Where to start?

Ninjax · 17 May 2008

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.

hideway · 17 May 2008

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!

Akimoto · 17 May 2008

If you wish to learn the language Japanese, i would recommend watching "LET'S LEARN JAPANESE BASIC I & II".

Edit.: This YT account has been terminated for violating YouTube or Google's Terms of Service.

Have fun! ^^

Ninjax · 17 May 2008

Thanks for the info!
Akimoto: that video didn't really teach me much I'm afraid, it seemed more to do with culture. Thanks anyway.

Kirakira1232 · 17 May 2008

Akimoto said:
If you wish to learn the language Japanese, i would recommend watching "LET'S LEARN JAPANESE BASIC I & II". You can watch them here:
www,youtube,com/Akimotokun88
(For some reason i cannot post a full URL so change the , to .)
Have fun! ^^

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 · 17 May 2008

Ninjax said:
Thanks for the info!
Akimoto: that video didn't really teach me much I'm afraid, it seemed more to do with culture. Thanks anyway.

I am afraid you are horribly mistaken. It teaches you how to speak japanese. If you took your time to watch them that is.

Ninjax · 17 May 2008

Kirakira1232 said:
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.

Akimoto said:
I am afraid you are horribly mistaken. It teaches you how to speak japanese. If you took your time to watch them that is.

I watched the first video and didn't really know what to think. Am I missing something here?

Akimoto · 17 May 2008

Ninjax said:
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?

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?

Ninjax · 18 May 2008

Akimoto said:
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?

Soloistic · 18 May 2008

Endless hours of practice.

Akimoto · 18 May 2008

There is no magic into remembering, only brains and hard work.

Haruspex · 18 May 2008

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.

Ninjax · 18 May 2008

Derfel said:
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.

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 · 19 May 2008

Ninjax said:
I don't think you can really say that, after all it depends what type of learner you are.

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 · 20 May 2008

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.

Haruspex · 20 May 2008

Making educational videos is like discarding both the fun, and the useful, and you're left with a bleached skeleton.
I say, that if you want to do listening, watch authentic stuff, and if you want to grind vocab, grammar or kanji, use the books. Separately.

Where to start?

Ninjax

後輩

hideway

still hiding

Akimoto

後輩

Ninjax

後輩

Kirakira1232

素敵な冒険始まる！

Akimoto

後輩

Ninjax

後輩

Akimoto

後輩

Ninjax

後輩

Soloistic

後輩

Akimoto

後輩

Haruspex

先輩

Ninjax

後輩

Haruspex

先輩

Kirakira1232

素敵な冒険始まる！

Haruspex

先輩

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