I think it has to be up to you to explain what you need and if the teacher can't provide it then it is time to move on. Different people have different styles of learning (and teaching).
I have a book that I bought because I saw one of the quilts in it made up. It had wonderful reviews on Amazon. I hated that book so much that I copied the pages I actually needed for that one quilt and burnt that $20 book so as not to inflict it upon someone else. Other people have told me how much they LOVE this quilter's books. I won't buy another and I won't buy a single piece of their fabric line because the book upset me so much.
My point is, I know that I can't use her stuff. So, I moved on.
I hope you find a teacher that you mesh with.