How can you teach yourself to be a teacher?
Maybe my program is different, but it is structured to teach pilots how to be "educators". Sure, can you teach yourself to pass an oral exam and practical test? Absolutely. But what if there is a program that can also turn you into an educator?
One thing I find silly in aviation is that the majority of CFI's get absolutely no practical experience teaching before they jump in an aircraft with a new student. I mean c'mon, my wife was a kindergarten teacher and it took her 2 years to earn her masters for it and she spent a semester observing a teacher and then a semester as a student teacher.
Just my two cents.
A lot of it comes down to common sense and observation. It doesn't take a text book and a paid "educator" to tell me what is the right and wrong way to teach someone. If there is one thing I have learned as a CFI thus far is there is no right or wrong way, because every individual is completely different. Traditional text book methods do not work with everyone.
Back to observation...I spent everyday at the airport while I was studying for my CFI, sitting in on one on one ground lessons, and sitting in the back during flights. I was able to see first hand how each person has different motivations and goals, and when to push it, and when to back off.
One thing I find silly in aviation are the CFI's that you mention, that cannot leave the textbook they were taught, and cause more problems for their students by their inability to think outside the box and over analyze.
Teaching people to fly airplanes comes down to the student having trust and confidence in the instructor. It's as simple as that. Granted the teacher has to give the correct information, but there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Keep it simple stupid.
Whether I had any "real practical teaching experience" before becoming an instructor? well, I'm 100% first try pass rate, 6/6. I'm very pleased with the way I went about getting my CFI, and where I am now, and most importantly, where my students are.