Create a container <DIV> for the page, you then want to create your content <DIV>'s within this container. If you position: relative then all should line up.
I'd suggest HTML Utopia: Designing Without Tables Using CSS from
www.sitepoint.com you can get a selection of chapters via PDF prior to purchase. Also have a look over the site as it has a good selection of CSS stuff to learn from.
Tables are the best way to layout tabular data, however I never got on with embedded tables within tables for site layout. CSS is definately the way to go, but it takes a bit of getting you head round.
PS I hope it wasn't your college tutor suggesting using tables for layout
