Newbie question -- Start from the beginning?

[RJ]

Hello everyone!

From a first time poster, please let me first say a big thank you (or ありがとございます、as the case may be) to everyone at the staff of JPod101 for creating such an informative and entertaining podcast. Or, in my fiendishly addicted state, podcrack. I had a quick question before I go back to lurking:

While I've only recently discovered this podcast, I've gained a very very basic understanding of some Japanese concepts through various means over the years -- martial arts, Japanese friends, a few failed self-study programs, a three-month exchange program in Chiba, and, as much as I hate to fit the stereotype, watching an anime here and there. I started listening to the podcasts from the very beginning, and up until the first intermediate class, most everything presented was a review for me.

At the rate of two per day (I limit myself so as to not rush through and forget everything), I'm only up to February 2006. In other words, it'll take about 450 days to catch up to the production schedule. Should I keep at it this way, or would it be worth my while to dump the old and start with the current ones? Are the concepts taught in the current shows repeats of old ones?

Thanks again for your help,
RJ

[kichigaijin]

definitely start from the beginning and work up.
eventhough the news may not be timely and you may feel like you're hearing a voice from the past, the japanese is what's important and each lesson builds on the next.
i just started this year as well; only up to about March 2006 myself.
i know when i finally catch up i'll be that much stronger.

[The_Plague]

I'm in the same boat. I'm pretty much exactly a year behind the podcasts because I only started listening at the start of this year. I thought I could slowly catch up, but with uni and work I can only just keep pace.

It makes it hard for two reasons. Firstly, you don't feel like such a part of the community, because you're not taking the lessons with anyone else, and if you comment on the lessons no one is listening. Secondly, you have to set your own pace. Whereas everyone who is up to speed can just learn each lesson as it is released, someone who is behind needs to be motivated and disciplined enough to work through at an appropriate level.

That said, I don't think there's any other way. Just know that there are plenty of other people floating through the Jpod101 ether with you.

[Tiduas]

I am also where you guys are. I thought that i could keep up if I just listnened in my own peace but god what I was wrong. But i have now figured that it's ok like this, the only sad things about this is that the community part falls. Like The_Plague mentioned before, the comments aren't going to be watched by many.

But it's just to work hard anyway ^_^

[Abrassart]

But i have now figured that it's ok like this, the only sad things about this is that the community part falls.

Don't think so, because you can listen to the newbie lesson of the week, and also the news for the week, AND then also go all the way true the beginner lessons from the start.

But with the newbie and the news from the week, we all can comment on something happening now.

Well, that's what I do...