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I too would practice on an older car.
Here is a few pointers. I learned stick later at age 23 . I will give you a few pointers that NOBODY EVER GAVE ME that would have helped the light bulb go on faster.
1 - The Clutch is NOT and on/off switch, there is very much a middle ground. Letting up too fast and "dropping" the clutch at too low of an RPM is the cause of most stalls. Sit and Practice rolling forward. Put the car in first with the clutch fully depressed. Rev up to about 3000 RPM and practice letting the clutch out just til it starts to grab and let the car slowly roll forward ten feet then depress it again. Do this several times untell you start to get a feel for the "sweet spot" where the clutch starts to grab and acceleration begins!
2 - Once you learn the sweet spot the goal is to get the car propelling forward to exit the "sweet spot"(letting the clutch pedal up fully) before you burn up the clutch. The longer you stay in that sweet spot the faster you will wear out the clutch.
3 - Once a car is rolling you never go back to first until the car is at a dead stop. If rolling up to a light at more than 3 miles an hour and it turns green, go to second and begin your acceleration from there.
It is really about "working the clutch" and finding the right mixture of gas and clutch. But in this car as long as you give it ample gas you are fine. You kind of need to control forward motion more with the clutch than with how much gas you give it, so keep the RPM's up and work the clutch. I hope that makes sense!
As far as damage, unless you are really popping the clutch and whaling the gas, you will mostly just wear the clutch out faster. My first stick was a brand new car and I had to replace the clutch at 30,000 miles!
Now I have got it down, my CRV has 90,000 miles and the clutch feels like the day I bought it, and I sit in NY City traffic for hours which ways heavy on the clutch and my left leg!
Good Luck, do not over think, it is a feel, like riding a bike or playing drums. The more you stress the stiffer you get and the more clunky you drive.
Chill out and relax....be cool
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