and the physical art of grappling it is essential we are able to communicate with our students with effective word choices, and explain the concepts while allowing the students to fill in the blanks and read between the lines.

Eliot Kelly

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