I learned on a mid 80's VW Rabbit, Uncle let me drive the car and shift it on occassion for him while we were out and about on errands.
My real learning experience is when I bought an 08 Scion tC. From the dealer to my house I must have stalled it about 5 times. In a matter of a weak I was good, and in a month I was great. 1 year later I sold it due to Osteochondrel Ankle fractures/injuries(bone fragments, torn cartiledge). I miss her, but it was so much work to shift the car and painful too :|