What kind of bike is it? The shifting on a modern road bike isn't all that different than it is on any hybrid or mountain bike. The shifters just aren't in the same place, that's all.

Toe clips? If it's a new bike, they often come with cheap pedals with cheap toe clips. They are basically throw-away pedals because bicycle makers expect people to put their own choice of pedals on them, so throw them away and replace them with something decent. Don't try to learn everything at once. At the very minimum, take the toe clips off and just ride on the pedals unclipped.