teachers

The study of Tai Chi is really amplified by a good teacher. Videos are great for reference, but I don't think the essence is realized without that personal, real time interaction with a competent teacher. But, not every teacher is the right fit for every student. When I started looking for a a martial arts teacher, I visited several schools and finally settled on Bob Sherman's Isshinryu karate class at Humboldt State. I liked his teaching style and the no-nonsense approach. Also the style of karate suited me better than other martial arts. The same has been true for me with Tai Chi. The two teachers I settled on, Emerson for Wu and Lee for Yang and Chen sword, suited me and my goals both spritual and physical.
Part off choosing a good teacher is looking at their attitude towards students. Is the teacher truly interested in the students goals, or is the student merely fodder for the teacher's bank account, or ego boost, or other selfish motive? A student can benifit from a selfish teacher, or any teacher, but the benefits are very limited, and there is a danger of harm to the student.
Embarking on the study of so intimate an art as tai chi requires trust in the teacher. The student should not have to worry about their progress based on what they can provide to the teacher. The teacher needs to be ever mindful of the progress of the student and do everything reasonably possible to help the student achieve their spiritual/physical goals. When the teacher does this, the teacher is being a teacher- a provider of knowledge to assist another in the Way.