Your Peer Group is where you'll develop your teaching skills in a supportive, low-stakes environment. Each month, you'll meet with fellow students for 90 minutes to practice leading meditations, giving talks, and receiving caring feedback from others who are learning alongside you.
What Are Peer Groups?
Safe Practice Laboratory
- Group size: Small groups of fellow students
- Duration: Same group throughout the program
- Frequency: Monthly 90-minute sessions
- Purpose: Practice teaching skills, receive supportive feedback, build community
Learning Together
Your peer group is where you:
- Try out your developing teaching skills
- Practice in a supportive, understanding environment
- Receive feedback from people on the same journey
- Build confidence before teaching in the wider world
- Form lasting friendships with fellow practitioners
What Happens in Peer Groups?
Hands-On Teaching Practice
You'll take turns:
- Leading guided meditations for your group
- Giving short dharma talks on topics you're learning
- Responding to questions that might come up in teaching
- Practicing course openings and closings
- Working with challenging scenarios in a safe space
Supportive Feedback
After each practice session:
- Receive caring feedback from group members
- Learn what landed well and what could be refined
- Get suggestions for improvement from peers' perspectives
- Give feedback to others and learn from their teaching styles
- Celebrate successes and normalize the learning process
Skill Development Focus
Different months might emphasize:
- Guided meditation techniques - pacing, language, presence
- Teaching presence - how to hold space for a group
- Q&A skills - responding to student questions
- Difficult moments - what to do when challenges arise
- Finding your voice - developing authentic teaching style