is a 380 electric motor a decent motor for a beginner?

There has to be more to your question. It's like asking if a V8 is a good engine for a car.. well, what kind of car? Certainly not for a VW.. but maybe for a larger car.

Ok.. what do you want to put that 380 electric motor in?

Your sign-in name is cantflyyet.. as in cannot fly yet.. I would presume that you have not yet started out in this hobby and are looking for something to learn to fly.

There is a posting at the beginning of the beginners forum that RCKen put together' that has all sorts of information on kinds of planes to begin flying with.

"Looking for a trainer, what's available. (Updated5-6-07)"

I suggest you take a good look at this list (yep, it's a long one because there are a lot of good beginner trainer planes on this list) and pick one out and ask some questions about that plane.. then once you decide, get one, get to a club, join up, and find an instructor and learn to fly that way. You will save a lot of $$$ in crashed aircraft by learning to fly with an instructor and with the right aircraft.

DS.

i suggest gonig to a club first, finding out what sort of planes they fly (no point turning up with a big low wing gasser if they are flying park flyers) then find an instructor and see which planes they suggest