Flock1,
I don't think many ATCOs will have a problem with you requesting repeats of R/T messages etc, since....
1. it's always better to check and get it right than assume and make an a**e of it. This works both ways, too.
2. everybody makes mistakes anyway. Under pressure, I've turned "Golf Whiskey Yankee" into "Golf Winkey Wankey" and god was that embarassing.....
3. everybody starts somewhere, and in a few years time you might be sat at the front of a big shiny jet, speaking in that really cool accent they use
4. certainly NATS student ATCOs, possibly others, do a certain number of hours flying training so we know what it's like to be solo, scared and orbiting on downwind with an ATCO nattering at you!
And most significantly...
5. I have NEVER been given a load of verbal **** about delays, speed control, etc, by a low-hours PPL who is paying to do something they enjoy. Ironically the real grief comes from (admittedly a very few) commercial guys who are being paid quite a bit to do it!!!!!!!
Definitely take the chance to visit ATC if you can. Most ATCOs are very friendly, and there are now only a few that bite people on sight!!!!!