Don't expect to learn it overnight... Learning a 3D application, not just Maya, can and probably will be difficult. But the rewards are worth the time and pain. Find tutorials that deal with the interface first so that you can easily navigate through the program, then start with modeling. Use the help files if you run across a term you don't understand.

This sight and others like it offer great video and web based tutorials. Do a web search for "Maya tutorials" and you find a whole host of them out there. Find some that match your learning style.

Above all, be persistent. I am learning mayaso that I can add 3D to my resume when I retire. I have two years until I retire, so I'm allowing myself some time to get a good familar with it. I average around 3 hours a day on Maya.

Last bit of advice, don't be afraid to fail. Failure is not an end, just something to get around and learn from.