Who told you balsa built planes are not good for beginners? WRONG.
You said you have an instructor ready to help you.
Look at Kens list, there are a whole slew of good trainers. Most, if not all, are of balsa construction.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm
PS: to answer your question about the Smoothie. Looks like an ok airplane but won't handle wind very well and the cost to get it in the air would be somewhere close to a Ready To Fly glow model.