I think the best use you can make of chess engines as training partners is to set up winning endgames (e.g. King + Rook vs. King) and play out those against the computer. Practice until you've got them down cold, then advance to slightly more complicated winning positions. Winning a game where you have a clear advantage is an important skill to master. For most purposes, playing against humans is much more instructive than playing the computer, but few human training partners are willing to put up with playing the losing side of one-sided positions over and over again. The computer is the only one who'll happily do it and never complain.
How to use Chess software for beginners
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May 19, 2014
0
#3
Playing games against a computer isn't the best way to improve. The computer can't tell you what you did wrong, so you'll tend to make the same mistakes over and over. For improving, you'd be much better off to try to learn from books, videos, and other people. Playing people about 200 rating points over your rating is good if you can get them to tell you what you're doing wrong and how you can improve.
Having said that, playing a computer (and having a chance to win) can be fun. You'll have to install an engine into Arena that can be set at a very low strength level. If I were you, I'd download the Ufim 8.02 engine. Install it into Arena as a UCI engine, then go into the engine configuration and set the strength to a low level. Turn off ponder and learning, and turn on "DelayOnWeakLevels".
If you don't want to fiddle with installing and adjusting engines, you could try out the Lucas Chess program, which has a large number of weak playing personalities, all ready to go.
Ufim 8.02 download:
http://wbec-ridderkerk.nl/html/details1/Ufim.html
Lucas Chess:
http://www-lucaschess.rhcloud.com/index
Lucas Chess is way better than Arena (which is really not the best at anything imo) for learning by playing against engines. There are lots of other learning modules included in Lucas Chess that are terrific as well. Ditch Arena for Lucas Chess and you'll be much happier.
May 19, 2014
0
#5
Thank you HappyUngulate, EscherehcsE and pawpatrol for the advice. I shall surely try to implement the methods suggested by you all. 
Use tactical and defensive software. CT-ART 5.0 is the best deal with CT-ART 4.0, CT-ART Beginner, and Mating Nets packaged in. Practical Chess Defense is also great to practice avoiding checkmate and build a king safety awareness.
Why not just play games against yourself and write them down? Bobby Fischer used to do that. Weak programs tend to be very unnatural and unreliable, though I suppose SparkChess could be good practice.
I am a chess beginner and have Arena chess software. However, the engines in it are too strong for me to beat. Everytime I play, I lose. This depresses me and I don't feel like playing again. However, I want to improve my chess using Arena. Any advice is welcome.