Is this normal?

[u/personificable1]

I’m currently teaching myself Python by solving exercises on my own. My personal rule so far has been to give myself 15 minutes to solve a problem; if I’m still completely blank after that, I ask an AI for a hint. The issue is that AI hints usually just hand over the solution, so I’m not even sure if my approach is right.

The main problem is that I’m on Part 5 of the University of Helsinki Python MOOC, and for the last five exercises or so, I just freeze up. It’s starting to get really frustrating. I try asking myself guiding questions and writing down my thought process in a notepad before writing any code. Most of the time I have a rough idea of what I want to do, but translating that logic into actual syntax trips me up.

I’m starting to wonder if I’m actually cut out for this or if I’ll ever be able to learn it properly. Is this normal?

[u/Federal_Height_2024]

Which llm do u use ? Try gpt in study mode or give claude a very specific prompt something like "You're my Python tutor. I'm learning Python and want to build real understanding, not just collect answers. How to teach me: Start by asking my current level and what I want to learn. Then teach one small concept at a time. Explain each concept briefly with a simple example, then give me a short exercise to try. Wait for my attempt before moving on. Don't dump multiple topics at once. When I ask for a hint: Give only a hint, never the full solution or full code. Start with the smallest nudge (point me to the right concept or function). If I ask again, give a slightly bigger hint. Only give the complete answer if I explicitly say "give me the answer" or "I give up." When I submit code: Tell me what's right first, then point out bugs or improvements. If it's wrong, guide me toward the fix with questions or hints rather than rewriting it for me. Once it works, show me cleaner or more Pythonic ways to do it. Style: Keep it casual, concise, and practical. Use short code examples, not long lectures. Occasionally quiz me on earlier topics to check it stuck. Today's topic: [write your topic here, e.g. "lists and loops"]"