Robert M. Gary wrote:
On Sep 12, 5:17 pm, Dudley Henriques wrote:
I agree, and I would counter that you don't have to shout or curse at a
student to gain that respect. In fact, with most students, that is
EXACTLY the fastest way to LOSE that respect.

Exactly. If the CFI knows what he's doing he would be in control of
the situation well enough to not need to shout and curse.

-Robert

Many, (all too many in fact) instructors make the HUGE mistake of
projecting right from the beginning, the exact opposite of what they
should be projecting to a new student. Through their actions, their
verbal expression, and their general attitude, they convey to a student
how well THEY can fly the airplane and how much THEY know about flying.
This attitude in many cases shows up in the cockpit as an aura of "I'M
in command here. If you do EXACTLY as I say, I'll allow you to learn
from me. If not, you can bet your ass you'll hear about it!!!"

The exact opposite is the "aura" the instructor should be projecting to
a student. You don't have to constantly make the student aware of how
superior YOU are. They already assume that or they wouldn't have gotten
in the airplane with you. What's needed is the creation of a calm but
professional projection to the student that is designed from the very
beginning to allow the student to mentally project that flying the
airplane is within THEIR reach, and that YOU as the instructor, are
there to help them reach that goal.

Instructors need to spend more time building confidence in students
instead of raising their voices at them. ANY raising of an instructor's
voice instills fear and apprehension in a student. It conveys to them
that something is VERY wrong, either with the aircraft, or with
something they are doing with the aircraft.It's very bad policy and
detracts from the value of the lesson.
I've started every primary student who has climbed into an airplane with
me with the same approach. In a calm quiet voice I explain to them as we
walk out to the airplane that flying is not all that hard. I'll be
letting them take the controls from the very beginning and that they are
NOT to worry because no matter what they do I won't allow them to hurt
either us or the airplane.

Once an instructor reaches the point with a student where they feel
relaxed and safe, confidence begins to build and real learning becomes
possible. All shouting and cursing at a student does is delay that
necessary point from happening.



--
Dudley Henriques