Where do I start in the middle?

[jsangco]

So I've actually studied several classes in college. I got to the 3rd or 4th level of Japanese and was able to read and write hiragana, kataana, and some amount of Kanji.

Queue a few years later, I'm interested in picking up not far from where I left off, and I stumbled on this site.

Problem is, this site has like 1000+ different podcasts with various different levels of difficulty, and I'm not sure where I should start.

There are still many verb conjugations and grammar that I didn't cover or learn (like conditionals and potential forms).

Which brings me back to the original question: where do I start?
If I start at the intermediate lessons what sort of information will I be missing that were in the beginning lessons?
What sort of grammar is covered in lower intermediate?
The beginner lessons?

If it helps, here are some of the conjugations I recall off the top of my head:
Dictionary, past, te, progressive, tai,

Thanks!

[jkid]

Have a look here: http://www.japanesepod101.com/help-center/the-courses/ it might be of some help. From your post I would say go with the beginner lessons. You can always check Newbie lessons when they come out just to see if there is anything they're covering that you haven't learnt yet.

You found us at a really good time because all our "series" have just gone into a new season.

[wccrawford]

jkid, I have to ask... Why does the 'new season' matter? Does a season start over from the beginning again, instead of building on where the last left off?

[jsangco]

Thanks for the, link, and fast reply.

[jkid]

Does a season start over from the beginning again, instead of building on where the last left off?

Some of the seasons build on the previous but some start from the beginning again. For those that build on previous seasons there tends to be a bit of review before new material is introduced so its handy to have the new seasons starting, at least that's my logic

[Taurus]

If you've got the patience, my recommendation would be to start somewhere near the beginning. For each lesson, skip forward to listen to the dialogue (which is always near the start anyway). If you can understand it then just go on to the next lesson without listening to the grammar/vocab explanation. Because if you're learning Japanese it's always useful to listen to Japanese, even if it's Japanese you already know, right?

[squirrelscuba]

the seasons do indeed change as each new one starts, and i have pointed this out before, but will do here again, that the original newbie and beginner lessons did start out easy but became extremely difficult too quickly. i do recall the cohost in the newbie lesson commenting "is this a newbie lesson?!!" and at times the host saying something along the lines of "well, this word/concept is even learning for me" or "where else would u learn such advanced japanese in a newbie lesson?"....

for me, the real change in style in the newbie and beginner lessons came after naomi sensei became involved, and those series of lessons i find to be more user friendly and controlled. so perhaps i would suggest the newbie lessons start at the style u series and the begginer lessons at Season 4?

those earliest lessons do have valuable content, and make great review/listening practice, but should perhaps be archived and a clearer start point should be indicated for those who are new to the jpod101 site.

[jkid]

that the original newbie and beginner lessons did start out easy but became extremely difficult too quickly.

I agree, Therefore, I think the Nihongo Dojo series is probably the a good place to start.

[gerald_ford]

Queue a few years later, I'm interested in picking up not far from where I left off, and I stumbled on this site.

Problem is, this site has like 1000+ different podcasts with various different levels of difficulty, and I'm not sure where I should start.

Hello, speaking from similar experience, I'd start on something "easy" like the beginner ones and work your way up. I studied in college the same kinds of things, and until I went through the basics again, I didn't realize how much stuff I either used incorrectly, or misunderstood. So, it's actually not a bad idea to really, really get the basics down. I got through the first 100 or so lessons of the beginner series and have started to branch out ot lower-intermediate stuff now that I have a better grounding in some things.

Hope that helps!

[hajime]

I was/am a newbie, but have been studying intensively since August. I asked this same question after blasting through all the newbie lessons that were available. Marky (I think?) recommended going through beginner season 1 (I call this the 消火ホース, the fire hose). It's true it's a bit on the undisciplined side but you will get a really intensive survey of the foundational elements of Japanese. If you are truly at intermediate level, it will go fast. If you're not quite there yet, you will learn a lot.

While doing Beginner Season 1 (I'm at about lesson 140) I'm also doing Beginner and Newbie Season 4 simultaneously. I have found this to be very valuable because Beginner Season 4 is much better at consolidation and review (and yes, Naomi sensei brought a lot of order to the series!)

If anything, I would do a survey through beginner season 1 and see how much you know. I get the sense that once you get somewhere in the range of lessons 50-100, you will start hitting stuff you didn't know. Take a look at the cell phone lesson, I think it's around 98 or so. Beginner level? I'm not so sure...