Learning Japanese
- Thread starter Kazeki
- Start date
dc_johnson45
先輩
- 1 Feb 2005
- 47
- 1
1. Figure out how serious you are. Learning a new language is neither cheap nor easy. It will be expensive in both money and time.Kazeki said:
2. Find a Japanese class local to you. There seems to be the idea floating around that you can somehow learn Japanese off the internet, or watching anime or something.. you can't. You need to find a native Japanese speaker & preferably one that teaches the language. Good places to start are local university, but don't neglect Japanese culture groups, or Japanese martial arts dojos. If there are no classes in the area, see if the local aikido dojo would like to start a Japanese language program!
3. Set some goals. I've personally set the goal of passing the Level 3 JLP test this year. I have something to study for, a goal to accomplish. If I don't reach the goal, it will be my fault. Goals can be like 'carry on a simple Japanese conversation', 'understand 50% of this anime', or 'read this manga'.
4. Come up with a plan. What books are you going to use? Learning kanji? How much time per week can you dedicate?
Hope this helps a bit...
McCrutch67
先輩
- 20 Jan 2005
- 103
- 7
I definitely agree that you should figure out how serious you are but I haven't spent any money on Japanese at all personally and my parents only bought three japanese manga books but with all the anime I've downloaded I wouldn't really need it. All my learning has come from the internet.
A class would help a lot and probably greatly benefit but personally since I've gotten as far as I have after a little over a year I'm skeptical that there'd be much of a point(based on money, again it would definitely help) for me since I know I'm devoted enough. I was planning on JLPT 3 since when I heard about it which was about the time of the last one a couple months back. I've downloaded lists and flash cards for JLPT 3 vocabulary and studied it and of course this site is great about small things that you wonder about. Maybe it'll take longer to get all the intricacies but I'm still learning it and at a pace that I'm pretty satisfied with.
Understanding all of my manga and anime is my long long term goal and just understanding my Inuyasha volume 1 cover to cover is my shorter term goal, Trigun comes next since it's got harder words and of course more of them because of the size. More slang too so that increases the difficulty. Everytime I reread something and realize I understand something I didn't the last time I read it I'm happy about it.
By the way, as for resources A Select List of Japanese Language Study Sites has many good sites and I got a bunch more on a bookmarks list on another computer. I'd argue that at least it's possible but takes more time and devotion.
A class would help a lot and probably greatly benefit but personally since I've gotten as far as I have after a little over a year I'm skeptical that there'd be much of a point(based on money, again it would definitely help) for me since I know I'm devoted enough. I was planning on JLPT 3 since when I heard about it which was about the time of the last one a couple months back. I've downloaded lists and flash cards for JLPT 3 vocabulary and studied it and of course this site is great about small things that you wonder about. Maybe it'll take longer to get all the intricacies but I'm still learning it and at a pace that I'm pretty satisfied with.
Understanding all of my manga and anime is my long long term goal and just understanding my Inuyasha volume 1 cover to cover is my shorter term goal, Trigun comes next since it's got harder words and of course more of them because of the size. More slang too so that increases the difficulty. Everytime I reread something and realize I understand something I didn't the last time I read it I'm happy about it.
By the way, as for resources A Select List of Japanese Language Study Sites has many good sites and I got a bunch more on a bookmarks list on another computer. I'd argue that at least it's possible but takes more time and devotion.
rajs20
Hokage
- 23 Oct 2004
- 79
- 0
I also agree w/ what's been said so far. As for taking a class, it's definitely a good idea. However, if classes are a bit expensive for you, go ahead and start studying on your own. It can't hurt! At worst, you'll realize you're not as motivated to learn Japanese as you thought you were, and you'll give up. But I suppose it's better to find out now than after you pay $$$ for a class, ne? 
And, if you're very motivated and disciplined, you can surely learn a lot on your own, and invest in classes later on if/when you decide you're ready for it.
Other than that... Just set your goal and put your heart into it! It's easy to get sidetracked by thoughts like "Maybe I'm using the wrong method to learn Japanese" but if you put in enough time, you will get results.
Personally I'm learning Japanese on my own, here are some things I've found useful:
1. Good textbook: Japanese for Everyone ($18) or Genki ($25 x 2 volumes= $50)
2. Kanji Pict-o-Grafix: great book for learning 1200 kanji. (beyond that you may decide to buy a different book, but for starters I really recommend this one)
3. Listening practice: If you can afford it, the audio that goes along with your textbook is always a good idea. (may be able to find online!) There are good videos made in the 80's called "Let's learn Japanese", which are nice because they speak Japanese at full speed so you get practice trying to pick out individual words.
4. Flashcards!!! Either real flashcards or a computer program like JFC.
5. Japanese IME... If you don't already have the capability to write Japanese characters using your keyboard, you should install it...
Good luck!
And, if you're very motivated and disciplined, you can surely learn a lot on your own, and invest in classes later on if/when you decide you're ready for it.Other than that... Just set your goal and put your heart into it! It's easy to get sidetracked by thoughts like "Maybe I'm using the wrong method to learn Japanese" but if you put in enough time, you will get results.
Personally I'm learning Japanese on my own, here are some things I've found useful:
1. Good textbook: Japanese for Everyone ($18) or Genki ($25 x 2 volumes= $50)
2. Kanji Pict-o-Grafix: great book for learning 1200 kanji. (beyond that you may decide to buy a different book, but for starters I really recommend this one)
3. Listening practice: If you can afford it, the audio that goes along with your textbook is always a good idea. (may be able to find online!) There are good videos made in the 80's called "Let's learn Japanese", which are nice because they speak Japanese at full speed so you get practice trying to pick out individual words.
4. Flashcards!!! Either real flashcards or a computer program like JFC.
5. Japanese IME... If you don't already have the capability to write Japanese characters using your keyboard, you should install it...
Good luck!
