Private acting coach?

What does my acting coach mean by this? Please help!?

• I am 20 and an aspiring actress. I am currently taking acting lessons. Here is where the problem comes in my acting coach pulled my aside one day and told me "She is unable to teach me anything about acting, and wouldn't get much from her". She mentioned that should would rather me get hands on experience on stage with other professionals and would excel much faster. She told me that I am a very good actress in the beginning stages of the class, but sometimes come off as shy (Which is true I am shy). She also mentioned to me that she has noticed that in working with me I am someone with high intelligence compared to others in my class around my age and older and have a really good voice, but need to work on making it sound more "grown up". I sometimes come off as child like as I don't look like a 20 year old to some ppl. I look like a high school student. On the last day of my acting class with her she told me that I have excelled alot and of all her students I am the best at excelling when it comes to working alone. She also recommended me another acting coach to study with and told me she thinks I will learn and work better with him. What do you think about what my acting coach told me? It's just i feel a little offended, but not sure if I should be. It's just to me it came out as I am unable to learn anything and am unteachable. I'm flattered by the positive comments, but its certain parts I feel a little confused with.

• Answer:

  No she's not trying to insult you. She just recognizes that you learn more individually. Meaning, you'd learn more from being with another actor who is your mentor. We all have different learning styles. She just didn't think that HER style of teaching was best for YOUR style of learning, and she was trying to give you advice on what path to take to improve yourself the fastest. Being shy is just something that people need to work on. She was just being honest with you becase she is your teacher and wanted you to improve. Making your voice sound more grown up might be that you need to speak more eloquently, or with more assuredness, or more strength. Be confident in what you are saying, then you will be seen as more of an adult. If you look like a high school student and that bothers you (I mean it's good to look younger) you might try dressing older. Fancier looking shirts, or suit shirts, with modest necklaces and clean/fit looking jeans and a pair of heels. Or slacks with a fancy belt, a casual/slightly dressed up shirt, and flats. You know, just something kinda older but still fashionable looking. Not just jeans and a t shirt. But yeah, she wasn't trying to insult you. She was just giving you advice on how you can improve yourself and what teaching method she thinks would fit you best. As as actress you are going to need to get used to both positive and negative feedback, and use all of it to improve yourself.