I really regret not making this decision sooner. I should have switched instructors back around the 4th or 5th lesson. I always tend to be too considerate of other people's feelings. Why do I always worry about others' feelings? If it's not a good fit, it's not a good fit – no need to make excuses for myself.
The Instructor's Core Problem: Too Much Talk, Not Enough Drive
This instructor's main issue was talking too much and practicing too little. Every lesson, I'd drive a short distance, then stop. He'd repeatedly go over the same issues (like turning too late or straightening the wheel too slowly), and he'd talk for 15-30 minutes each time. One lesson, we only drove 5 kilometers in 90 minutes!
I'm already prone to getting nervous, and listening to him just made me more anxious, making my driving worse and worse.
And the Explanations Lacked Method!
On top of that, his explanations lacked any real method. For example, when practicing turns, he'd just wave his phone around, but he never actually taught me how to tell when to straighten the wheel. Constantly pointing out problems without offering solutions just makes you lose confidence.
The Wake-Up Call
What really woke me up were the near-miss with the pedestrian, the minor parking lot incident, and missing the red light cue. With this kind of teaching style, it would be hard for me to pass the road test, let alone drive safely on my own.
The Decision and the Lesson
So, I finally made up my mind and switched back to the female instructor who was hard to book before. Her being hard to book makes sense now!
After 9 lessons with him and 3 lessons with other instructors, I finally understand: When learning to drive, it's crucial to find an instructor who builds your confidence and truly helps you improve.