If you're new to photography, we're pretty sure that you'd be scared of using a flash. And we totally understand why. The idea behind using a flash is that you need to know what light looks like.
If you've been into lighting for many years, then you know what a Gobo is. For the rest of us though, a Gobo is basically anything that go between a light and the subject. A softbox can be a Gobo, but the vernacular refers to it being more homemade and put together.
Working with natural light is one of those things that most photographers start with before moving on into other lighting techniques like speedlights or strobes. But funny enough, natural light is one of those lighting techniques that can be really difficult for some to get a handle on.