BakaGoyim
後輩
- 22 Mar 2016
- 6
- 1
- 18
I have some questions, mainly for fluent or near-fluent speakers. First, a little about me.
I've been learning bits and pieces of Japanese for about 5 years, but I've really only gotten serious in the past two. Last spring I did a semester in Kyoto at Ritsumeikan University, and I'm just about to finish my fourth semester of Japanese courses at the University of Minnesota. I can write about 300 kanji and read a few more, maybe 400-500. I had a really hard time in Kyoto because I'd only had 1 real year of learning up to that point. I feel if I went now I'd have a much easier time, though I still can't understand natives conversing with each other unless the subject is fairly simple.
It's one of my life goals to some day achieve fluency, at least to the point that I can hold a conversation without asking for clarification or repetition every couple of sentences. So, I have a few questions for those of you who learned Japanese and feel fluent or near-fluent.
1. Was there a point at which you felt you got kind of "over-the-hump" with Japanese, and it suddenly became easier to pick up new vocabulary and phrases?
2. Beyond conversation, what are your favorite recreational ways to practice your Japanese? (games, manga, watching the news, etc.)
3. How long would you advise someone to learn by classes before trying to go on simply with conversations and media.
Apologies if this is formatted poorly or has any other issues, this is my first time posting here.
I've been learning bits and pieces of Japanese for about 5 years, but I've really only gotten serious in the past two. Last spring I did a semester in Kyoto at Ritsumeikan University, and I'm just about to finish my fourth semester of Japanese courses at the University of Minnesota. I can write about 300 kanji and read a few more, maybe 400-500. I had a really hard time in Kyoto because I'd only had 1 real year of learning up to that point. I feel if I went now I'd have a much easier time, though I still can't understand natives conversing with each other unless the subject is fairly simple.
It's one of my life goals to some day achieve fluency, at least to the point that I can hold a conversation without asking for clarification or repetition every couple of sentences. So, I have a few questions for those of you who learned Japanese and feel fluent or near-fluent.
1. Was there a point at which you felt you got kind of "over-the-hump" with Japanese, and it suddenly became easier to pick up new vocabulary and phrases?
2. Beyond conversation, what are your favorite recreational ways to practice your Japanese? (games, manga, watching the news, etc.)
3. How long would you advise someone to learn by classes before trying to go on simply with conversations and media.
Apologies if this is formatted poorly or has any other issues, this is my first time posting here.