Characters are probably one of the most difficult things to model for beginners. You really need to know what you're doing and have at least some experience before you try jumping into something like this. :\

Anyway, I suppose all I can really tell you is to look at www.thehobbitguy.com for his head tutorial and then try to model the rest of your character with polygons. (shouldn't be trying nurbs at your stage I don't think...) I don't have time to explain an entire character tut right here now becaus I have to go to school, but hopefully someone else will reply soon enough. (they usually do. lol) Try searcing on the web for "character tutorial" maybe