Hey, don't worry; we all started somewhere! Just two years ago, I didn't know how to do any of that stuff either; now I'm working for the same corporation as one of their lead network admins...
Asking questions is how EVERYONE learns... even when reading a book, you ask yourself "How" or "Why".
Anyways, what is the mail server domain (i.e.,
user@domain.com)? Are you sure the account has been setup?
It is practically impossible to teach good programming style to students that have had prior exposure to Basic; as potential programmers they are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration.
-Edsger Dijkstra