What to learn first: verb conjugations or random nouns/phrases?

[2inshix]

Hello, I'm trying to get better at japanese, and I wanted to here other people's opinion on wheather I should focus on learning japanese verb conjuations or something else. If you say, japanese verb conjugations should be first, would you tell how long did it take you to master japanese conjugations, because it's taking me a long time?
Looking forward to your comments,

 

[eeky]

My view is that you shouldn't really focus on learning one part of the language "first". I think it's best to study a bit of everything, all at the same time. I believe the best way to do this is to read / listen to / write / speak whole sentences in context at the level you're currently at, rather than learning certain aspects of the language by rote in isolation.

The one exception I would possibly make is memorising kanji. I find it so incredibly slow and laborious to look up characters in a dictionary when all I know is the shape that I do try to learn these by rote...

 

[2inshix]

thanks eeky

I have a feeling I'm going to get many diferent answers in regards with this question, Ultimately, I'd like to decide which way to go based on which system yielded the best results and foreign language learning background.

Would you mind sharing what your experience is in learning foreign languages? like how many you can speak, did you learn them by yourself,
did you have a teacher? did you live in the country? What level of proficiency? how long did it take you to become to that level, etc?
I'm sorry if I ask too many silly questions but, those kind of numbers would be interesting to know and would help me make an educated decision.
Truly yours.

 

[Glenn]

I agree with @eeky . I think knowing how much you know, @2inshix , would be helpful as well.

 

[Mike Cash]

Read Items #11 through #13

 

[eeky]

Would you mind sharing what your experience is in learning foreign languages? like how many you can speak, did you learn them by yourself,
did you have a teacher? did you live in the country? What level of proficiency?

Until I began trying to tackle Japanese last year I had had no experience of learning any languages since doing French at school, which was a very long time ago and is pretty hazy in my memory. As far as the Japanese is concerned, I'm self-studying.