Mike Dawson of Tristar Driving School http://www.tristardriving.co.uk provides Q & A tips for intructor training.

1. INSTRUCTOR TRAINING

3. Open Questions:
Challenging
Motivating
An open question is likely to receive a long answer.
They ask the respondent to think and reflect.
They will give you opinions and feelings.
They hand control of the conversation to the respondent

4.  Example
 As follow-on from closed questions, to
develop a conversation and open up
someone who is rather quiet.
 What did you do on you holidays?
 How do you keep focused on your work?

5. To get people to realize the extent of their
problems
 (to which, of course, you have the solution).
 I wonder what would happen if your customers complained
even more?
 Bill Jones used to go out late. What happened to him?
To get them to feel good about you by asking
after their health or otherwise demonstrating
human concern about them.
 How have you been after your operation?
 You're looking down. What's up?

6. Closed Questions
A closed question can be answered with
either a single word or a short phrase.

7.  Closed questions have the following characteristics:
 They give you facts.
 They are easy to answer.
 They are quick to answer.
 They keep control of the conversation with the questioner.
 This makes closed questions useful in the following
situations:

8.  As opening questions in a conversation, as it
makes it easy for the other person to answer,
and doesn't force them to reveal too much
about themselves.
 It's great weather, isn't it?
 Where do you live?
 What time is it?

9.  For testing their understanding (asking
yes/no questions).
 This is also a great way to break into a
long ramble.
 So, you want to take your lessons
during your holiday from Uni –True?

10.  For setting up a desired positive or
negative frame of mind in them (asking
successive questions with obvious
answers either yes or no).
 Are you happy with your current employer?
 Do they give you all that you need?
 Would you like to find a better employer?

11.  For achieving closure of a persuasion (seeking yes to the
big question).
 If I can deliver this tomorrow, will you sign for it now?
 Note how you can turn any opinion into a closed
question that forces a yes or no by adding tag questions,
such as "isn't it?", "don't you?" or "can't they?", to any
statement.
 The first word of a question sets up the dynamic of the
closed question, signaling the easy answer ahead. Note
how these are words like: do, would, are, will, if.

12.  Closed questions prompting yes/no or short factual
answers are mainly used in a lesson context to:
 •elicit specific pieces of information from the pupil
 •gain confirmation that your understanding of what the
pupil has said is correct - an important feedback tool.
 You are likely to use closed questions
 •at the start of the lesson when you are taking basic
personal details of the pupil
 •at intervals throughout the lesson when you want to
check your pupil’s understanding
 •at the end of the lesson to sum up and agree on future
action.

13. Leading (assumptive) Questions:
One way of influencing a person is to ask them questions that are
deliberately designed to make them think in a certain way. Leading
questions include the answer, point the listener in the right
direction or include some form or carrot or stick to send them to
the 'right' answer.

14.  Leading questions
 are often directional in that, whilst they do not indicate an
answer, they close off undesirable alternatives and guide the
person in a desired direction:
 Do you think a mirror check could be a good idea in future?

15.  Note that not only words can lead the question.
 You can also lead people by your body Language and voice tone
effects, such as with subtle emphasis.
 You could alternatively add desirable carrots in the statement:
 "Would you prefer to take your test in Cheetham Hill or Sale
where the traffic is lighter?"
 Note how the traffic in Cheetham Hill is not mentioned, but the
link of lighter traffic with Sale will still make it more desirable

16. Keep your questions on the subject
Be specific – Target the area or subject in question
Prioritise the things that are important
Concentrate – Look well ahead and time your questions

17. Where do we begin to use Q&A?
Where we feel the pupil may know the answers – where they have already
been provided with the knowledge.
Where do we begin to use Q&A? – is it appropriate during Phase One?
Example: Controls Lesson: Have you ridden a bicycle? Have you put on a
seatbelt before?
Where would Q&A be deemed inappropriate?
Example: Controls Lesson: Describe how we use our mirrors when preparing
to pass a stationary vehicle.
The relevant knowledge has not yet been given – so the pupil would have
to guess

18. Crossroads viewed from Major Road

19. Crossroads
What routine would you use on approach to a crossroads?
What’s the difference between an open or closed junction
How would this affect the approach speed?
How would your speed affect the gear?

