What is Culture: Wisdom from Yo-Yo Ma
For example, when studying Russia, I used a wall map to describe its geography; my students would write in names of places on their outline maps. Once we had the landscape, we could explore the meaning of its large size, vulnerable borders, challenge to administrate, its arctic amphitheater, and challenging climate. It was always seeking meaning, not only for my students but for me.
And another thing YoYo Ma voiced, “As a performer, my job is to make the listener the most important person in the room.” I took a while to get this. I first entered the classroom primed to be the central figure, to teach from the front of the room, to dispense knowledge. But soon I discovered––and it was a discovery––that listening was as important for me as for my students.
Another insight he shared, which makes obvious sense: “The only way to avoid burnout is to care about where you are.” When you care, you are ‘into it,’ committed, invested, responsible. You know you count, your students count, what you care about counts, what they care about counts. Burnout never occurred to me.
