Anyone feel overloaded when learning?

[EvilCowSlayer]

I'm hoping to get a tech-related job in Japan too, wingzero. I feel that the gaijin should not be restricted to just English teaching (although if you want to teach English, you certainly can). I'm curious whether American tech certifications like CompTIA A+ and MSCP mean anything in Japan.

I'm looking into doing a student exchange next school year. That would rock.

I can't look at the link you posted right now, as I really should be in bed, but maybe I'll check it out tomorrow if I find time.

 

[w1ngzer0]

Management and a navy guy i talk to say yes. Certification and experience will get you far in Japan.

 

[Mike Cash]

The question will come up at some point....

Do you have a college degree?

 

[Mars Man]

I have read through the thread, not so fully attentative at all points--please forgive my laziness--and have (if I am correct) seen no pointers to the JREF page that is beneficial for beginners I, at least think. It would never replace a good book, of course, but for starters it is good. Here is that link:

Language | Japan Forum

To remember everything there in the 'useful expressions' section would not be wasting time, I would think. That on-line school looked ok to me on the cover--so to speak.

It is interesting how this thread has played itself out. . . Keep up the good work !! MM

 

[w1ngzer0]

I am so close. I only have 11 more hiragana to go! Yes, i am using the flash cards and references to the hiragana themselves. for mo they use "catch mo' fish" lol.... the hiragana picture is a hook with 2 worms in it on the back side, but on the front have the orginal hiragana with 5 words below it in hiragana. It helps me memorize the character easier but, i use discretion on the pronunciation. I use that genkijapan website, to keep my pronunciation in check.

Most people are smarter then me when it comes to learning. But, if i can look at a kana and say that is I or KA or TSU; right off the bat; then i consider that a success. I can write the hiragana without looking at the cards and know what it is. Once i get all the hiragana down, im going to go back through the cards, and do the 1 through 5 on the bottom. There are words down there

Though, i am scared once i hit katakana that i might be confused. Since both kata and hira have the same basics of A I U E O.

 

[Haruspex]

Don't worry, you probably won't be confused, its just like learning another alphabet, but a bit longer.

 

[EvilCowSlayer]

Once you get familiar enough with the kana and have read enough, you'll find that you actually prefer it over romaji. I might still read romaji slightly faster, but the fact that there is no one standardized system is a pain in the butt.

 

[w1ngzer0]

Thats awesome to hear. I get mad in my head; sometimes, because i hear japanese and i don't understand it. I know its not an instant thing and i understand that, its just i want to know it. But, it is cool to hear ka wa i ra na in a song and actually hear those little parts.

My next purchase is a program called shadowking and kanji flash cards. Shadowking has you read while Japanese are talking.

 

[ajmd20]

My next purchase is a program called shadowking and kanji flash cards. Shadowking has you read while Japanese are talking.

But have you decided on a real textbook to get yet?

 

[w1ngzer0]

i am going to buy one of the recommended by jref.

 

[dark_secrester]

I cut learning into small easy chunks.
Set yourself a target;
I will learn 6 new verbs and each conjugation of these by the end of the week.
The trick is not to set too short a time (like: I will learn 6 new verbs etc etc by this time tommorow), set in weeks of 6 days. Take your sunday (or any other day) off.
There is no big hurry.
I heard that you only take in 40% of what you learn in a day, and i believe that. I have, before now, learnt 10 kanji in a day. I can still remember them a week later. But a month later, I can only remember 3 of them PERFECTLY.
Just take it easy, have a day off where you promise NOT to learn ANY japanese on that day, and remember to revise what you learnt the day beofore (or two days before when you reach your dayoff).

Take it easy, and gambatte.

 

[w1ngzer0]

40% of what you learn?hmmm.Well learning the entire hiragana alphabet took me a 1.1 weeks. Yes, 1.1. lol. 1 week 1 day. I spent 2-3 hrs a day.spanding that time, throughout the day. I can't take a day off, not because of the rush,but because i have nothing else to do.

 

[EvilCowSlayer]

I get mad in my head; sometimes, because i hear japanese and i don't understand it.

Well, keep in mind that you're "competing", so to speak, with someone who's been with the language all their life. The fact that you are able to pick out syllables is a big step, though. That means you're developing an ear for native speaking. Don't take that for granted; 3 years of Spanish and I still don't have an ear for native speakers.

Also, let me point out a condition you may or may not have noticed. At your current stage (and even at my stage), often what will happen is you'll hear a word or grammatical thing you don't know, or at least can't remember quickly in normal speech, and your brain goes into panic mode, either consciously or subconsciously. Once this happens, the sentence will sound more like a jumble, and you'll notice yourself missing a lot of other words in the sentence that you may have otherwise picked up. Do you ever notice this happening?

 

[w1ngzer0]

Well, keep in mind that you're "competing", so to speak, with someone who's been with the language all their life.

Panic and sound like jarble? Sorta. When they sing i could write out their song in hiragana. But, just like any other artist i listen to japanese or english if they don't talk clearly, it will be garbage. For example rap. This rap song by Soulja boy. "crack that" or whatever. He says " watch me, you!" and i thought he was saying "it might be you" .
On understanding it; I don't get mad because of a form of competion. But, because i want to be able to understand what they are saying.

 

[Mike Cash]

If it is any consolation to you, I can barely pick out a word of J-Rap.

All Japanese sounds 100mph except words you know, which for some odd reason pass by at much more reasonable speeds. Immediately after which speech accelerates to 100mph again.

The trick is to not give up hope while one is building up sufficient vocab and listening experience to diminish the proportion of 100mph speech to a level that it is possible to kinda-sorta-somewhat deduce what the heck is going on.

 

[w1ngzer0]

If it is any consolation to you, I can barely pick out a word of J-Rap.

The trick is to not give up hope while one is building up sufficient vocab and listening experience to diminish the proportion of 100mph speech to a level that it is possible to kinda-sorta-somewhat deduce what the heck is going on.

Thats good to hear I also would imagine, once i am able to speak in sentances; that kind of thing would pickup. The same thing happens with people that don't know english. They are slow at first. (BTW i thank everyone for putting up with my horrible english grammer)

Well, today im at almost all hiragana (i missed some of the alternatives like ga and zo) and 10 katakana. I write down both hiragana and katakana forms to make sure i didn't forget the hiragana part. But, the constant brain swell feel is awesome.