Just an opinon but sims are great to get use to the contols. Much quicker to teach someone as the reversal thing is the hardest to get over. Instuctors will keep your new hobby fun by saving your plane several times when learning how. I think everyone has problems with a plane coming at you on your first landings. Things can happen fast 10 ft off the ground. Getting to slow at that altitude is quite a test. Getting the plane slowed down on approach then slight nose down until a foot or so off the runway on a natural glide and you will never stall on approach. After a few landings with no instructors help its time to take away the umbilcal cord (just for humor) or you will get dependent on him. Hope the advice on the landing approach helps out. My instuctor told me that when I started and have used it ever since.
Happy Flying!