Shiftabove2 — Local services in Roseland

My Learning Experience with Mike at Shift Above 2

After relying on Uber for over a decade, I decided it was time to learn how to drive. Unfortunately, my initial experiences with driving instructors were discouraging. They often criticized instead of guiding, creating more anxiety rather than building my confidence. I almost gave up on driving altogether -- until I found Shift Above 2 and started lessons with Mike.

Here are the key highlights of my experience with Mike: Clear and Uncomplicated Instructions Mike provides concise instructions without overwhelming me with unnecessary information, which can be distracting for a new learner. Professional and Calm Communication His calm tone is reassuring, making it easier for me to manage my nerves. Unlike previous instructors who raised their voices or questioned my actions, Mike maintains professionalism and patience throughout the lessons. Constructive Feedback Mike explains what went wrong and how to improve without making me feel discouraged. This approach helped me build my confidence instead of fearing mistakes. Innovative Teaching Methods He uses creative techniques to build muscle memory and explains these concepts clearly. His innovative approach makes learning more engaging and effective. Confidence Building One of my biggest challenges was overcoming the fear of driving at required speed limits. Mike helped me gradually push past this fear with practical exercises, enabling me to feel comfortable and safe on the road. Detailed Explanations Mike provides detailed explanations where necessary, such as switching smoothly between pedals, increasing speed gradually, and judging distances when approaching stop signs. Empowering the Learner He allows me to drive and make mistakes, learning through real experience. Unlike previous instructors who controlled the wheel most of the time, Mike empowers his students by letting them take charge. Focus and Attention Mike stays fully focused on the lesson. Unlike previous instructors who were often distracted by phone calls, he remains attentive, providing valuable feedback throughout the session.

Why I Recommend Mike and Shift Above 2

I highly recommend Shift Above 2 with Mike to anyone looking to learn how to drive. His perseverance, patience, and deep understanding of the learning process make all the difference. He helped me turn a daunting task into an empowering experience.

Thanks to Mike, I now have started to feel confident behind the wheel -- something I never...

My daughter learned to drive with Mike in high school. From the first time I spoke to Mike I was put at ease that he “understood.” My daughter has anxiety and has dyslexia. It was very important for us to have an instructor that was not only patient but was able to help my daughter be successful by truly listening to her and not dismissing her anxiety or fears. He validated her anxiety yet at the same time gave her concrete ways that she could work around the anxiety. He knows how to explain a concept in multiple ways. He teaches meticulous safety and critical thinking. He is encouraging and positive. Instead of simply telling her an error she might have made, he will tell her how the error can be fixed using real life examples. As a direct result of his patience and teaching style my daughter learned to drive and became a confident driver. He is a very student-centered instructor - focusing on building on skills at the student’s comfort level, so as not to overload or overwhelm a student. He also takes the time to create custom-made sessions depending on the exact needs at that particular time. For example, she had additional lessons just for local driving or just for highway driving. He also will offer concrete advice and recommendations for practice between sessions. Now, as a young adult in her 20’s my daughter has had some setbacks due to her anxiety after a minor traffic incident. We reached out to Mike, and he has helped her get back to driving with confidence and less anxiety. Mike empowers my daughter with knowledge, and self-confidence. As a parent I highly recommend Mike. Mike is also easy to reach and will always get back to you. I recommend Mike for your high school student learning to drive for the first time, as well as your young adult driver who could benefit from some additional sessions to bolster confidence, ease anxiety or practice or review a particular driving skill. If your son or daughter has anxiety, any special learning needs, or you want an instructor that will work as a team and is able to think out of the box to help your son or daughter when challenges arise, then I would choose Mike. My daughter and I both find Mike easy to talk to. He truly wants his student to become a comfortable, successful, safe, confident driver. My daughter and...

When searching for a driving school for my 16 year old, I didn't know where to begin. I called several local schools, only to be disappointed by their lack of decency with returning calls in a timely manner, or, I was faced with somewhat rude individuals who didn't give me the time of day. Mike was probably the 7th school I called, and he was extremely courteous and actually spoke with me on the phone for AN HOUR describing his way of teaching. I did not need to look any further as I was impressed a) that he gave me an hour of his time BEFORE I actually booked him, and b)his lessons exceeded our expectations. My daughter had never been behind the wheel and was extremely nervous. She cried a little on the first day before she even left the house. He was very patient with her and described in detail EVERY single aspect of operating the vehicle. He teaches in a way that I don't think anyone else does. My daughter compared notes with her friends who used different driving schools, and they all said, that their instructors basically got in the car, and told them, "Ok, Drive"...without any explanations, not even how to shift gears or operate the pedals. They were in disbelief when my daughter explained Mike's way of teaching. There is a whole psychology that goes into this, he even described how when the body tenses up due to nerves, how you are supposed to react, etc. It blew me away. Mike is very knowledgeable and I knew I would not trust another driving school. Mike taught her EVERYTHING from how to steer properly, how to operate the signals, how to shift gears, how to position your feet, how you should be properly seated, etc AND the main thing- HOW TO DRIVE the right way. I could go on and on, but all I will say is I highly recommend Mike, the owner of Shift Above 2! He also spent a lot of time after each lesson, when he dropped her off, explaining various things with me about her lessons. From crying on lesson 1 before she even left the house, to being confident enough to drive on the highway on lesson 3, I will say Mike is definitely the best teacher in the area. He also arrived in a timely manner and kept the appointnments we had made months prior. I fully recommend Mike Moran at Shift Above 2! Call him for yourself and you will see...