Fast Learner vs Hard Worker

I recently started attending ukulele classes. I wanted to learn it 2 years ago, and this year is the year for me to take actions.

As I got my ukulele instrument way before attending the class (I got it as a gift from y my 2 best friends), I got the chance to practice by myself at home. Thus, I was more familiar with the 4 basic chords (C Am F G) for ukulele, I played better than the other 5 students in the same class who just got to touch on their ukulele on the first day of the class (the course offers a free ukulele to the registered students).

A student was rather slow catching up the pace of the course, even in the second lesson, he still has hard time playing with the 4 chords and a simple strumming pattern. He claimed that he has shorter fingers and he raised a question on how could he change chords faster.