Best Way to initial CFI?

[JLF]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I really appreciate it. One more question. How do I put the lesson plans together? Is there a guide to what needs to be in each section and what order?

This "cover page" is used as an outline for an instructional period.

Lesson Objective
Elements
Schedule
Equipment
Instructor's Actions
Student's Actions
Completion Standards

Then onto how you're going to teach this subject (the real work).

Introduction
--Attention
--Motivation
--Overview

Development (teaching the elements of the lesson)

Conclusion (Summarizing the main points of the lesson)


This is what I do.

 

[ATPtoATC]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I really appreciate it. One more question. How do I put the lesson plans together? Is there a guide to what needs to be in each section and what order?

The FOI has plenty of information on how to construct a lesson plan. Don't worry, your first couple are going to suck. As far as lesson planning goes, do a 3-4 of them and then TEACH from them. You need to teach 2 groups of people. First, teach your instructor or others that already know the information. This will give you a higher chance of making sure your information is correct. Second, teach your mom. Mom's are great at asking dumb, honest, great, thoughtful and completely misinformed questions. THEN, complete the rest of your lesson plans. Which ones to do? Well, thats kinda the point of the CFI, that YOU are in charge. YOU decide which lesson plans to include and how they will be written.

Lastly, so answer your original question. The best way to do your CFI is somewhere that ends in a job. This job market is very very tight. Getting a CFI job is still difficult and at many places, the difference between getting a job and not is the fact that they know the guys they taught already. Doing your CFI is like a job interview at many places. If you put in good work, they will hire you at the end. There is NO RUSH to get your CFI done if you don't have a job on the other side.

 

[jeremym0411]

I would get the King DVDS. I watched the dvds about 10 times! I also studied the ASA oral exam guide. I passed the checkride the first time! Every question i was asked was on the dvd or in the oral prep book. Hope this helps.

 

[cmill]

The speed that you finished depends on how much effort you put into it. I did mine in 3 weeks start to finish. Granted, i failed on the ground portion, after a 7 hour oral, but came back a week later, spent 10 minutes on the ground answering 2 questions, went and flew and came back a CFI.


Biggest piece of advice I can give is know everything in the PTS. Most examiners i've seen will just work their way down the list asking you the questions. The thing that helped me the most was getting my buddy, who was my CFI, and doing practice lessons. He would even quiz me at the bar. Also, computer test preps were a huge help, especially for the FOI. I did those over and over untill it sunk in.

Do what you gotta do to learn the knowledge, and you'll be fine. Also, its not the end of the world if you fail the first time around. The failure rate is tremendous for a reason. Its hard, and the FAA wants people to fail these, no two ways about it. Not tryin to scare you, but if it starts to look like the examiner is out for you, its because he probably is.

Good Luck.