Photo Frustration!

Taking a photography course and tomorrow will be my 3rd class. still not getting it :( all the lingo even confuses me and wow the numbers we won't even go there. I have had my camera for 3 years and always thought I took great pictures but......... not to sure if that matters now. When I took pictures in the past always used the auto setting. Now with me controlling the settings my pictures absolutely SUCK!! hopefully my class tomorrow will clarify a few things but not to confident it will. They say practice makes perfect so I guess we will have to see.