I want to start learning the language, and I'm serious about it. I've got the RosettaStone programme but don't if it's any good yet, I've heard there's better. I'm also looking for a good book. I was looking at the "Japanese from Zero!" books, what do you guys think? Thanks in advance.
Where to start?
- Thread starter Ninjax
- Start date
hideway
still hiding
- 8 Dec 2006
- 463
- 22
Start by learning the kana: meaning hiragana and katakana.
They are both the basic japanese syllabaries.
I've studied (taking a break now) with the Genki book series and they are great!
Never heard about any of those you mentioned though, sorry.
Good luck in your path!
They are both the basic japanese syllabaries.
I've studied (taking a break now) with the Genki book series and they are great!
Never heard about any of those you mentioned though, sorry.
Good luck in your path!
Kirakira1232
素敵な冒険始まる！
- 6 May 2008
- 472
- 16
Hahaha I remember when I watched those videos for Japanese class in High school. We used to make fun of it so much
I know there is the "Japanese for Busy People" by Kodansha that I hear is pretty good...enough for you to get around at least I think. Jref has pretty good resources on grammar and kana too. Jim breen's site Jim Breen's Pages Have Moved is a great online dictionary I regularly use.
Feel free to PM me if you have anything specific you'd like to ask about.
Akimoto
後輩
- 14 May 2008
- 12
- 0
I am afraid you are horribly mistaken. It teaches you how to speak japanese. If you took your time to watch them that is.
- Thread starter
- #7
Hahaha I remember when I watched those videos for Japanese class in High school. We used to make fun of it so much
I know there is the "Japanese for Busy People" by Kodansha that I hear is pretty good...enough for you to get around at least I think. Jref has pretty good resources on grammar and kana too. Jim breen's site ...(url) is a great online dictionary I regularly use.
Feel free to PM me if you have anything specific you'd like to ask about.
Thanks for the reccomendation! I read some of the reviews for the book, and it's pretty decent. Some of the reviews said to get the Kana version first.
I watched the first video and didn't really know what to think. Am I missing something here?
Akimoto
後輩
- 14 May 2008
- 12
- 0
Did you watch
"Let's Learn Japanese Basic I - Lesson 1 [A]", "Let's Learn Japanese Basic I - Lesson 1 " and "Let's Learn Japanese Basic I - Lesson 1 [C] [End]"?
Did you just watch Part A?
- Thread starter
- #9
Did you watch
"Let's Learn Japanese Basic I - Lesson 1 [A]", "Let's Learn Japanese Basic I - Lesson 1 " and "Let's Learn Japanese Basic I - Lesson 1 [C] [End]"?
Did you just watch Part A?
Ok I got it now, watched the vids.
This stuff is very easy to forgot, is there any trick to remembering it?
Haruspex
先輩
- 30 Aug 2007
- 2,324
- 96
Videos won't work. I remember, I got a huuuge load of them quite a few months ago, and they provided some nice ctrl+a, del exercise tbh.
If you want to learn it, you must keep reading, it must be in front of you, it has to be in text format.
Thats all there is to it, other than that, try getting an integrated course book, or what they're called. Once you finished that, you'll be left with the advanced grammar, kanji and vocabulary, which is plain as hell, grind, grind, grind.
If you want to learn it, you must keep reading, it must be in front of you, it has to be in text format.
Thats all there is to it, other than that, try getting an integrated course book, or what they're called. Once you finished that, you'll be left with the advanced grammar, kanji and vocabulary, which is plain as hell, grind, grind, grind.
- Thread starter
- #13
I don't think you can really say that, after all it depends what type of learner you are. I'm open to reading, any specific book(s) you'd like to reccomend?
Haruspex
先輩
- 30 Aug 2007
- 2,324
- 96
Well I said it.
Really, videos have a lower information output than books, and there's no way around, truth be told, there are no neat tricks at all.
If I were you, I'd go for Ultimate Japanese (Beginner-Intermediate and Advanced), regardless of what the High and Noble Warriors of the Kana Brotherhood may say, though its wise to learn kana simultaneously.
Other than that, Japanese Particle Workbook, Kondasha's Kanji Learners Dictionary, a few volumes of manga or something you'd like to read in Japanese (obviously not ancient texts, classics and such, but something plain and simple).
You study whats written in the particle workbook, you study the two integrated coursebooks, and when you're done, just switch to the kanji and vocabulary, make flashcards for kanji, for each kanji write write 3-7 words, chop that up into flashcards as well for the purpose of avoiding list learning, and you're on track, the rest will only be a matter of time, concentration and your own determination.
Kirakira1232
素敵な冒険始まる！
- 6 May 2008
- 472
- 16
Well yes thats true reading is a big component of learning Japanese...but you cant underestimate the need for listening comprehension too. Videos can sometimes provide this. Videos alone wont teach you the language per se...but videos and recordings can help you gain an "ear" for the language and help you understand a native speaker once you get a solid foundation on the language.
