I don't know where to start Absolute Beginner or Beginner

[johnfb]

I don't know where to start. I don't know if I should be doing the lessons in Absolute Beginner or Beginner. I really do not know the difference between the two. I don't just want to memorize "canned" phrases. I want to learn everything: vocabulary, grammer, culture, idioms, idiomatic expressions, slang, etc. So, where is the best place to start ... and why?

john.

[adelholtz_499460]

Well...
Absolute Beginner is a very direct approach trying to teach how to talk and listen basic sentences fast and without overloading you with to much information.
Theres basically as good as no grammar but the absolute basic must knows to get you around the dialogues and principles taught to you in the lessons.
Absolute Beginner is a good place to start when you dont have any prior knowledge or you just want to build up your vocabulary and get a basic understanding of the language before you start the "deeper/harder" courses.
At least thats how is see it.

Beginner ist a bit more challenging with deeper explanations of grammar. But does basically cover about the same vocabulary maybe a bit more.

So my recommendation would be: if you never learned Japanese before or have very minimal knowledge, start with the Absolute Beginner Series. It will give you a good and a vocabulary/kanji foundation you can work with in "higher" courses.

After Season1 or 2 you can head to the Beginner Series and will have an advantage concerning your vocabulary. You can then concentrate on studying grammar.

Thats the way i did it at least and i found it to be a good approach.
You can work throught the absolute beginner series in about 1-2 Weeks, depending on how fast you learn and how much time you have to spare.

[community.japanese]

adelholtz san,

Thank you for the useful advice.

John san,
I am not sure whether you have learnt Japanese or not.
Please try Absolute Beginners and if it’s too easy for you, please go to Beginners.

Yuki 由紀
Team JapanesePod101.com

[johnfb]

Thank you all for the advice. I did study Japanese when I was stationed on Okinawa. But one does forget a lot in 44 years. For that matter 44 years ago the people of Okinawa spent dallars and drove their car on the right hand side of the road. I want to go back to see haw much it has changed. I loved Okinawa very much.

[lauralanda]

Hello johnfb,

Thank you for posting!
Why don't you try our Premium Plus subscription to JapanesePod101.com?
It includes: professional level assessment, a personalized study curriculum and 1 to 1 hours with a native professor (plus all the other benefits of the site). You can check all the information on the link titled "Upgrade" (top right corner of the screen).

Let us know if you have any question.

Regards,
Laura
Team JapanesePod101.com

[adelholtz_499460]

Can you get a premium plus subscription for just one or thwo month?
I already have a premium subsription but it would be interesting to upgrade for 1 or 2 month to plus once in a while.

[community.japanese]

Johnfb san,
44 years ago…I am not sure how much it changed.
Please go to Okinawa again and report us the change.
Yuki 　由紀
Team JapanesePod101.com

[lauralanda]

Hello adelholtz,

Thank you for posting.
The answer is yes! You can get the Premium Plus Subscription for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months or 24 months
Please find the full information on the link titled "Upgrade" (top right corner of this screen).

Let us know if you have any more questions.

Kind regards,
Laura
Team JapanesePod101.com