Learning to drive with a woman instructor - does it make a difference to how things are explained and how you understand them?

[hippmummy]

I'm wondering because (having failed 3 tests ) I am thinking of a change of tactic.

I know there is evidence to suggest that women and mens brains have differences in things like spatial awareness.

When I've been out driving with DH he is often amazed that I just don't see things the same way as he does and we row because I don't understand what he's asking me to to do sometimes, even though it's obvious to him .

Of course, I know millions of women have passed with male instructors. I just want to know from those who have experience of male and female instructors, if there was a difference in the way things were taught.

I know some women prefer to be taught by a woman, and it's never occurred to me to think why before.

Thanks x

I've had both and took 4 driving tests and I loved my female instructor. Interestingly, if I was having an off lesson she could predict when I was due on my period as she said that it is really common for hormones to affect your driving

They are often more patient and better at communication. But I find I can have more of a crack with men.

I've had 4 men and 1 woman. Woman was a bit of a bitch TBH and I got on best with the most patient of the men.

i failed, count em, 5 tests over the years. had numerous instructors. tried a woman on same sort of thinking (actually thought it might be more productive to have someone who was more interested in the road than my knickers, as id had some negative experiences there)

she was RUBBISH. worst person at her job of anyone ive ever met. im sure this woman was an anomaly, but my god i could have happily strangled the infuriatingly awful bloody woman.

my advice? find a recommendation if you can. ask about and find someone who was pleased with their instructor. (mind you, thats what everyone said to me but could i find one?? could i 'eck.)

good luck!

Thanks for replies

Interesting - on balance so far it looks like it's just down to the individual instructor, which makes sense I suppose.

Problem is, my previous male instructors were not bad as such (patient, praise when things went right), I just felt I came away from lessons not really understanding how I'd got things right or feeling vague about how things were explained.

Maybe it was just me after all .

am still learning at the mo, and i wanted a female instructor because i thought a woman might have more patience with me (i had visions of some bloke shouting at me and possibly making me cry...). and she is great (bags of patience) but i have nothing to compare her to. she is generally quite good at explaining stuff but i can be pretty dense at getting things-takes a while for stuff to click. but then i think i am rubbish at spatial awareness type stuff and no amount of explaining will help with that-just practice!

has taken me 22 yrs and 6 tests to pass. had other issues sorted out( couldnt stand people walking behind me never mind driving)decided in the end to learn in an automatic, although limiting has been life changing not having to focus on gears. passed finally with a woman but had to put up with mood swings and cancelled lessons due to period pains.

I was taught to drive by a woman a zillion years ago and thought she was great. Very patient, explained things very clearly and I didn't feel like a tit when I bodged up

i know where u r coming from, with the coming away and not really feeling you understand how u did something, or how you understood something.

I really think it takes time. I have also been asking alot recently. I do think my instructor, being a 'certain' type of bloke, 'forgets' alot, like what he has told me and hasnt, which i find frustrating. I had a male instructor yrs back that ws really on the ball. Guess you have to guage the person. I found mine a bit lax ( cos iam a stickler for detail), but also very kind, and a few lessons on we just seem to have formed a more eqaul relationship. if thatmakes any sense !!

there is a great site called 2pass.co.uk, where there is a great forum, discussing lots of the thoughts, with so many people having stuff in common.

I do think i would enjoy being taught by a female, but would prob end up doing too much chat!!

I had three instructors before passing - one very good woman, one complete tit of a bloke, and one very good bloke (with whom I passed, third time). I really think it just comes down to whether or not someone is a good teacher. Just because someone has passed their driving instructor exams, it doesn't necessarily mean that they will instinctively understand how to teach people, or how to motivate different pupils. It's always a good idea to go on personal recommendations, if you can get any.

Do you have an instructor at all at the moment, or just your DH? I nearly slammed my DP's head in the car door several times when he took me out practising - it's always a difficult thing to pull off with your partner, I think (learning to drive, I mean, not committing GBH. That's easy. )

Commiserations on failing. It is a horrible feeling. In my experience, passing/failing was largely a matter of luck.