Hey Marty, How are you doing?.
I'm From Argentina I'm a guitar player too, i've always played by ear and I entered to Institute, I like classical music but the teachers are boring, what do you think about the music institutes?.
When you started to play the guitar and how?, What did you hear in that age?
Well, I'm Waiting for your answer, and I hope see you in Buenos Aires some Day. Bye

Any way that you learn is acceptable. You can get something from anyone, boring or not. The trick is deciding what you think you need to know or not. Good luck!