How can I build solid Python fundamentals before continuing my course?

Practice by building small programs and examining what happens as they run. Use a debugger or print statements to go through the code step by step. You could begin with a terminal calculator, then remake it several times while adding lists, functions, and finally file reading and writing. Rebuilding the same basic project with one new concept at a time is a good way to strengthen the fundamentals.

It also helps to remember that even experienced programmers sometimes open a blank file and don’t immediately know where to begin. Try breaking every exercise into smaller questions: What information do I need? What should the program produce? What steps would a person follow manually? Write those steps in plain language first, then turn them into Python one piece at a time.

That feeling is really common. The course may simply be moving faster than your current foundation allows. Try pausing it for a week and solving very small problems without looking at a tutorial: ask for a name and print it, add two numbers, check whether a number is even, or convert between units. The important part is getting used to turning a problem into steps on your own. Once that process feels more natural, the larger lessons should be easier to follow.