What's the best way to learn Japanese??
 

hmm...heard from alot of pple that the best way is actually to go to Japan and stay there....You will naturally learn Japanese...

But i believe alot of us can't go to Japan...so any suggestion to learn it the best way...

watching J-dramas?
Listening to J-music?
or...?

i personally feel that translating lyrics might be of help in the vocabulary and grammar...but speaking and written is different?like informal, formal and the most polite form??

maybe someone can suggest..?

I disagree - all you will hear is native speech so will barely comprehend anything!

As I have said to everyone who asks this, the ONLY way in my opinion is go to a language school, or get a private tutor to teach you.

Obviously, living in Japan gives you many chances to use what you are learning which speeds the rate at which you learn, but it is still a slow process!

Actually, I've heard you can easily live in Japan for years without knowing any Japanese at all.. which is scary. (But I guess people live here in America alright speaking little/no English, so.. >.>)

There are no schools where I live that teach Japanese, so I'm teaching myself.. it's not impossible ^^
Instead of trying to find the best source for learning.. don't settle on any one source at all ^^

I checked out every "Learn Japanese"-type book from every library within an hour of my house, over time.. some of them I really liked, and some were so horrible I didn't read past the first chapter.

The website in my sig is linked there because it is my absolute favorite game/tool for learning kana and kanji.. it's super-helpful (in my opinion), so I want people to see it and try it out :3

Watching Japanese anime/television/etc helps to pick up vocabulary, and eventually grammar.. and music is also useful.

As long as you're enjoying it and switching it up, you'll continue to make progress, I think. ^^


Finding a native speaker to practice with would probably be very helpful.. but I've yet to find one.
I registered at blogs.yahoo.co.jp.. sometimes I log on and try my hand at reading blogs written by Japanese people, and writing them comments. XD;

A few of the guys I go drinking with have been here for about 6 years and never studied any Japanese. They have not had too many problems but, for obvious reasons, can't engage in any form of communication

Yeah, English is ok if you are in McDonalds, but it doesn't help if your cellphone bill is all wrong and you need to get it sorted

well the best way to learn is t by practicing and if u live there for awhile without talking to any1 i doubt u will u will be able to learn it any quicker

games can really train your reading and listening. Mostly of the novel games are voiced and have text to read. but mostly with a little hentai content, if u dont mind, XDDDD

I don`t recommend lyrics at ALL. For one, as they`re not using normal patterns, are usually fairly "artistic" and leave out important bits, they`re incredibly difficult to *properly* translate. You`ll find "translations" all over the net, but most of the time they`re not really accurate - as they`re lyrics and not actual speech or literature far too much ends up being guessing.
And even if you DID somehow amazingly manage to translate it properly word-by-word, they use patterns not used in normal speech so it`s not going to help you there. Lyrics are good for learning new words MUCH MUCH later in the game when you understand the grammar and can recognize the difference between common and lyrical patterns.

And I disagree with you.

How does a baby learn to speak any language? They don`t comprehend *anything* at first, and the entire world is new to them... But yet, a typical child will learn to speak fluently in about 3 years. If we discount the actual time it takes for a child to gain the physical and mental skills required to be able to speak in the first place, we`re talking less than 6 months. Children removed from their native language environments and dropped into a different language are often indistinguishable from their peers in 3 months - without the use of any language study courses, etc.

When you are in an environment where you don`t understand anything, your brain will go into overdrive to try and link bits together and make sense of things. It actually slows you down to try and translate in some form. Unless you are ignoring the language and searching for English (One of the most common things that happens with the "been in Japan 10 years and can`t speak a word!" people) you will naturally learn from the most commonly used phrases and words - just like a child does - and you will acquire the language quite quickly.

On the contrary, if you`re in an environment where you understand about half (as it`s in your native language) and don`t understand half (in Japanese) - make a guess which half you`ll come to depend on for information and which half will become background noise...

-------------------------------
As for a suggestion;
If you can`t actually come to Japan, I would make use of realistic manga. If it takes place in the real world, in a modern setting, without characters who have speech impediments, you can almost guarantee that it will use normal patterns of speech. Literary Japanese is different from spoken Japanese, so normal books aren`t of much help. Manga is usually written in *all* spoken forms and often has furigana on the kanji.
As the pronunciation of hiragana is pretty much static, if you`re certain of that then you can have a good idea of how things are said.

Nothing, however, compares to actually HAVING to use the language to survive and communicate though.

i think a counter question is more appropriate-
how well do you want to learn japanese?
i get the impression that most people would be happy with memorizing a tourist phrasebook. but, if by learn japanese you mean you want to speak, read and write like a japanese, i'd say go to school for 6 years, then work in japan, then marry a japanese boy/girl....and so on.

if you really wanna learn japanese (like i am at the moment)
i found this really good learning thing !!!!!

just download this , its really easy to use
i started about 4 weeks ago and already ive made really good progress !

