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Topic: Driving Lessons  (Read 13515 times)

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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #45 on: November 09, 2018, 10:02:50 AM »
Yeah, nothing wrong with switching instructors. They are a dime a dozen - it's an industry here.

My instructor was pretty wackadoo, in the sense that I'm pretty sure he was a Kipper (ugh) & I would probably dislike that more now than I did nine years ago... However, he was a decent instructor. He told me that hand over hand steering wasn't "wrong" per se. You wouldn't necessarily be marked down specifically as a fault for that. However, the main question for the examiner is, are you in complete control of the car? And the thinking is that with the threading the steering wheel through hands, no hand leaves the steering wheel (like it does with hand over hand), so it's thought you are better in control using the threading method, hands never leaving the wheel. I admit I'd never thought of it like that before. And you know, I only had to do that for a better chance on passing the test, I guess - but I actually thread now rather than hand over hand. Or I do a bit of both. So it stuck. 😂

My instructor totally understood I knew how to drive & that he was merely prepping me to pass the test here. We had a great time riding around & singing "In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginie, On the trail of the lonesome pine..." Hahahaha! He was such a freak.

My test, I was sure I had failed, because I almost ran a red light! 😮 Except I didn't, and it amounted to a well executed emergency stop. Lol. I was shaking by the end & expecting to hear I'd failed because of that moment. But the examiner said, no, it was fine and I knew you were in complete control of the car. Whew! I couldn't stop shaking for awhile after that.
« Last Edit: November 09, 2018, 10:06:50 AM by WhiteRoseSunflower »
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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #46 on: November 09, 2018, 10:18:16 AM »
How do you get on with your instructor?  I'm worried about the fact that a minor correction rattled you and the rest of your lesson was "all wrong".  Maybe you need someone else, who can express what needs fixing without making you feel stressed.  They are all just people.  Can you try a different one?

ETA: Now that I've read the rest of the thread, I say again, I know your instructor knows his stuff.  They all do.  To become licensed, they take a MUCH more rigorous test than we do.  But that doesn't mean he's a good fit for you.  I couldn't hear my first instructor (and he couldn't hear me).  I didn't bother with a second lesson with him.  I just went on to someone else.

It was a little more than a minor correction. It was a lengthy speech about being aware. Which, to be honest, was probably justified on Monday. I wasn't at my best. I It's the hearing thing that's really in the way. I always remind him when I'm getting in the car. But as the lesson progresses he gets quieter. I have to come out and say "I cannot hear you" and he'll get louder again.  That was making me very nervous, and I was a mess last Monday anyway. He'd given me several instructions that I missed earlier (turn here, etc.) because I honestly could not hear them or I'd mis-heard and then let me know that I'd not done them. 

Yesterday I was doing the correct thing and he said something that I heard incorrectly that led me to do something incorrectly, which he marked me down on. At the end of the lesson when we were discussing my performance, I told him I'd done them move because that is what I thought I heard him ask me to do. Seriously, I wish I had a hearing aid at this point. Although I don't know what that would do to help me with the accent and the unfamiliar use of some words. 

But basically I have been extremely nervous driving here because of not having been behind the wheel for a couple of years, in addition to the "wrong side" and the city traffic. On the road, everything is completely unfamiliar.  Ideally I would have taken me to somewhere  with less traffic and practiced getting the hang of the car itself, and then built up to city traffic on a Friday at evening rush hour, not done that as a first lesson.

With the hearing issue, the initial "sink or swim" approach just made things worse as far as my nerves. Which made me more apprehensive at every lesson. I was pretty much almost sick before the Monday lesson. :(  It just kind of built up until yesterday morning my mind did a "well, F___ it, you know how to drive. Just get this done and you don't have to do it anymore".  BCCF. So I'm past that now. I did well enough with the TomTom yesterday - I was completely calm and pretty much enjoyed that part of the drive. The hour zipped by, rather than dragging. So I know it's going to work out. I'm familiar with what I'm supposed to be doing as far as road signs and that sort of thing. I just need practice.

At this point I don't want to have to start with a new instructor unless things go south again. I am just resigned to saying "Sorry, I cannot hear you" several times during each lesson.  I'm booked in for my practical exam in five weeks.  I may still not do the approved steering method by then, but from everything I've read it isn't counted as a fault as long as you have control of the car. ("C"s get degrees is my motto at this point.)

If I have another lesson that turns out like last Monday's, I'll start looking for someone else again. I did try two places, and only one responded - that they were booked solid, sorry, with no indication of wanting to explore future dates. The other never did phone back. While I was out yesterday I passed a learner car with a woman instructor in it. That would have worked better, I think.  I can hear women's voices better. But... I'm almost there now.

I do have to say again that there is nothing wrong with this instructor - he is obviously a very good instructor. It's my hearing issue and the unfamiliarity with the Scots use of words (sometimes) that are in the way. It annoys the heck out of me, too.


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #47 on: November 09, 2018, 10:33:42 AM »
The instructor I settled on was a woman.  She had experience with learners with disabilities, as well as Americans.  She spoke loudly and clearly, and she was very calm.  I did come away from my first lesson with her feeling resentful, but I think we all feel that way a bit because we all have experience driving and then we're treated like new drivers.  But at my next lesson, she broached the subject... like, she'd sensed my mood and explained that she didn't care WHAT I did after passing my test, but until then, I needed to practice not doing my bad habits, and she was just there to help me do that.

