[OT] Teaching methodology

[Richmond]

"Based on my experience with teaching programming to kids who already 
have some programming experience but are self-taught,
I find that many of these self-taught programmers tend to focus on a 
very limited subset of one particular programming language
and ignore the other, richer features because they have not had a 
systematic introduction to the language or to general principles
of programming."

That is a semi-quote from an acquaintance of mine trying to teach 
progging to High School kids in China.

I would be grateful for lots of insight on my questions that stem from 
his statement.

1. Do children really need "a systematic introduction to the language or 
to general principles of programming" when it
come to working with LiveCode?

2. Is this bit true in your experience of self-taught programmers:

they "tend to focus on a very limited subset of one particular 
programming language
and ignore the other, richer features"  ??

3. Id #2 is true have you any ideas on how to get self-taught 
programmers out of their "comfort zone"
and leveraging other aspects of a programming language?

Richmond.