Structure? What structure?

[From Sam]

To kick off my contribution to the TaL blog, here's a teaching anecdote from one of the interminable introduction sessions I've had to sit through in preparation for my job as a university seminar tutor. Bear in mind that both of these are trainers of many years' experience, both in the classroom and in conveying their knowledge to fellow professionals.

Facilitator #1, brandishing a to-the-minute schedule of the current session, which has been distributed to all trainees: 'We may have been derailed, timing-wise, but at least I have a plan. If I didn't, I'd be lying on the floor in a gibbering heap by now!'

Facilitator #2, on the subject of planning lessons: 'I never do any preparation, anymore; I just take one or two questions into each seminar to prompt discussion when/if things dry up a bit.'

BBC-fashion, there are absolutely no prizes for guessing at the type preferences of these two individuals, certainly in terms of preferences for Organisation and Structure versus Go witht the Flow...What is interesting, however, is that I get the feeling (from relating to him in both professional and social contexts) that #2 is rather more Structured (J) than he cares to admit -- his excessive Go with the Flow (P) is either a fake projected image of himself in order to convey authority to students and fellow teachers, or a learned behaviour to deal with the specifics of HE teaching. Probably a bit of both.

Let us know if you have any anecdotes of your own on the teaching/training experience, or any similar observations about altering your natural preferences.