Quote:
Originally Posted by chryuop
Actually I think a program is good as refreshing something or studying new grammar. For the rest turn off the computer and use pen and paper. Have a page of newspaper or something written in Japanese, a dictionary, paper and pen and start working.
Typing won't bring you far at all in studying.
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I somewhat disagree! Typing pretty much got me to the level I'm at today.
I spent 2 years between high school and coming to Japan where I had no Japanese lessons. My primary method of learning Japanese in this time being instant messaging with Japanese people on the internet.
In terms of learning new vocabulary, I must have learned
at least as many words each year by emailing and chatting on MSN with my Japanese friends than a year studying at high school!
Sure, you don't write the characters down, and even forget to write some, but you learn to recognise them, and I very rarely find myself in the position (even having spent a year in Japan now) where I need to write in Japanese anyway.
That aside, I think for bridging the gap from upper beginner/lower intermediate to upper intermediate, its darn hard to find any replacement for email/instant messaging, since it can keep you in contact with Japanese people for most of the day, if needs be.
Used in conjunction with a tinsy bit of writing (a short journal entry each week, maybe) and you've got yourself as much practice as you need.