Aisha came to me after about ten lessons with another instructor. She had the basics and her clutch control was quite good but had no idea of Rules of the Road, Planning or observations.
This is not uncommon at this stage but when I coach a pupil these skills are introduced on the first lessons rather than added on later. I believe that the earlier you learn these things the more ingrained they become and the more easy they will be to pick up.
It was clear from the start that Alisha had been over instructed as she would not make a single decision for herself. The car would be screaming at 25mph in 2nd gear and she would ask "Shall I go to 3rd?" A couple of times I said "No"..."But it needs 3rd" she asked in confusion, "So why did you ask me?" I laughed and then she changed.
My pupils quickly get used to my light hearted and sarcastic manner as I firmly believe that they need a safe and comfortable environment to learn efficiently and this is best achieved, in my opinion at least, with humour and good rapport.
Alisha had been driven, for her lessons, to a local "nursery route" that is almost exclusively used by driving instructors and is a place I avoid like the plague. It is not unusual for pupils to have up to 20 lessons along this long straight road and the small block of roads around it.
The first thing I did was ask Alisha if she wanted me to drive for 2 minutes to a quietish road hear her and then let her drive. Her car control was fairly good but what I was looking for were the Magic basics that would let her spread her wings.
A. Could she steer and turn a corner with adequate control
B. Did she have enough clutch control to be able to move off at junctions
C. Could she use the brake effectively.
Once these three criteria are met I do not see any benefit in keeping pupils on quiet roads where they will develop a false sense of security.
I gave Alisha the usual chat about how I will keep us safe and if she is worried or panicky to let me know so I could help her. We drove along the road and turned around a few blocks and when I had seen enough we headed for the small, but not very busy, roundabout at the end. It was quiet at this time of the day but it let me know that she wasn't sure of where to look or how to judge when to go.
The lesson then turned into a series of small quiet roundabouts and lots of chatting about where to look, priorities and speed on approach. She coped really well and started to pick up the principle quickly.
At the end of the lesson she was buzzing that she had driven properly, albeit with a lot of support, and said she had loved it.
Alisha is not quick and bright but is very enthusiastic. She has a lovely warm personality and I am sure that we are going to get on really well in the future.
Sunday, 13 April 2014
Saturday, 12 April 2014
Douglas's first lesson
I had heard a lot about Douglas from his sister and was expecting a conceited young student based on her stories. She wasn't close to him because he had always tried to put her down in a sibling rivalry way without any intentional cruelty.
On meeting Douglas for the first time my estimate had not been far off except that I hadn't expected him to be so tall and self assured.
We had the usual talk about why he was starting to drive now, what he wanted to get from lessons and if he had a preference for any type of teaching style. He casually informed me that it didn't matter how he was taught because he picked everything up easily.
I asked him how he would feel if he didn't find the lessons as easy as he expected. He looked at me with one raised eyebrow and laughed. This would NEVER happen.
"I suppose that seemed really arrogant", he said, "..that's probably because I am. Not to be funny but I think I am justified because I am good at everything."
I actually began to like him from this moment. Yes he was arrogant but he was also honest about it and accepted that that was the way he was. We talked about what he was good at and it did sound as though he was right.
Fantastic grades all through a top school and a top University, accepted to study Law at Birmingham Law School, played sports at a county level, tall and lithe and probably very good looking to girls of his age. He admitted to never having had to put any effort into learning at all. Life was so easy for him.
So... how did he get on with the driving?
We didn't do a lot of driving on the first lesson because he was trying to discover how the clutch worked. He played around with it and realised if he brought it up too fast then the car would stall. The problem is that his fine foot control was not very good and so he kept stalling, swearing and growling at himself.
He was not at all happy that he couldn't master this new skill in a one hour lesson. However, even though he got very annoyed with himself, he never once showed any negative emotion towards me and he had impeccable manners and his sense of humour still came through.
A very complex young man who I am looking forward to working with but there is the worry that he may not come back after his lack of immediate success.
On meeting Douglas for the first time my estimate had not been far off except that I hadn't expected him to be so tall and self assured.
We had the usual talk about why he was starting to drive now, what he wanted to get from lessons and if he had a preference for any type of teaching style. He casually informed me that it didn't matter how he was taught because he picked everything up easily.
I asked him how he would feel if he didn't find the lessons as easy as he expected. He looked at me with one raised eyebrow and laughed. This would NEVER happen.
"I suppose that seemed really arrogant", he said, "..that's probably because I am. Not to be funny but I think I am justified because I am good at everything."
I actually began to like him from this moment. Yes he was arrogant but he was also honest about it and accepted that that was the way he was. We talked about what he was good at and it did sound as though he was right.
Fantastic grades all through a top school and a top University, accepted to study Law at Birmingham Law School, played sports at a county level, tall and lithe and probably very good looking to girls of his age. He admitted to never having had to put any effort into learning at all. Life was so easy for him.
So... how did he get on with the driving?
We didn't do a lot of driving on the first lesson because he was trying to discover how the clutch worked. He played around with it and realised if he brought it up too fast then the car would stall. The problem is that his fine foot control was not very good and so he kept stalling, swearing and growling at himself.
