2014 U.S. Go Congress

Certification program: Series of two hour seminars on various aspects of teaching beginners, double and single digit kyu players. 8 hours, including a core curriculum are required for AGA Certification. Please indicate your areas of interest in the various sessions described below.

Teaching absolute beginners in various settings

Teaching a limited series of classes. These classes usually occur in schools or libraries, but Community Centers, retirement and assisted living facilities are also possible. Prisons are a possibility too.

Working in an ongoing setting such as an after school activity, local club, library club, etc. We will discuss setting up competition at various age levels and settings; and how to develop and use outside resources such as the AGF.

30 K doesn’t seem like a lofty goal, but when they know how to count the game, what life is, and when the game is over, they start to feel they are a go player. Getting them there quickly is the goal here.

Working with players 20 - 29K. Discussions will deal with what concepts to teach at this level.

The breakthrough to single digits is a milestone that comes earlier than shodan, but for many is just as big a transition. These players have made a serious commitment to the game. This session will discuss techniques aimed at this level of both skill and commitment.

Of necessity, teaching in this category requires significant playing skill on the part of the teacher. You expect your students to be self motivated, and willing to study on their own. We will discuss how to keep that motivation activated, as well as technique and material to present.

Seattle Go Center is experimenting with teaching via the Internet. We expect to have a prototype system assembled by August. This session will discuss progress, and applicability to various situations, as well as technique.

We all know that “teaching” by giving inadequate handicap and crushing the novice is not very productive. This session will concentrate on how to play the best teaching moves when you give teaching games.

In the last two years, the AGA has been providing a crash course in teaching Go to professional teachers in Los Angeles (not go players to begin with) enough to manage after school Go programs. This session will discuss how to accomplish that, and how to support those programs.