I think I agree with Jerry about the 'traditional' way of teaching modes, though it is a good idea to use C major as a base if the person has a grasp of C major at the outset. Otherwise it is easy to give the idea that dorian always has to start on a D note. But I maintain my point that all explanations need to be clear and unambiguous if they are to be effective, and I think this applies whether or not you use musical examples.

For me, assertions that guitarists tend to think in harmony not melody might be based on somewhat limited ideas of what guitarists do. I suppose that even the much derided technique of 'shredding' (which I have observed but not attempted) involves a mixture of both?