Although I prefer to leave the training to others, due to witnessing events as Rob Engh described, I’ll save a copy for later reference, just in case.

I also second the unpredictability of new shooters’ reactions. I once had a young woman burst into tears on the skeet range. I hadn’t done anything different with her than I did with any of the dozens of other people I’ve taught to shoot a shotgun, including several of her friends that same day. And she definitely would not try again.

The other point that might should be mentioned, particularly if you are teaching beginning women shooters, is to take all the tactical-speak out of your vocabulary. Treat the gun as a mechanical device that they are simply learning to use safely. A lot of guys cloud the issue by incorporating some half-ass mindset and tactics lessons. Just teach them to use the gun first. Keep in mind that if someone isn’t familiar with how to use a gun yet, talking to them about using it in life and death circumstances is just going to intimidate and stress them. Let them build confidence with the gun purely from a marksmanship and gunhandling perspective. Those other things can come later.