Abstract:
A TED talk by Susan Savage-Rumbaugh entitled ‘The gentle genius of the bonobos’ tells the
story of the learning ability of these gentle primates. Although these animals were never
deliberately taught any skills – cognitive, linguistic or technical – they managed to learn a vast
amount from the scientists in the program by just observing, experimenting and imitating
them. And the key to this learning process was the significance these humans had in the lives
of the bonobos. The relationship between the scientists and the bonobos was therefore key to
the learning experience and the learning process. This reminded me of the success stories I
have witnessed within our therapist training program at the counselling centre where I have
been lecturing. We used to train pastoral therapists within the narrative paradigm. Within
this paradigm, reality is considered to be socially constructed, thus emphasising the relational
nature of identity, agency and knowledge. Aligning the ‘teaching methodology’ with this
epistemology invariably requires a participatory approach to training, which in our context
led to the adoption of seminars rather than lectures, and a conversational style of learning
(with the lecturer – or more aptly, the facilitator – becoming a co-learner!). This article will
now explore what the effect of relationship building as a deliberate prerequisite for learning
might be on learner agency.
