Length Of Lessons
Sorry about this, but we're going to have to shout something to you.
YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF THE LENGTH OF YOUR LESSONS!
Driving schools and instructors will often try to persuade you that you must take two hour lessons for it to be cost effective - it's not true! At least, not for everybody.
As usual, such companies and instructors are trying to get pupils to do what suits them, instead of what suits the pupil. Think about it - if an instructor teaches four two hour lessons a day with half an hour's travelling between lessons, he needs to work a ten hour day.
If an instructor teaches eight one hours lessons with half an hour between lessons, he has to work a twelve hour day for the same income.
With two hour lessons the instructor can either get home earlier or squeeze in an extra lesson. Less work, more money. We're not saying that's a bad thing, just that they should be honest with you about the reasons for wanting to teach two hour lessons. Instead, they will try to baffle you with stories about how one hour lessons don't make the most of your time in the car - it's nonsense if they are planning lessons properly.
Two hour lessons are extremely tiring (most pupils cease to learn after an hour and a half) and, as a result can be demoralising and cause the pupil to stop looking forward to them - something that should never happen. If you don't actually look forward to your lessons, you need to think about changing instructors. Learning should always be enjoyable.
If your school or instructor tells you they only do two hour lessons, say goodbye.
Here are reasons to help you decide if you would like one or two hour lessons:
Reasons for two hour lessons:
You live in the countryside and it takes time to get to an urban area.
Mock tests.
You have to pass your test in a very short time (such as being on leave from the Forces) and you have no choice but to have an intensive course. Intensive courses, by the way, have a very low pass rate.
You enjoy two hour lessons and find it benefits you.
Reasons against two hour lessons:
It's tiring - tired drivers are dangerous drivers.
Little positive learning takes place beyond an hour and a half, making it less economic to the pupil.
They are expensive.
They are often demoralising.
They can become boring - even for the instructor.
Reasons for one hour lessons:
Less tiring.
More enjoyable.
Best use of time.
A well planned lesson means a lot can be achieved in a short time.
You are left wanting more - this means you look forward to the next lesson.
They are more cost effective.
They are less likely to be demoralising.
Too short to be boring.
Reasons against one hour lessons:
You live in the coutryside and it takes too long to an urban area.
Mock tests take more than an hour by the time you have had a de-brief.
You have to take an intensive course - although, even then, you could do, say, an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon.
You don't like one hour lessons.
Also please remember, there is no law that says driving lessons must be in one hour segments. There are plenty of instructors who will teach one and a half hour lessons. That's often a good compromise and might be worth suggesting to your instructor.
If you feel you need at least two hours a week to pass your test in reasonable time but you are finding your lessons a struggle, try two one hour lessons a week - it might improve things considerably. If your instructor won't try to accommodate you, you know what to do - find one who will!
