I had to teach my self how to use a transponder! My PPL instructors kept telling me just to say "Negative transponder" whenever I was givwn a sqwauk!! I did this for two years after getting my licence until I bought an a/c with a txpdr and thought i'd better use it!
R/T training wasn't great either. I used to spend hours working out how to go round the "controlled bits". I then bought a little ICOM receiver and would listen to Boscombe in the office for hours until I had heard nearly everything that could be said over the radio and now I never worry about the PTT button.
I had never fuelled an a/c when I finished my PPL and had to learn that!
In case anyone is wondering where I learned (so they can avoid it) I do know that they have improved their ways considerably!
