Just like another person has said 3 months ago, I had a wonderful experience doing online classes especially with Stella who is so patient, knowledgeable and supportive.
However, today on March 20th,... Read More
Just like another person has said 3 months ago, I had a wonderful experience doing online classes especially with Stella who is so patient, knowledgeable and supportive.
However, today on March 20th, after my first in-person driving class with Ma Zhen Guo, I was left shaken and completely lost confidence in my learning journey. Everything was okay at first but as soon as we started driving and I made some mistakes, he starts getting impatient and talks to me as though I should be getting it right from the beginning. For example, he told me to drive in the middle of the space in the parking lot in front of Tecnic, which I did at first but on the second time, I was not quite in the center and he said: "I already told you to drive in the middle." His annoyed attitude put me in a more anxious state than I already was because I felt that he would get more impatient with every mistake. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse. When I started turning right with the steering wheel for the very first time, he sternly told me "NO!" which startled me and he added "Your hand!" and I frantically corrected it but the process just felt like I had to figure out everything by myself and just feel it out in the moment while he drily told me what to do without any guidance and whenever I did wrong, I got scolded which does not make sense to me as this was my first driving lesson, a fact which was made clear to him even before we got started. Mind you, I am an adult over the age of 30 and this is how he treated me.
Then, when I'm at the verge of tears, trying to hold it in and just focus on my driving, as we move on to the road from the parking lot, he scolds me again for not making my turn sharp enough and so when we get to the intersection a second time, I ask him what are the steps to making a turn at this busy intersection we're at. Do I move the steering wheel right away first, or press on the pedal or do I engage both at the same time because he hasn't told me how to do anything at all, his directions are as bare-bones as "go/brake/turn right/signal" so I felt like I needed more guidance on the how since I was clearly not doing well. He answers "You'll get used to it." That's when I started crying because I felt so lost and I had to turn at that moment and I was thinking what if I mess up again and bump into a car or the sidewalk and he actually loses his temper? His teaching methods are so deplorable and his communication skills are lacking, as though he can't stand being a teacher. Even when I was crying with multiple tears rolling down my face, he did not reassure me in any way other than saying that my turn was better that time around.
I just called the receptionist to make sure I don't get him again and to be reassured as to my next instructor's behaviour because I really can't do another one with Guo even if you paid me. It was so stressful to the point I had to cry and it felt like he wasn't on my side although we were both inside the same vehicle.
After this traumatic experience, I can only hope my next lesson will not leave me feeling like a complete wreck. Looking back, I wish I had read the other person's review before booking a class with him because I'm already dreading my next class even though it will be with a different instructor... As a precaution for my next lesson, I will have to clarify beforehand that I want mutual respect, patience and support, all of which were absent in today's lesson. It felt like I was with a toxic parent who was begrudgingly attempting to teach me how to drive and that we were both on our first attempts... I do not recommend Ma Zhen Guo. His lesson was not worth the money nor the time. I did not feel safe on the road with him. I am still quite shocked that Tecnic, a reputable driving school, has such low standards for their instructors. I will have to ask to record my next session with how terribly this one went... Read Less