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Step 1
Look at the configuration of the gears on the stick shift. You can see a basic double-H pattern. Typically first gear is in the upper left with the other gears in sequence. Reverse is usually in the lower right position. Depending on the number of gears in your car, there may be several vertical posts on the basic double-H shape. The horizontal bar is neutral. That means the car's transmission is not in gear.
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Step 2
Put your left foot on the clutch. Move the gearshift from first into second, from second into third and so on. Get a feel for where each gear is because you can't always look down when you are driving. Also get a feel for where reverse is.
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Step 3
Have someone drive you and the car to a safe place where you can practice driving with the manual transmission. You might use a church's parking lot during the week. Make sure the practice area is level.
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Step 4
Engage the parking brake. Start the engine with your foot on the clutch. Release the parking brake as you put the car into first gear. Gently let out on the clutch while you give the car a bit of gas with your right foot. You should feel the transmission engage and the car should start to move. If you do this incorrectly, the car may buck and stall. If it does, try again until you get the car to move forward in first gear.
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Step 5
Stop the car. Put your left foot on the clutch and your right foot on the brake. Failure to clutch causes the engine to die.
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Step 6
Start the car in first gear again. This time, shift into second gear when the car gets a bit of speed. When it gets even more speed, shift again. Each car is different. You can watch the RPM's on the dashboard to learn when the optimal time to shift is for the car.
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Step 7
Learn how to start the car on a hill once you know how to get it going on a flat surface. It's a bit tricky to clutch and give the car enough gas for forward motion. Using the parking brake and releasing it at the right moment can help insure your car doesn't roll backwards.
