Where should I begin on japanesepod101?

[mrsspooky5154]

Hi there, if I may ask, I need some advice.

I am using Pimsleur's Japanese and am 1/3 of the way through the last unit, unit 3. If I can get to my lessons every day, I expect to have it finished in a couple of weeks.

There are three units of 30 lessons and it moves you through it fairly quickly. I'm nearly done with Pimsleur, but don't want my learning to stop there, hence my subscription to japanesepod101.

My question is, I've gone through some of the Beginner lessons, but so far they're all things I've already learned (except for the occasional new word or way of saying things). Is there anyone familiar with Pimsleur and where that would put me with my level for these lessons? I want to progress past Pimsleur but don't want to start TOO early. IF anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks much in advance!

[BruceWizayne]

How well do you know Kana?
Also if you really take the time to go through the massive beginner series (Lesson notes, and kanji close up), you'll be on a fast track to reading and speaking very well.

[mrsspooky5154]

How well do you know Kana?
Also if you really take the time to go through the massive beginner series (Lesson notes, and kanji close up), you'll be on a fast track to reading and speaking very well.

I can read and write hiragana. I DID know katakana, but that's gotten kind of weak (although I can read most of it). I know SOME kanji - 110 I know their meanings but wouldn't be able to give the on or kun readings.

Pimsleur's great in that it WILL get you up and talking in short order, as promised, but I'm looking for a more in depth knowledge of the language. What I love about Japanesepod101 is that it not only teaches the vocabulary but the kana and kanji as well. My goal is to not only be able to speak and understand but to read as well. I have some artbooks related to my favorite anime that are in Japanese and I'm dying to read them.

Maybe this is off the subject, but does anyone know where one can get kiddie manga to read (with the furigana)? I picked up a series of manga for teaching kanji and they're cute and helpful, but not exactly what I'm looking for. I need to work on my vocabulary, but I'm basically reading at maybe a first grade level.

[BruceWizayne]

Have you tired the intermediate series? Its wayyyy over my level atm.
Any I get books from white rabbit or Amazon.
Luckily Im in the Bay Area and we have a ton of Japanese stores too. [/u]

[mrsspooky5154]

Have you tired the intermediate series? Its wayyyy over my level atm.
Any I get books from white rabbit or Amazon.
Luckily Im in the Bay Area and we have a ton of Japanese stores too. [/u]

I envy your Japanese stores. We have the Japan pavilion at EPCOT, where I tend to drop a lot of coin on books. that's where I got the Kanji de Manga series.

That's one of the things I love about japanesepod101. We can learn the language AND the kanji at the same time. I can't learn this fast enough.

Makes me almost envious of the world of The Matrix - I want to stick a pike in the back of my skull, "Load the Japanese language program, Tank."