Try the Chef's Choice manual knife sharpener. It isn't perfect, but it is pretty well idiot proof. Ought run about 30 maybe 40 dollars at Bed, Bath and Beyond, though for some reason mine was on clearance and cost around seven dollars. For portable use, the Lansky pull through with the black rubbery thumb piece on it is a nice value.

Though if you have time to kill, you can learn a lot by sharpening any old random piece of metal that you've pounded into a shiv on a brick. Passes the time.