Old Dog, new tricks?

As I get further into this knitting stuff, I've begun to realize that I need a new way to knit. All the double pointed needles are getting in my way with these smaller projects. So I ventured out and asked a friend to teach me the continental method. Now I've been knitting a small swatch, trying to help my fingers get used to this. I typically knit rather loosely, but with this new method, I tend to knit very tight. sigh. I can't get my tension right on the yarn. But I have learned how to knit and purl with the continental. So I hope to continue this. Once I've got it mastered, I'm told I will knit much faster. that is indeed a good goal! But for now, it's slow going.....