Means of study! *Needs tips*

[Skullcrushergurl]

By what means do you all study?
What methods do you use to remember what you've learned?
I really want to get into studying and I don't know what to do so it gets discouraging. Most people use flash cards but that gets annoying.
Not just for kanji or character learning but new words/forms/phrases/conjugations. I really need some tips especially since I have no one to study with.
Arigato gozaimasu, minna-san!!

 

[AichiAlex]

Well, if you just google "learn Japanese" you will find much more resources than you could ever use.

As your dislike of flash cards, even if you don't like them, the fact remains that flash cards are probably the best way to learn to read kanji / vocabulary. Learning a language isn't easy, it requires determination, and year of commitment. There is no "easy way" to learn Japanese, you need to put in the hours, and only when you work long and hard, will you start to see results.

 

[ajmd20]

I used a couple of textbooks.

 

[Haruspex]

Vocabulary: As stated above flashcards are the best.
Kanji: You can try wiring them down several million times (like 20 times will do ) and than using the flashcards just to check what you learned... but they're still necessary.
Get a workbook that covers particles. Umm did i leave something out?

 

[Grimslade1135]

Yeah I know how you feel, I dont really like flash cards myself. But I wont deny that they are a great way to learn vocabulary. Another way to learn new vocabulary phrases etc.. is to watch things in japanese. Movies, anime, commercials... granted, you have to know quite a lot of japanese to easily pick up words from that kind of thing. So until you know that much, your probably gonna be stuck with tedious repetitive memorization. And yes as Derfel says you do definitely need a good source of information on particles.

 

[Calchas]

Check into using an SRS system. Think of them as a flash card program for your computer that helps you to move items learned from short trem memory into long term memory. It has been a big help for me with learning Japanese. Not sure I could have made the same progress I have without one.

One of the best is Anki which allows you to use pictures and sound in the flash cards.

 

[HarajukuxBoy]

I use Genki I, and Japanese For Busy People I(which I don't really recommend).I just write the kana a whole bunch of times,and I translate words and say them out loud,and try to use them throughtout the day.Im going to get some flash cards soon though.

 

[Petenshber]

Well for just memorizing words (like nouns) you could label things around your home with their Japanese names.

For some sentences you could try to include Japanese in a hobby, for example i like to cook, so i translated some recipes (ones i already know well) into Japanese and made sure to use them when making that item, i also listen to Japanese music to help keep my ears tuned in an entertaining way. I hope this helps

 

[Homerduff]

Check into using an SRS system. Think of them as a flash card program for your computer that helps you to move items learned from short trem memory into long term memory. It has been a big help for me with learning Japanese. Not sure I could have made the same progress I have without one.
One of the best is Anki which allows you to use pictures and sound in the flash cards.

I agree, I've been using Ainki for a while now to study all 2000 (aprox.) Jojo Kanji. There's already a standard deck comprising all Kanji. You get an English key word as question and you basically just have to guess what Kanji suits it. Unfortunately there are no readings or compounds added, and most of the Kanji have more than one meaning although just one has been added. So I'm busy editing mine which is going to take a pretty loooong time but in the meantime im actually picking up things. I just add more english keywords (if needed), readings and some usefull compounds to each flashcard.

 

[Dakota]

I hate text books. I think the best way is with some sort of audio or of course someone whos fluent in it. Which is pretty hard to find in certain countries..
I use mini videos and interactive dvds. If you dont hear it spoken properly you'll have no idea how to pronounce it right!

 

[Haruspex]

If you dont hear it spoken properly you'll have no idea how to pronounce it right!

Thats true for English speakers, or rather people who only speak English, because there are plenty of languages with similar pronunciation tbh.
If you ever studied Italian for example, you'll have no problem with sounds after a few tries, or in my case, I'd have to struggle hard to mispronounce it. And even if you're an English speaker, Japanese pronunciation follows quite "strict" rules, so there aren't many irregular cases.
As for audio stuff and courses... well I suppose they have their merits, but still, too little information, too little. And its hard to extract it fast, whereas you can look up something in a book within a couple of seconds.
Someone who is fluent surely can help a lot, but its not a necessity in language learning until you reach a steady level.

 

[Janny]

I hate textbooks as well, they just make things look too hard sometimes. My philosophy is to make learning seem fun- make mini posters with what you need to learn and stick them on the walls of your bedroom close to the PC/ on your PC or add some Japanese to your desktop image. Add anything you like next to the poster- your favorite lyrics, images, anything to make your eyes stray away and take a peek at the "poster" once in a while. Unconsciously, you're brain will surely pick up things if when you're not studying hard

I made myself such a poster, I keep it on my desk next to the PC and it's coming really handy. It works for me even when I'm busy with other things since all I have to do is move my eyes sideways and I try to learn such and such every time I can spare a minute.

 

[Haruspex]

I always wondered, how can you study by not studying?
Sure posters and such surely come in handy, but you can't learn a thing just by looking at them a couple of times a day... well yes you can, but by the time you get past the causative you'll have your grandchildren to babysit.

 

[Janny]

Oops, my fault for not making myself understood.
I guess I forgot to mention that I use this technique only when I have other things to do, but still want to learn a bit a the same time. For the rest of the time I take free lessons from the internet and write them down on a notebook. Sometimes I write a lesson several times until I get it firmly in my head; even youtube has some interesting videos and it's a good way to get used to the fast-pace speaking. And yes, I watch anime cartoons- sometimes late at night I remember a phrase I heard in a cartoon and re-watch it the next day. I swear.. I didn't think anime cartoons can make me learn like this..

 

[yumeitsumo]

Well I am a web designer... So I make cool little website thingys and have fun. I don't publish these, I keep them for me. That's one of my methods. When it comes to Kanji, I think you need a fun game. Maybe a set of flashcards. I have a pictograph book. I must have more than 5 books on kanji. When it comes to learning the language I suggest Rosetta Stone and/or pure dedication. I remember Japanese because I am passionate about all of it. ((maybe a bit obsessive))

Well that's all I have to say I guess.

Good luck.

<3 Yume