[jesselt]

My Japanese teacher is from Kyoto, so that is the dialect that we are learning. I don't really have a choice in the matter >_>

Are the differences very important in the early stages of learning Japanese (I like this, that is a big house, I want to eat, etc.) or just when you get into more advanced stages? I don't really want to be hindered in my speaking ability this early on, but it's not like there are other Japanese professors at my university.