It is really difficult to learn Japanese

[Paul11]

Originally Posted by Kai13

I think japanese is more difficult, the chinese grammar is quite simple, the japanese is a lot more complicated (so far I find it easy though). Chinese only has more characters, each with one only reading, japanese kanji may have more than one reading and meaning.

Japanese grammer is super simple. Get the basic structure and just plug in all the vocabulary like lego.

[Cyclamen]

Originally Posted by NTREEG

In addition to taking language classes, I'm using this guy's method, attempting to learn a lot of vocabulary in a short amount of time:
How I passed the JLPT 2kyuu using SuperMemo | Nihongo Pera Pera (Fluent Japanese)

Give it a try. Maybe it'll work for you.

This guy talks about his "method" based on FlashCards.
Flash cards can be helpful, but I don't think it was the key for his success. Anybody who can speak basic japanese, spent 4 months there and studied 4 hours a day for six months can make it!
Persistence. A lot of effort. Tenaciousness. Those are the only methods that really work.

[NTREEG]

Originally Posted by Cyclamen

This guy talks about his "method" based on FlashCards.
Flash cards can be helpful, but I don't think it was the key for his success. Anybody who can speak basic japanese, spent 4 months there and studied 4 hours a day for six months can make it!
Persistence. A lot of effort. Tenaciousness. Those are the only methods that really work.

I think it depends on what your goals are. That guy was trying to pass an exam with only a few months of preparation to cram 5000 vocabulary words. I find myself in almost the exact same situation he was in this time last year. I've been in Japan for over 7 months now, study for 4 hours a day, and I'm no where near 2kyuu level. I almost resigned myself to not taking the 2kyuu test this year, but reading about that guy's method has given me hope. This week I just started doing it exactly the way he did. People say spaced-repetition works wonders. I'm hoping for a miracle. :-)

Wish me luck.

[kyo_9]

how frequent do you learn japanese? I suggest for you to learn it as frequent as you can so that the knowledge you've learn will be craved inside your memory.. it is quite difficult for anything when you do it the first time, but through time you will find it quite easier than you imagine..

[Veespin]

Nothing beats actually talking to someone for hours on end in the language you are learning -- that will get you the proficiency you so desire. Especially if you are already in Japan, there's Japanese people everywhere! I have been learning Japanese for 5 years as well -- my level probably should be higher, but I don't do too bad. I just need to build my vocabulary.

[nijiro]

I've been studying Japanese on and off (more off than on) for the past eight years. All together I've spent only about two or three of those years actually studying, actively. This is by myself, without classes. And I am intermediate-ish. I'd say Japanese is a really easy language, compared to some others I've dabbled in (like Danish, that's such a hard language!!).
If you're not making progress, you're going about it the wrong way. Theoretically after five years you should be twice as fluent as me, which would be pretty damn good, definitely Advanced level.
Go buy a proper book if you can't get into a class. Cramming does not work with learning a language. Period.