20. Work on your question-structure and composition
Then you won’t get bored or dry-up

21. Crossroads II
Where would the main observations be at a crossroad
Who has priority when emerging to go ahead
What position would you take to turn left
How would you deal with pedestrians at junctions

22. Crossroads III
What is meant by nearside and offside passing
What position would you take to turn left
How would you deal with pedestrians at junctions
Who has priority when emerging to go ahead

23. Crossroads IV

24. Crossroads V

25. Crossroads VI

26. OFF-SET CROSSROADS
Where would you position to go ahead?
What are the dangers in using your normal driving position in this instance?
How would you judge a safe gap in traffic when turning right
at crossroads?
How might this situation affect your choice of gear?

27. CLOSED JUNCTION #1

28. CLOSED JUNCTION #2

29. EMERGING
Why is it important to slow down in good time before a junction?
How could you improve your view to the right?
How would you judge a ‘safe gap’ before emerging
Where would you position to emerge left?

30. What routine would you use when approaching a right or left
MINOR ROAD TO THE LEFT
turn
Why is it important to time your signal correctly on approach to a Junction
Why is it important to brake in good time
How would you choose the correct gear

31. What position would you take on the approach to a left turn
What could happen if you approach too fast
How would it affect traffic if you approach too slow
How would you deal with pedestrians at junctions
MINOR ROAD TO THE LEFT

32. What routine would you use when approaching a right turn
What position would you take on the approach to a right turn
How can you judge a safe gap when turning right
How can you avoid cutting right hand corners
MINOR ROAD TO THE RIGHT

33. Forward Observation – Awareness & Planning
(Remember! Prioritise)
What precautions should we consider in respect of the left junction?
How will you deal with the vehicle on the left?
What other dangers do we need to consider as we approach the
Ambulance

34. Pedestrian Crossing
What routine must be used on approach to a pedestrian crossing
Why is it important to adjust your speed on approach to a pedestrian crossing
When must you stop at a zebra crossing
Why is it dangerous to wave people across the road

35. Pedestrian Crossing II

36. Pedestrian Crossing IV

37. USING THE
“WHY”
FACTOR

38. The Word “WHY” can sometimes be considered
Confrontational or Accusatory.
We should consider the context and perhaps consider
alternatives.
What brought you to that decision?
How did you reach that decision?

39. Is It Safe To emerge?
No
WHY isn’t it safe?
Because there are parked cars

40. Have you got a clear view in both directions?
No, I can’t see for all those parked cars
So how will you improve your view?
By using Peep & Creep ?

41. Is a signal necessary in this instance?
No
WHY isn’t a signal necessary
Because it wouldn’t benefit any other
road-user

42. Might there be Pedestrian Crossings
on this road?
Yes
WHY is that?
Because it’s a built-up area and the
sign shows a school nearby

43. Where will you check on approach to this parked
vehicle?
Interior mirror & Right exterior mirror
Why would you check the right Mirror
To check whether cars may be about to overtake
me

44. What about the consequences?
If you saw an approaching car in your right mirror
How would you react?

45. Approaching the Roundabout,
Where will you check first?
I would check to my right!
Why check to the right?
Because I would normally give way
to traffic entering from my right

46. NEVER BE SATISFIED WITH THE FIRST
REPLY YOU RECEIVE
GET DIGGING !!

47. You NEVER Find
Treasure Buried Just Below The
Surface
– You Have To Go On DIGGING

48. Meeting
What routine must be used when meeting other traffic
Who has priority when meeting traffic, where
there are parked vehicles on;
• Your side of the road
• The other side of the road
• Both sides of the road

49. Meeting
How much room would you allow a parked car
What could you anticipate happening around parked cars/and what
would you do about it
What would you anticipate a cyclist doing
What observations would you carry out before moving off again?

50. Who has priority in this situation?
What dangers might we anticipate ref the vehicles to our left?
What safety checks could we carry out?
What is meant by defensive driving?

51. ANTICIPATION II