In Florida, 90% of the time the briefing and de-brief happened in the aircraft while taxiing, if they happened at all. I would be sent out to pre-flight the aircraft while the Instructor wrote up the paperwork for the previous flight with the previous student, and then he would come out and join me when I'd started the aircraft up.
Like I always say who would you rather was your instructor;
Gordon Brown of George Bush?
The problem with Americans is that they are just not British.