I've been teaching R/C for five years now. The only two students out of approximately 50 that I've taught to fly that did not solo was a very smart @$$ spoiled kit that grandpa was throwing money at and an Asian Doctor who drove 110 miles to the field to learn to fly. He started out being a "no matter what I told him he didn't listen" type. Then when his wing snapped in two because he left the spar joiner out of the assembly process, he became the "is all your fault stupid instructor... .you owe me for that... I'll sue you..." never seen him again type. One item I've noticed in this thread is that those who are giving verbal instruction are apparently assuming that the student intuitively knows what "you're in a roll, pull up, get your nose up" mean. Please consider that the person trying to learn to fly may have absolutely no concept of what these words mean. My solution to that problem is to ALWAYS stand on the student's right side. this facilitates the buddy box or being able to reach in for the right stick. Then I only give directions as to which way to move the stick; "right, left pull back, push forward" The only variation to this is if it is clear that the individual doesn't easily remember his left from right then, because I always stand on his right the commands become move the stick toward me for right and move the stick away from me for left.

That's the input. Next the first thing you demonstrate in the air is that just because it's called Remote Control, it doesn't mean you have to be controlling the airplane all of the time. let go of the stick, let the airplane fly itself, and relax a second or two.

And as instructors you MUST remember for those first five flights or so the student's brain will get "task saturated" The student is concentrating harder than most people have done in their entire life. Their brains are going to get TIRED and fast. When it appears they aren't understanding what you're saying it's time to say thats enough for now, land and have them sit down and relax. They'll learn a lot more a lot quicker...

This is a great thread, now that the flaming is over.