I'd found her online and checked out her Facebook page.  Lots of good reviews.  She was an independent, not with a company.  I'm really glad I found her.  By the end of my second lesson, we were just chatting while I drove around getting comfortable with driving in the UK.  So relaxed and exactly what I needed.
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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #48 on: November 09, 2018, 10:57:39 AM »
Lucky you!  ;D


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #49 on: November 09, 2018, 11:04:48 AM »
Lucky you!  ;D

I suppose that's not helpful for you, is it.  Sorry.  :(  But if it doesn't get better, do consider looking for another instructor.  It should feel progressively better, not worse, as your lessons go by.  Your determination is inspiring, though.  You will do this!

And dude, I completely resonated with your mention of your instructor's accent.  Not being able to hear in addition to trying to decipher a strong accent... ugh.
9/1/2013 - "fiancée" (marriage) visa issued
4/6/2013 - married (certificate issued same-day)
5/6/2013 - FLR(M)#1 in person -- approved!
8/1/2016 - FLR(M)#2 by post -- approved!
8/5/2018 - ILR in person -- approved!
22/11/2018 - Citizenship (online, with NDRS+JCAP) -- approved!
14/12/2018 - I became a British citizen.  :)


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #50 on: November 09, 2018, 12:52:45 PM »
No, no problem! I meant it, you were lucky with your draw.  ;D

If the last one had not gone better than it did I was going to tell him I was taking a break from lessons for a bit, and going to do a serious search for someone else. But it went pretty well, actually. So as long as that trajectory continues, I'm good.

And I really need to be able to do this "as is" - hearing issue AND accent - to prove to myself that I can. It's important.  ;) 8)
[One does not avoid doing something, or quit, because it is difficult.]
« Last Edit: November 09, 2018, 01:12:43 PM by Nan D. »


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #51 on: November 09, 2018, 02:10:01 PM »
No, no problem! I meant it, you were lucky with your draw.  ;D

If the last one had not gone better than it did I was going to tell him I was taking a break from lessons for a bit, and going to do a serious search for someone else. But it went pretty well, actually. So as long as that trajectory continues, I'm good.

And I really need to be able to do this "as is" - hearing issue AND accent - to prove to myself that I can. It's important.  ;) 8)
[One does not avoid doing something, or quit, because it is difficult.]

I completely get that determination to do it "as is"!  Totally.  And I know that you will prevail.  I had one lesson with the-man-who-mumbled and then stopped doing lessons 'til after we moved.  Then I found my loud Welsh woman and she was perfect.  I did feel lucky to have found her.  She was exactly what I needed.  Passed on my first attempt with 'only' 4 minors (and she predicted all of them because she knew my bad habits).  I expect once you've done all of your practice, you'll have a better result than me.  You strike me as very capable.
9/1/2013 - "fiancée" (marriage) visa issued
4/6/2013 - married (certificate issued same-day)
5/6/2013 - FLR(M)#1 in person -- approved!
8/1/2016 - FLR(M)#2 by post -- approved!
8/5/2018 - ILR in person -- approved!
22/11/2018 - Citizenship (online, with NDRS+JCAP) -- approved!
14/12/2018 - I became a British citizen.  :)


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #52 on: November 09, 2018, 07:24:15 PM »
Nan,

I wonder if repeating the driving instructors request would help?  If he says "Turn left then take the 2nd exit in the round about" if you repeat it back it would ensure you heard him correctly and if not, the instructor would know and repeat it hopefully louder or clearer.


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #53 on: November 09, 2018, 07:33:28 PM »
Nan,

I wonder if repeating the driving instructors request would help?  If he says "Turn left then take the 2nd exit in the round about" if you repeat it back it would ensure you heard him correctly and if not, the instructor would know and repeat it hopefully louder or clearer.

This!

I repeated everything non stop when driving and during my test. It helped me concentrate in a weird way and also make sure I understood right.  I’m sure I sounded like a nutter but hey ho I passed in the end.


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #54 on: November 09, 2018, 08:17:43 PM »
Great idea Scott!  :)


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #55 on: November 09, 2018, 10:16:59 PM »
Yeah, I did that on the last lesson, after that one little issue.

And I did an out-loud monologue about road conditions, what I was doing, etc.  "...checking mirrors, clear, ok, putting signal on, checking mirrors, clear, ok changing lanes" etc. As mentioned above, one may sound like a nutter but that way when I'm actually taking the test the examiner will not miss the fact that I'm checking the mirrors, etc....  ;D


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #56 on: November 10, 2018, 09:29:01 AM »
Yeah exactly Nan. Hope it helps. I thought about it because I see them do it during the cooking show so that the chef knows that they heard him correctly.

Wishing you well on your practices.


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #57 on: November 10, 2018, 11:29:30 AM »
Well, I've got time for 7 more lessons before the formal exam, so hopefully I can get it right. Apparently I did "much better" last time. (Which would have been impossible not to do considering how I was last Monday. I still don't know what that was about - maybe the elections were bothering me more than I knew.)

I also have a bit more of a breather now.  I had really wanted to be able to fly back home in January. Given that one of the places I was going is still smoldering, pushing that back several weeks is now the plan. But I want to get us in and back out again before Brexit date. I'm looking at the first driving exam as a practice run-through. In the unlikely event that I pass (there's only a 49% pass rate on the first time through), fine. If not, I'll know what to expect the next time.
« Last Edit: November 10, 2018, 11:34:51 AM by Nan D. »


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #58 on: November 12, 2018, 09:02:45 AM »
Well, gearing up (no pun intended) for another lesson in a few hours. It will go better. A lot of the pressure is off - California is on fire, so I may not be going back early in the year as I had hoped. It may have to be later on.  I know how to drive, I just need to know how to pass the test. BCCF!  And it's a lovely day out, no rain. So it will go well.


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #59 on: November 12, 2018, 10:11:19 AM »
I know how to drive, I just need to know how to pass the test. BCCF!

I have to ask what BCCF means.
I googled it, but didn't see anything that looked relevant...  [smiley=dunce.gif]


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