Best software?

ZachB · 17 Sep 2012

Hello all. I'm starting to study the Japanese language, and I am looking to buy some software to help with the process. I'm starting by learning the Hiragana and Katakana, then would like to move on to learning how to speak the language. I've seen mixed reviews on this forum for Rosetta Stone; does anyone have any other recommendations? Taking a course isn't really an option due to time constraints.

nameless · 17 Sep 2012

To learn kana you need to write them out over and over and over until your hand hurts. That's 48×2=96 characters, so this is a very doable task. Consider it a test for how serious you are about Japanese. After that, consider using Anki - friendly, intelligent flashcards and a decent textbook to take example sentences and vocabulary out of.

If it must be entirely computer-based and you want to be spoon-fed, Yamasa's online thingy might help you. I've used it myself on occasion since they give free access to it to full-time students. It follows みんなの日本語 up to lesson 50. The first few lessons are

ZachB · 17 Sep 2012

nameless said:
To learn kana you need to write them out over and over and over until your hand hurts. That's 48×2=96 characters, so this is a very doable task. Consider it a test for how serious you are about Japanese. After that, consider using Anki - friendly, intelligent flashcards and a decent textbook to take example sentences and vocabulary out of.
If it must be entirely computer-based and you want to be spoon-fed, Yamasa's online thingy might help you. I've used it myself on occasion since they give free access to it to full-time students. It follows みんなの日本語 up to lesson 50. The first few lessons are free. They have listening, reading, and sentence writing practice, and someone corrects your written work for you.

Thanks for the suggestions! I have been using the Kana LS app on my iPad which has been working great so far. It teaches the proper stroke order, and has tests (like flash cards, and writing exercises) for kana recognition (match romaji with kana, or kana to romaji) so that's been working very well for me. It goes through the Dakuon, Handakuon, and Yoon as well.

I signed up for the Yamasa website. It seems like that will be quite useful - after I memorize the Hiragana - as there is pretty much no romaji on the site that I could see.

Best software?

ZachB

後輩

nameless

Lurker

ZachB

後輩

Similar threads