I agree with a lot of other people and think you should get electric. Electric fly slower and when they crash, they tend to survive alot better than glow. I have flown the Hobby-Lobby Mini Telemaster (with modified bigger control surfaces) and think it is a good plane to learn on (only thing is, its a kit, but only takes 20 hours to build). Its three channel (left, right, up down, faster, slower) which is good becase a lot of beginners get confused with 4 channels (Roll- left, right; Yaw - left, right; up, down; faster, slower). Students get confused with 4 channel because on the ground, you use rudder, and in the air you use aileron.

I have taught all of my students on 3 channel planes first.

Cheers