for anyone interested in more good beginner resources, I really enjoyed this youtube playlist on python NLTK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGxgnH8y2NM&list=PLQVvvaa0Qu...

edit* I accidentally linked to another good playlist, but here's the first vid of the NLTK list from the same user https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLZvOKSCkxY