Top 5 test myths

Learners on Motorways??

DVSA guide to learners on motorways

The Blame Game

So we go for any exam/test and we fail, who fault is it??

For something like a theory test, it is YOU, yes YOU, for not putting in the hour upon hour of study. If you want something, then you have to work for it. AS the instructor I am there to enhance the knowledge gaining with Theory Test Pro and questions and help in the car.

But what about the practical test. You/Me or the examiner? Assuming as instructors are doing our jobs right, then again it’s your fault, you’re the one sat in the big chair, not me.

What, cough, splutter I hear you call. We all like to blame someone, and even I have done it, but at the end of the day you’re driving the thing, and if you fluff it then it’s your fault. Harsh, rubbish you say.

Think of it this way again assuming we do our jobs right you should pass right, BUT!!! You are not a machine, but are Human and capable of making mistakes, and sometime those mistakes happen when we are stressed, just like a driving test.

So the next time you fail anything, think for a moment, was it ME or THEM .

Remember we all make mistakes, it's not the end of the world, and WECAN DO IT!

Private practice when learning to drive.

A word on private practice, and why I think it is a great tool in keeping cost and hours down.

Driving your own car when learning is one of the best tools you can have when learning as long as you follow these simple rules.


· Practice what has already been learnt (that way I can progress onto teaching new things)


· Pupils learn country roads fast (go to town when possible)


· Don’t be afraid to practice manoeuvres in your own car


· One of the most important. Tell whoever is supervising what to look out for, they will probably miss those blind spots and mirrors if you don’t tell them.

Remember it is a team effort and we all of have the same goal, of YOU gaining a driving licence. I often get told my parents will not get in the car until I have 10 lessons! This can be frustrating for the pupil, so the simple answer is to get them to ride in the back with me on your lessons and show them how good your getting.

I also get told, we/I’m not buying a car until I pass. Why not, isn’t that why you’re learning to drive. READ the top of this page again “SAVE MONEY”

I know for some it is not possible or there is no one to sit with you etc, but for those who can, do it, either in your own car, or mum or dads.

Do it the right way and you won’t regret it.


See you on the road………..



Marcus

The Anxious ADI, My Best Atribute

Anxiety is real for those of us who suffer. I have suffered all my life! From the age of 5 I remember trying to mentally escape from the world around me. To this day when I catch myself doing the same thing. The causes of which are numerous and I’ll not go into that now!

I often get asked why do you not show it, when your teaching, the simple answer is, I’m in “CONTROL”, I know the “SUBJECT MATTER” inside out! Plus, I love doing it, it’s not a chore. And I “BELIEVE” in what I am doing, and why I’m doing it. Not reading from a script verbatim. 

So what do I think are my best attributes as an ADI. Listening, Empathy and able to adjust/adapt a lesson plan at will, and adjust to them, and keeping clam when there’s issues. All of these help’s my gain trust and rapport with the pupil. They often tell me I’m good at teaching, after replying, I am just doing my job, I ask why. Because your easy to talk to and have a calm way of teaching, not pushy and REAL! And last Intuition

Why Listening. Through listening you will find out their fears and opinions. It also lets them get anything off their chest in a none threatening environment. You’ll find out if your pushing too hard, or even if they a getting bored, both not good, for learning, and more besides, so next time you see an ADI at the side of the road for a bit, they may be listening to their PUPIL.

Why Empathy? It’s quite shocking the number of young people of both sexes that suffer from anxiety, and because I have suffered all my life, and have put in my own mechanisms in place, either from other people/TV, whatever, I can understand how it feels to be in blind panic or worry about something that’s completely nothing. Even if you haven’t just LISTEN, it’s important to them, and it’s not your lessons it’s THEIRS!

Why Adapting to them/and the lesson. It’s no good pushing ahead with your lessons plan if they having big issues with something. An example is teaching a turn in the road. So you have driving to the site, and they have stalled twice because of the pressure of traffic behind them. I go about this in 2 different ways.

11)      The more traditional, change the lesson plan to busy places and maybe some hill starts, with lots of help

22)      Keep the lesson plan, but fix the stalling issues when going from point A to point B

Each way has its benefits, and can be very pupils specific, as one way will not work with everyone. But my favourite, and the pupils from what I can see is option 2. Why? In my opinion they are not thinking too much about the issues of stalling as I have not dwelled on it by making it the main focus, thus keeping their anxiety low about it, they have fun learning something new, and help with the stalling issue’s on route to a new Turn in the road area.  For me this works as YOU the ADI have not made to much of a big deal of it, and have adapted to the anxiety. I have changed the lesson plan, but in a subtle way.

Slight clutch issues too can be sorted by subtle changes, one of my favourite is to change to route to slow traffic and keep them talking about them, music/anything. They don’t overthink therefore they don’t panic and stall.

Now your saying this is daft because every pupil is different, yes agreed, but that’s where Rapport comes in and only you the ADI will know if this will work with a specific pupil. Remember these are my own opinions as to why I am successful at what I do, and I do respect that others will disagree.

 I have spent a lifetime dealing with anxiety and have made HUGE mistakes because of it, and probably still will. Here are Three things that really helped me personally.

One thing I left till last, is intuition .I Spent 10 years in the SCUBA industry, and it is here where I believe I have honed my skills, these include the above, plus intuition. If you get it wrong in the water, then it can go bad, very bad, because I recognise the signs of panic, I got people to do things, they never dreamed of doing. A bit like I do now.

The support of my wife, I’ve dragged her around the world as Diving instructor’s, and have a guitar addiction. But without her as a sounding board, nothing would have been possible.

Life and amazing people. I have learnt from other’s, one of the biggest for me the Anxious ADI. The person who trained me, Thanks Matthew Bell. And Graham Hooper and his team for my BTEC 3.

Learn to drive in Banbury Daventry

Learning to drive with anxiety!!!!

Learning to drive can be a nerve racking experience, even if you do not have anxiety. Imagine what it must feel like making contact with someone you don’t know, the first lesson, how can I trust this person!!

I teach many pupils who suffer from anxiety or are extremely nervous, and guess what they all pass. So how do I know how to cope with these, for one I have suffered from anxiety from a young age, I understand how it feels to meet new people, and why people get so defensive on a first meeting. WHY because I DO THIS TOO.

It also helps me empathise with them on test day, as again they have to meet someone new and have them asses their driving for 40 or so minute.

So when you think its nerve racking, think how it feels when you have anxiety on top!