What Next:
No, you have to be honest and open. You cannot believe for an instant that you are the only source of information to your students. They read books, magazines and various internet forums like this one. They know the milestones, and to make matters worse the magazines only publish the successes of the 16 year who went solo after just 10 hours, or the 17 year old issued with a licence on his birthday after just the minimum required training. Those examples would be exceptional cases and the student needs reassurance that they are not lagging behind. Similarly, you have to be honest when things aren't going so well. Will the student make progress if there is no trust or respect for the instructor?
Hiding the negatives denys them the ability to improve on there mistakes and saying things like: "you really are the only student who turns up on time but xxxx was not good" may be with good intentions, but sounds patronising.
Yes they have to be given positives and made to realise what has been achieved during the lesson, but overall you must be honest.
My method:
First of all ask the student what they thought (you will get an indication of there confidence and how they feel they are progressing, as well as getting them to analyse what went wrong - because most of them do recognise it).
Second, discuss the negatives.
Third, explain to them how
we will address those negatives.
Finally, tell them what
they did well.
In some cases it is not always lack of ability but, lack of motivation. Students who are making errors in flight because they are not doing the work at home, whether that be ground studies or re reading the exercise they have just completed. I have a student who has good aptitude but is no longer progressing because no matter how hard you push, he cannot be bothered to do the ground exams. The one that he has passed is no longer valid and his knowledge is poor. He has been told to that extent. He had to be: he's throwing money away and his attitude to flying is all wrong.
With regard to the good students being boring. Not really. While I accept it is great to help a student of below average ability achieve a dream. It is just a satisfying to ensure the above average student gets a license in minimum hours.