Learn Spanish, French, Italian, German And Other Languages With Free Software

^_^ hope it helps

Wow thanks, I'll try it out. :)

No idea what planet you live on, but a human child is never fluent by the age of 3...

Also, they learn by hearing the same words over and over again - parents don't have full blown conversations with them to help them learn... again, that may depend if you are from another planet or not. There is a reason most English-native kids say 'mama' or 'dada' as their first words - it's all they hear for the first few months!

Welcome to Earth. On this planet, children at the age of 3 are expected to be able to comprehend quite a lot, and able to convey their feelings in multi-part sentences. I invite you to come and visit a preschool class of 3 year olds, so that you can see the amazing abilities of earthling children.

"Mama" and "dada" are natural mouth and tongue movements, which have very little to do with what the baby hears. It is completely independent of the native language of the parents. Even when a baby isn`t exposed to language of any sort, it will make those sounds. Babies who lack hearing also make them. Parents who consider those to be first words before they are used in context are, well, sweet but naive. All babies babble the same sounds.

Just trust me on this - The definition of "fluent" is different at the age of 3 than it is at the age of 20. A different standard is applied to a child - that doesn`t however mean that the child has any less to learn. A child at that age, when they follow the average developmental path, is both fluent in language and culture. They have the ability to know what is expected of them and how to put that into words and actions....
However, at 3, the child doesn`t have the *other* mental capacities to use those skills in an adult way.

But that isn`t what we`re talking about. We`re talking about language fluency, and yes, most children reach fluency in their 3rd year.

They reach it by listening to *model* conversations. Direct use of those patterns is necessary for gaining certain interactive skills. The majority of acquisition comes about when the child hears proper use in his environment. This is why children will often know words parents would never actually teach to the child - the child picks them up from surroundings, and is able to learn proper usage with just a few models to go by.

If children only learned words from their parents baby-talk, they would NEVER reach fluency.

(Note; I am a linguist, and did several research projects on childhood language acquisition. I know what I`m talking about.)

Congratulations but that doesn't mean squat I'm afraid - I'm a mathematician with a masters degree but that doesn't mean I am always correct when it comes to math based questions...


If the definition of fluent is different at the age iof 3, then how can you use that term at all then? By that logic I could say that Gandhi was an evil person, although the definition of evil is different compared to Hitler. Fluent implies:

"able to speak or write smoothly, easily, or readily"

Even at a basic level, most 3 year old kids can't always achieve that



Anyway, back to the topic - I'm just going from experience, I tried watching a LOT of Japanese tv when I first arrived to pick things up but, even after 6months, could barely understand 1 word in 10 because of the way a native blends words and uses slang etc. It was only after extensive lessons and the use of a translator that I eventually began to SLOWLY comprehend things.

Now I have a VERY good memory, always have, but without lessons, I honestly believe that there isn't a chance in hell I would understand anything because, in a conversation, it is impossible to predict the context if you don't understand any of the words (body language aside)

Math is a direct science. Human development is not. As far as I know, math is rote. Either you know something or you don`t. There isn`t a whole lot of room for checking cases, doing research, etc.

I would hope, however, that with a masters, you would be able to grasp the concept behind something mathematical even if you didn`t actually know it to begin with.

Because a 3 year old is living in a different world than an adult. A 3 year old is, under normal circumstances, expected to be able to convey their feelings, be able to answer multi-part questions, be able to ask multi-part questions, be able to understand anything that is explained to them as long as it falls *within their cognitive sphere*.

To put it in easier to understand terms - you wouldn`t consider someone with a low IQ, who was able to speak, "not fluent" because their cognitive abilities were low. They`re still fluent, but just may be lacking the ability to understand the meaning behind things that are explained to them.

A 3 year old child is fluent. They just do not have the higher mental capacity of an adult, so their language usage is simplistic. In peer situations, they do not have problems related to fluency, and are usually able to understand far more advanced language... Even if they aren`t yet able to use it themselves.

I`m going to guess that you`re not around too many 3 year olds. You`re giving them too little credit. 3 year olds can do some serious talking. Especially girls. They do so smoothly and readily. When I invited you to visit a preschool classroom, I was serious about it. 3 year olds are not babies, and are capable of speaking an incredible amount.