He was not at all happy that he couldn't master this new skill in a one hour lesson. However, even though he got very annoyed with himself, he never once showed any negative emotion towards me and he had impeccable manners and his sense of humour still came through.
A very complex young man who I am looking forward to working with but there is the worry that he may not come back after his lack of immediate success.
Friday, 11 April 2014
Let me introduce you...
I want to introduce you to two my pupils who I will be following over the next few blogs because their differing backgrounds, cultures, educational levels and general views on life are far apart that they can give a great insight into the polarisation of life in this country.
Douglas is a young talented 23 year old from a fairly affluent background and I could possibly describe him as one of the most arrogant people I have met in a long time. I do not see this as a problem because he has a lot of cause to be arrogant and wold be happy to be described as such.
He is tall and athletic looking, is in fact a talented athlete, and has striking aristocratic looks.
He is supremely intelligent and admits that he has never had an academic challenge in his life
because it is all so easy even though he has got a first class degree and is now doing an
addition degree in Law one year.
He has enough money to pick and choose his Universities knowing that living
expenses are not at all an issue.
He has a girlfriend whose family are very rich, 3 homes in the UK including
the country estate with a mile long private drive, homes on the continent
and in the US, and so he will not bring her home to his tiny 6 bedroomed
home in a very nice part of Solihull because he is ashamed of it.
He is going to work in the City as a corporate lawyer and will earn a very high salary.
So... why do I find I cannot dislike him
and in fact have become very fond
of him over his 12 lessons with me?
I taught his younger, less talented, dyslexic sister who told me that he had said that when she is almost ready for test he will take a few lessons and pass before her. She is a delightful but under confident young lady so believed him. Consequently, when I met him I had a few pre judged ideas about him.
I would like to add that his sister, Alice, passed first time before he had even begun to start and she is a lovely driver.
Alisha is a pretty, bubbly23 year old girl who has little ambition in life. She is currently taking part in an apprenticeship in "Admin" so has been placed in a charitable agency where she is getting free training and is being paid £2.70 per hour after she had completed her one month trial.
Her educational background is mainly vocational courses with a 40% pass rate.
I have a problem with these courses because 40% is a Pass but 100% is still
just a pass so there is no incentive to try any harder than the minimum to get by
because it will not be recognised. They are purely coursework based and there
is so much help (to massage the figures?) that there is almost an attitude of
"If I turn up I will get the qualification".
We are producing an almost underclass of youngsters who believe that education is doing the minimum to get by and getting an undervalued Certificate at the end of it.
The participants have no concept of Drive, Responsibility, Ambition, Work Ethic, Independence or, sadly, Personal Achievement.
Over the next few blogs I will be following the progress, trials and tribulations of these two very different potential drivers.
I hope you will join me watching the Soap Opera that is my daily life :)
Douglas is a young talented 23 year old from a fairly affluent background and I could possibly describe him as one of the most arrogant people I have met in a long time. I do not see this as a problem because he has a lot of cause to be arrogant and wold be happy to be described as such.
He is tall and athletic looking, is in fact a talented athlete, and has striking aristocratic looks.
He is supremely intelligent and admits that he has never had an academic challenge in his life
because it is all so easy even though he has got a first class degree and is now doing an
addition degree in Law one year. He has enough money to pick and choose his Universities knowing that living
expenses are not at all an issue.
He has a girlfriend whose family are very rich, 3 homes in the UK including
the country estate with a mile long private drive, homes on the continent
and in the US, and so he will not bring her home to his tiny 6 bedroomed
home in a very nice part of Solihull because he is ashamed of it.
He is going to work in the City as a corporate lawyer and will earn a very high salary.
So... why do I find I cannot dislike him
and in fact have become very fond
of him over his 12 lessons with me?
I taught his younger, less talented, dyslexic sister who told me that he had said that when she is almost ready for test he will take a few lessons and pass before her. She is a delightful but under confident young lady so believed him. Consequently, when I met him I had a few pre judged ideas about him.
I would like to add that his sister, Alice, passed first time before he had even begun to start and she is a lovely driver.
Alisha is a pretty, bubbly23 year old girl who has little ambition in life. She is currently taking part in an apprenticeship in "Admin" so has been placed in a charitable agency where she is getting free training and is being paid £2.70 per hour after she had completed her one month trial.
Her educational background is mainly vocational courses with a 40% pass rate.I have a problem with these courses because 40% is a Pass but 100% is still
just a pass so there is no incentive to try any harder than the minimum to get by
because it will not be recognised. They are purely coursework based and there
is so much help (to massage the figures?) that there is almost an attitude of
"If I turn up I will get the qualification".
We are producing an almost underclass of youngsters who believe that education is doing the minimum to get by and getting an undervalued Certificate at the end of it.
The participants have no concept of Drive, Responsibility, Ambition, Work Ethic, Independence or, sadly, Personal Achievement.
Over the next few blogs I will be following the progress, trials and tribulations of these two very different potential drivers.
I hope you will join me watching the Soap Opera that is my daily life :)
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