Giving feedback when asked for it when I can't think of anything good to say

[omega4ever]

I go to a weekly hobby class which I love because of the other women there. We get on well and learn from alot from each other. It's held in a local community hall and we pay the teacher £50 for 10 weeks.

The teacher is awful. She's always at least 30-60 minutes late. She's disorganised and disruptive. She's out of date with her skills. She's poor at returning messages and can't stay on track. She's in her late 70s and was probably very good at this hobby 20 years ago but hasn't kept upto date uses very old fashioned equipment.

Everyone feels the same about her and we don't really think of her as a teacher... and class the £5 weekly fee as room hire money.

She's just asked the group for feedback on a workshop she recently put on . I went and it was awful. I'll never go to one again and nor will the other ladies.

I want to give feedback , and I want to be honest with her, but I don't want to be unkind either. I don't think she can change or take on feedback.

Any advice on where yo go with this oh wise ones?

Be honest. But start with something positive.

I met some lovely people. The parking was easy. The venue convenient. All the resources I needed were supplied.i found a lovely shade of lavender paint.... there must be SOMETHING nice you can say.

The lunch was good.
There's a cafe attached to the centre and we all ate lunch together which was nice.

That's about the only positive I can think of.

Is it acceptable to give my opinion of the days content or to make recommendations if she is planning future days?

In that case, something like "this workshop provided a wonderful opportunity to meet and make friendships with others who enjoy this hobby"

If she specifically makes a point of asking you to comment on the contents of the workshop, perhaps suggest that you tend to approach it from A perspective with B, C materials/techniques and so it was interesting to see how she does it with X/Y/Z but that you felt you perhaps didn't pick up anything you will continue to use in your day to day enjoyment of hobby.

Nice venue and good lunch. Lovely opportunity to spend time with likeminded crafters.

Unfortunately I didn't feel that I benefited from the content of the workshop. I would love to learn more about how to apply <insert modern methods that she doesn't use> to <thing she taught on the workshop>

Can you give useful suggestions?

I would have enjoyed this more / learnt more if...
One suggestion for the future that would help me is....
If you could do xxx instead of yyy I would have got more out of the day

Any chance you can tell us what the hobby is? I'm just curious!

What do you all do for the 30-60 mins before she arrives - can you get in, set up and be getting on with it before she comes, or are you stuck until she gets there?

Is it more like a knitting group or a yoga class? I'm so curious!

I'm really hoping it's dodgeball or ultimate frisbee

OP I'd go for positives (lovely group, great to have the class on offer locally, convenient time, excellent price etc) and then "I'd love to see X next time". I wouldn't actively criticise, there does seem like they'd be much point.

@NuffSaidSam @ThatAgileGoldMoose

Nothing as exciting sadly 🤣🤣 ... its a dressmaking class.
Before she arrives we set up the room and our machines and chat and trouble shoot about our current projects.
We use you tube videos alot to help us move on with problems.

The other regulars... there are 7 of us... are wonderful... a mix of ages and abilities and we have become firm pals so all want to continue meeting.

The room is local and ideal with space etc. And the timing suits us.

We have gently challenged her on timing and lateness and but despite her promising to improve it never happens.