I can give you some of the sites that I reference all the time. I've been self-teaching for the last few months, too, but I'm going into a class this coming semester at my college.
This is a website that has a Kanji dictionary as well as a neat little thing that shows stroke order and direction for a specific Kanji.
Neat pictures of what hand-brushed Hiragana and Katakana look like, along with some beginning Kanji and commonly used emoticons. Explore this one, as it also has some other neat references.
When you progress far enough to start learning Kanji, this one is really good combined with the following website.
Another Kanji dictionary. I like this one better (I find it easier to navigate and much more helpful), though it lacks detailed stroke animations.
This is a Java applet that is essentially a deck of flashcards for Kanji. Again, this is for when you get that far.
Kinda similar to when you go to Google language tools (another invaluable resource) and translate a whole webpage. This leaves the webpage with the original text, but allows you to mouse over a word and see a translation to help you learn to read. It's very helpful, and I've only barely tapped into it.
If you feel like downloading some freeware--I haven't used it yet, but I held on to the URL anyway :P
Japanese Language PODCASTS! Sweet.
And last:
www.japanforum.com . The place where you can ask questions, talk to some native speakers, find resources, and just goof off.
Oh, and I would be in big trouble if I forgot Wikipedia and Google. Without those two, I would never have found ANY of the above resources.
I also recommend that you never watch an English dubbed anime again in your life. English subs only! Listen well, you'll pick up a lot of vocabulary. And definitely pay a lot of attention to the characters who of your gender--I hear that learning from a book makes guys talk girls and girls sound like they're talking to the Emperor!
"The trouble with trying to make something idiot proof is that idiots are so smart." ~A corollary to Murphy's Law
If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; but if you actually make them think, they'll hate you. ~Don Marquis
Quote:
Originally Posted by noodle
But, that's always f-ed up individuals that kill in secluded areas up high in the mountains. Thats neither the army nor the governments agenda! I hope those people rott in hell, but an army or government shouldn't be judged by psycho individuals.
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