Just starting, quick question.

[moiriayne4502]

Kanji close up is the notes on any kanji used in the lesson, with definitions, and a place to practice writing.
Example from Newbie lesson 1 season 1

http://www.japanesepod101.com/pdfs/337_NB1_121106_jpod101_kanji.pdf

This is available to all subscribed customers. Just like the lesson notes.

Don't forget the checklist they give you!

http://www.japanesepod101.com/pdfs/fluency_fast_basic_checklist.pdf
(That's the basic checklist, the premium one give a bit more.
Use which ever you have access to.

[christopherlandrie7250]

I am looking at the Kanji close up, and it has me confused. I see Kanji > Reading (???) > Meaning ...etc but reading is where I am confused. Maybe because I do not know all the characters yet. If I only know the first 5 characters for example, none of what I see on their is going to make sense to me

[moiriayne4502]

The reading is how to read that kanji in kana. Most kanji have two readings, but I don't think you need to worry about that yet. These will help teach you. Average students know 2000 kanji if I remember correctly. You can swap the kanji close uP for kana practice if you like

[mwbeale6642]

I would start at Beginner Series 1. I think in those days Jpod101 hadn't subdivided into less advanced categories. Beginner series 1 reckons it takes you all the way from beginner to some intermediate level. I thought it was good (more than good: すばらしかった　です : it was fantastic）. I've now just started beginner series 2! I think that Jpod101 itself recommends some other order (one of the Newbie series followed by one of the beginner series (4??) followed by an intermediate type series). It's documented on the forum somewhere what the preferred sequence of series is.

For learning kana I found that an iPad app that teaches Kana was pretty useful, although it is also good to learn to write with a pencil and paper.

In terms of learning vocabulary, I tend to copy the vocabulary I don't know into an iPad app: Flashcards Deluxe HD (it's pretty cheap). I only started doing this for the last 20 lessons of beginner series 1 and I now wish I had done that earlier on.

がんばってください。 (try hard / good luck / ...)