Katakana-Now or later?

[Robster]

I have pretty much learned all of the Hirigana alphabet, my plan was now to go onto the Katakana, but I would rather learn somthing else, mainly because learning the alphabets are tedious, so is it worth learning the Katakana now, or should I do somthing else then do them later?

 

[Glenn]

If you feel you need a break, I would say learn some grammar and vocab before tackling katakana. You don't need it immediately anyway, especially if you know the hiragana, and there's no point in forcing yourself to do something you're going to hate. Actually putting the hiragana to practical use should help keep your confidence, interest, and general attitude up, and it's not like the katakana are going to go anywhere. Just get back to them when you're tired of not being able to read them, or when you feel ready.

 

[Buntaro]

Rob-san!

For now, you should start reading easy stories, etc., in hiragana. However, when you feel up to it, you need to start learning katakana soon.

99.99% of learning written japanese is learning new characters. It never gets any easier, so you might as well get used to it.

 

[Robster]

Thats a good point, though for my Kanji I have books to use, the Manga ones so they should keep me interesting with the Kanji...when they arrive. I like the story idea, do you know where there are some simple stories that I could attempt to translate?

 

[Han Chan]

I find that the best way is to mix it up. I give learning everyday vocabulary the highest priority, then hiragana, then katagana and last kanji. However I try to do a bit of everthing - otherwise I get too bored.

 

[Buntaro]

Rob-san!

Ya know, that is one of the most difficult things for a beginner -- finding a good reader. I cannot find any good books that start out all in Hiragana, and slowly start bringing in Katakana and Kanji. Believe me, I have spent time in Kinokunia Bookstore looking for a good begining reader, and I have not found one. I'll keep looking around, and I'll see what I can find.

Does anyone have any good beginning readers they can recommend?

 

[Glenn]

Thats a good point, though for my Kanji I have books to use, the Manga ones so they should keep me interesting with the Kanji...when they arrive. I like the story idea, do you know where there are some simple stories that I could attempt to translate?

Well, as long as all the kanji have furigana it shouldn't be a problem if it isn't all hiragana. The problem arises when katakana also starts popping up. But, for now reading what you know should be a valuable excersize in itself, in that the hiragana will become more entrenched in your brain, and reading them will become more automatic. Finding stories for beginners seems to be pretty hard to do.

 

[hkBattousai]

Now of course!

Katakana is an essential like Hiragana.
You have to learn it all. It is very very easy comparing with Kanji. The real difficult thing is Kanji.

 

[Robster]

I know that I do have to learn the Katakana, but it's gonna be boring, does anyone know a fun way of doing it, I have sort of come to the conclusion that I may aswell learn it...

 

[Han Chan]

I know that I do have to learn the Katakana, but it's gonna be boring, does anyone know a fun way of doing it, I have sort of come to the conclusion that I may aswell learn it...

You could make some memo cards with the letters in the alfabet in hiragane on one side and katagana on the other - this way you will practice hiragana and katagana at the same time.

 

[Robster]

Sounds like a good idea, I'll give it a go

 

[JimmySeal]

I always recommend Remembering the Kana to any beginners looking to learn kana. That's a relatively painless and enjoyable way to learn.

 

[BulletsFearTheBrave]

katakana is pretty easy. the best part is you can actually understand most of the words that are written in katakana. plus there are quite a few katakana that are the same as thier hiragana counterparts. He, Ri, Ka (well, almost the same) Ki, mo... its not hard at all. i play gameboy games in japanese to help me with it. a lot of katakana in them.

 

[Buntaro]

Hey, how about a Blog in Hiragana?

ひらがなぶろぐ

 

[Robster]

That would only really help if I new them to begin with lol, I guess I just need to buckle down and do the mnunomics again.

 

[Glenn]

There's a java game of hiragana and katakana that you can use to help your recognition speed. You play by matching the hiragana with its katakana counterpart, or vice versa. Of course, I doubt it would help you too much until you've learned the katakana, but it's something to keep in mind for future reference.