Work on improving your instrument scan in the cockpit. It seems as though your CFII is putting the cart before the the horse. You should not be shooting approaches and entering holds if you don't have the basics down. BAI flying, constant airspeed climbs, constant airspeed descents, constant rate climbs, constant rate descents, standard rate turns, climbing and descending turns, all these should be done prior to starting approaches and holds. Approaches and holds should be gone over on the ground after the above has been done. Visualizing where you are reference the VOR is critical in how you will enfer the hold and where the radial for the hold is.