How would you feel in each situation, and which would you prefer to be in?
a)You're thrown into the deep end, but given clear instructions along the way as the person stands by and helps if you need it. The instructions are fired at you pretty directly ... but if you concentrate fully on the task at hand, you can just keep up. Afterwards, you're told that you did a good job.
b)Someone shows you how to do the task, then leaves you to it. If you come up against any problems, you have to use your own common sense .. though you know the person is pretty particular. Afterwards, the person takes a look at what you've done and critiques your work.