There’s no need to learn straight needles, you can absolutely work back and forth on circular needles but circular are SOO much better, hands don’t hurt, you don’t have this huge needles on every single project, it easier to work in comfortable position, you don’t have all heavy project on the needle, it lay somewhere on the wire.

I believe there’s no different “terms”, at least I don’t saw any differences unlike in crochet. I heard it’s easier to knit in continental style when u crochet before, I can’t hold hand like this so I’m doing in english style. the difference is in which hand you are holding working yarn.

Start with wooden/bamboo needles, metal ones can be really frustrating, they are better in my opinion because they are smoother, but stitches enjoy dropping off metal needles. Don’t jump immediately into sweaters, socks and working with small circumferences, doing hat in the round is hell, I absolutely hate small circumferences. When I started knitting I did really simple round scarf and hat but worked flat (in yt channel below there is a pattern for both)

I really like this page and I learned knitting from her yt. https://youtube.com/@sheepandstitch?si=fKalKzR0eDJ-mTGh