A good way to learn Japanese (with a text book)

Hi everybody,

I know that there're probably a lot of ppl who already asked the question which way is the best way to learn Japanese.
Nevertheless, I want to state this question once more and also ask who you learned Japanese.

When I see the people here writing in Japanese, I'm getting jealous and am also wondering at the same time, how did they learn this comlpex langauge?
Since I cannot attend any school, since there is no school teaching Japanese here.

As for now, I've been learning more-or-less randomly, meaning a bit grammar here, a bit kanji there, and I don't have any structure.

So what I'm looking for is a good text book, which will help me now and also in the (far) future.

So, any suggestions of a text book.
Maybe text books which they also use in Japanese Schools, or would they be too difficult?
I already know Kana and also some Kanjis (more or less basic, just picked Kanjis I read a lot).
So I think I would probably start at the level of a 2nd elementary student.

Please help or share your experience(s)
Thanks in advance

There are a lot of roads to the same destination. I spent a fair amount of time with the JLPT. It isn't going to help with speaking, but it built a very solid structure that I could start talking with. From there, it just got better.

Cheap JLPT texts start at ･1,000 or so.

You should use something that is aimed at second language learners, not Japanese children. An elementary school student doesn't know much kanji or formal grammar, but they are fluent in their own language. Therefore, the things they are taught in school are different from what you need to learn.

Erin's Challenge is an online course provided by the Japan Foundation (who run the JLPT), you might want to check it out. I think it's probably the best of the free online resources.

Genki is one of the most popular textbooks for self-studiers. It can be a little pricey - I suggest looking for used copies of textbooks or checking your local library in case there is something available there. At the beginner stage, don't bother buying lots of things like reference books, manga that you think you would like to read in Japanese, etc - there is plenty available online. Longer term, you might want something like a grammar reference - I've heard good things about the Dictionary of (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced) Japanese Grammar series but don't own them myself.

You should try to set aside some time every day to study; regular, consistent study is the most important part of learning a language. There is not a single best way to learn - it depends on how you learn best, what materials you have access to, what your priorities are (reading/writing/listening/speaking), etc. Everyone's experience is different - things I think helped me have been:

1) Using my commute/walk to work (downloaded a bunch of learning podcasts; half an hour in the morning, half an hour in the evening, every day - it adds up).
2) Focusing on my areas of interest (learning specialist vocabulary for the things I wanted to read about)
2a) Not caring about lists of kanji and vocabulary which are not related to my areas of interest (jouyou kanji, looking at you)
3) Not being afraid to attempt to read - and to abandon reading material if it turned out to be too far above my current level.
4) Buying a second-hand DS and a bunch of Japanese kanji games on ebay.
5) Switching much of my online time wasting to Japanese websites so I am at least wasting time in a different language.

Thank you for your answers.

I also was trying with JLPT first, but at some point and wasn't even sure anymore which JLPT level was which, since there appears to be some changes in the past years.
Nevertheless, I just wanted to learn some grammar stuff, so I quit sticking to that.
(But maybe I should do some JLPT studies again, since it's been so longe already)

4) Buying a second-hand DS and a bunch of Japanese kanji games on ebay.

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There's actually a smartphone app which is really good for learning Kanji, since you must draw the Kanji which is asked.
I can just recommend it, but fact is, that I have no credit card to buy the full version of the app, a google play card would be the only othre possibilty, but I dunno if it works.
The app is called "KanjiRecognizer".

The games I have on the DS are basically like that - I like them because they always ask for kanji in context (words, sentences). Anything based on something like the 漢検 (kanken - kanji kentei) or similar is good. I don't actually own a smartphone.

Unfortunate you will need SOME money to learn a language.

I don't consider JLPT something you need to follow consciously and I wouldn't recommend any JLPT drill books. You will be bored very quickly. Most textbooks follow it to some extent in any case. Also due to economic reasons, JLPT does not cover writing or speaking. I have passed JLPT 1 and still struggle in these 2 aspects so don't look to JLPT in those very important areas.

I can recommend Genki or minna no nihongo. The textbooks will give you some structure. The problem now is how to use your Japanese.

Reading: Children's books and baby book are best. Read those and slowly go up the ages.

Listening: This is hard as there are no material that is geared towards beginners. You will need a native speaker to practice with. The textbook CDs is the only thing at the beginning.

Speaking: You can speak to yourself but to improve you need to converse with a native speaker. Either through Skype or tutor.

Writing: You will need a tutor or native speaker who has the patience for this one.

Basically unless you have a native speaker handy, you will struggle with everything except reading. Most of the free online resources are simply not enough. Taking aptitude tests like JLPT or 漢検 would help you very little IMHO.

Hmm, a native speaker?
Well, it's kinda emberassing to talk to a native speaker.
I dunno one anyway so...
Maybe some native Japanese will help me in the internet, but for now I would only write, instead of talking.

Thank you for your information, I'll look into the textbooks when I have more time.
Also, I'm ready to use money, I just don't want to waste money on sth which is not worth.
Since Japanese is a complex language, I'm often afraid learning sth wrong or that the materials just lack information.

E.g. Common Phrases: 私はXXXです。 they often don't explain the particle and the fact that です is not "to be".
Often the they just try to explain it easier, by simply translating them, though the Japanese language can only be translated through context, but rarely literatly.
So, I hope that the textbooks also go deeper in details in these aspects.

Tyraxx said:

Since Japanese is a complex language, I'm often afraid learning sth wrong or that the materials just lack information.

Click to expand...

My feeling is that Japanese grammar, is, in objective terms, actually simpler than English grammar.

The textbooks recommended will give you solid grammar. If you have spare cash, getting a tutor will supercharge your progress.

You cannot be held back by embarrassment. All of us make tons of mistakes while we learn. It is the ONLY way to learn. If you let your pride get in the way, you will be stuck with 私はジョーンです。どうぞよろしく。for a looong time.

Well, I just found an even better app (more or less by coincidence).
called "Obenkyo", if anyone is interested.

They do have kanji, vocabulary and even grammar.
(And also offline)
Categorized in eithe JLPT or SchoolGrades.
So I'll try with this first.


Maybe someone can check this app of it's grammar section, if it is correct or has (many) important details left out.

Thanks in advance