It`s the 2 year olds that are iffy.

nyoronin i agree with you completely.. from my experience with 3 years olds i can hold very good conversations with them and they understand what i'm talking about with them as long as i don't get into anything technical etc.

also i remember being in Japan around children 3 and 4 years old and my level of japanese at that time didn't have a hope in hell at keeping up with them haha. i would hope that isn't the case for me now.

a helpful way i use is surrounding yourself in the language. when im drawing or just surfing i watch japanese shows and movies. when i started to study every once in a while it felt easier to understand. also learn the Particle Uses first, it helps. i usually watch a show called SHINDOI which i get from VEOH.COM.

i can dig what your saying. when i was around 4 i was speaking fluent english and spanish. i dont speak much spanish now because people mostly speak Navajo and Hopi here.

Hmm, last time I was around 3 year old kids was probably when I was that age lol. I just find it hard to believe they could be fluent but I guess that's how it goes...

What's Shindoi about? Sounds like an adjective form of the word Shinto XD .

if there are no schools that offer japanese, order a japanese text book online, get the basics down,such as sentence structure and learning to conjugate verbs and adjectives. The text book should walk you through it for the most part. Anyway you look at it learning a new language by yourself is very difficult and requires loads of dedication and time. So if you have that dedication go for it, otherwise you should do a google search for japanese lessons in your town/city or a town/city that is near by, you might be able to find something. you could probably even take online lessons

Oh, you'd be very surprised at how complex their thinking is and how original they can be in communicating ideas they haven't learned formally yet.

PLEASE don't try to learn Japanese just by watching dramas and anime! Please. I am begging you! Get books, CDs, Tapes, more books, software, flashcards, children's books in Japanese, teachers, classes, podcasts, websites, etc. Dramas and anime and music are all excellent resources for listening to the language, but you have to be actively engaged in it somehow. It's not like in the Matrix where you can learn it all by sticking something in your brain. You have to practice hard. Every. Single. Day. For years and years. Go to Japan, it's a must. I'm sorry, but you can't learn by sitting there watching subbed anime... most of the time, the subs aren't completely accurate! There are tons of ways to learn, but don't expect one of them to be anime. Anime is a great way to listen and become familiar with words, but not to learn the language. Go there and listen to what he has to say. Besides, if you can't go to Japan, what's the point of learning Japanese? Sorry to be blunt, but I just wanted to ask. Do you mean that you can't go there now or ever?

I agree with all of this. You can't ONLY read Japanese or ONLY hear Japanese either, to attain mastery you'll need to practise writing, reading, listening and speaking Japanese and do these practises properly. Personally, I think learning from J-music would be worse than learning from anime, not only are the lyrics usually artistic and not fit to be considered text that you can speak conversationally or write as proper sentences, but they are often sung in a very hip manner, so it'd be very counterproductive if these were used to aid your study.

I noticed that this clip was imbedded in your post..

I find this guy funny but not only that, he also speaks the truth. I get irritated by people who think anime would be a suitable, primary language support when really, they didn't get conversant with their native language by just watching cartoons. I think this idea isn't really born of stupidity, but rather laziness (not true for all, I'm sure). A lot of people want to learn but don't want to invest much time and effort into studying - I feel they don't really care about fully understanding but want to look proficient because it's trendy to be so (this isn't directed at any particular member BTW).

Thumbs up to the ones that put in the hard yards - best of luck to you.

Yeah exactly. If you want to learn Japanese, take the time to learn it right. It will take a while, but you will be so better off.

Also, thanks for putting the video up!

I love Japanese since I've watched some movie in that language.Now I want to go to some private school and learn it. I think it is very fun <3 I just know how to say I love you [ Kimi o ai shiteru ] .. I think :D So,I think it'd be the best to study it here and than to go there and make it perfect :lol: <3

you could say it a few different ways. you could just say "aishiteru" you wouldn't have to add the "kimi o" part. and you could also say "daisuki" or something... but yeah, that's right! good job!

I've been reading the debate between nyororin and chachava and I'll just say that they're both right AND wrong. I agree with chachava on the main point.

It is true in the way babies learn their FIRST language as the way Nyororin describes. Also they can pick up a second language quite easily in a similar way at a young age. However as you get older your brain develops a "way" of thinking in the language(s) you've acquired at a young age and it takes a conscious effort (i.e. lessons) AS WELL AS being immersed in the language to obtain near fluent proficiency in a second language as a teenager/adult.

i think the thing with that is that when your born there, you know nothing and you learn from listening and all that. but when youre already fluent in a language, you have all these words already drilled into your memory, and when you try to learn a language at an older age, its harder to see "summer" as "natsu" since your already so use to it as "summer." now, i didn't say it was impossible, just harder.

Tnx! And I read it like it writes right? Just with maybe some akcent and stuff?