How did you learn Japanese?

[ThaDuke]

Originally Posted by Hatredcopter

References for what, specifically? Just for learning Japanese?

Anything that might be useful to someone who is a beginner.

I'm studying verb conjugation as of now. It seems to be the hardest thing so far, as learning Japanese is concerned. Kind of confusing.

Originally Posted by KyleGoetz

JAPAN is the place to be. How could you miss that from the above comments?

If I went to Japan right now, I would be completely lost. I don't think Japan is a good place for someone who can't speak or read it. Maybe when I'm more comfortable with it.

[yuriyuri]

Originally Posted by ThaDuke

If I went to Japan right now, I would be completely lost. I don't think Japan is a good place for someone who can't speak or read it. Maybe when I'm more comfortable with it.

You would be surprised at how much you can pick up without speaking or reading.
All you have to do is watch and listen... Although obviously reading can help

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by yuriyuri

You would be surprised at how much you can pick up without speaking or reading.
All you have to do is watch and listen... Although obviously reading can help

I'd amend that with how much you're forced to pick up if no one around you speaks your language.

[KyleGoetz]

Originally Posted by ThaDuke

Anything that might be useful to someone who is a beginner.

I'm studying verb conjugation as of now. It seems to be the hardest thing so far, as learning Japanese is concerned. Kind of confusing.



If I went to Japan right now, I would be completely lost. I don't think Japan is a good place for someone who can't speak or read it. Maybe when I'm more comfortable with it.

Because one-year old Japanese kids wait until they speak Japanese before living there.

And in order to properly frighten you ( ), verb conjugation is the least of your worries. I mean, you can learn every possible verb conjugation in a semester of Japanese if you wanted to. And you could probably learn every classical Japanese conjugation quickly as well.

But do keep trying. But do so with the knowledge that the more immersed you are in the language, the more successful you will be at speaking.

[komitsuki]

Has several relatives speaking Japanese and a lot of them still kept Japanese books from 1930s and 1940s, despite my family's 100% Korean. Later polished my Japanese at my university.

I'm also a "natural" hanja (kanji) reader.

I pick up this language decently while I'm more used to reading than speaking.

[IcewindDude]

In my first two years of learning, I was "self-taught" using books, internet, anime, and manga. I quickly learned the standard, polite speech and differenciated it from anime and manga. However, the anime and manga were easily the most entertaining of the bunch to help practice with reading and listening skills. Keep in mind I had no Japanese contacts or teachers available during this time.

The following year I visited Japan for a summer (knowing very well I'll have trouble speaking well, but also knowing I could "get around"). This small visit helped me tremendously. I got a mix of polite and casual Japanese, so I was able to learn a lot.

Some time after that (maybe a year later), I knew enough kanji to play video games in Japanese (Tales of Phantasia for PS as my first). I continued to practice spoken Japanese through chat programs (mainly skype) which also helped a lot. I am currently still at this stage (still playing Japanese RPGs!).

Overall, I've taken my time and slowly learned Japanese purely as a hobby. It is relaxing for me and even helps relieve stress. I actually use small sessions of studying Japanese to help calm my mind between intense study sessions of computer science and calculus/theory/discrete math. Memorization hurts my brain less .

[Yamiko]

Hi, (´∀｀)
I bought kanji, Japanese grammar, and dictionary books before I attended college but I didn't study Japanese so much. I played Final Fantasy XI. I was with Japanese in xp party. I didn't do well. I took Beginning Japanese series courses at my college. I did do very well. I tried to read Japanese manga and website but I was still unable to understand them. :/ However, I play Final Fantasy XI on Japanese version. I am able to learn many vocabulary. I am able to communicate between Japanese people but not at all. Lots of Japanese people said that I am very good at Japanese but my Japanese is still basic. lol

For now, I am studying Japanese for intermediate level in my own because I am unable to return to college.

Also, I am studying Japanese Sign Language because I am deaf.

よろしくです～　(*゜ー゜)

[GTJ]

Originally Posted by Yamiko

Hi, (´∀｀)
I bought kanji, Japanese grammar, and dictionary books before I attended college but I didn't study Japanese so much. I played Final Fantasy XI. I was with Japanese in xp party. I didn't do well. I took Beginning Japanese series courses at my college. I did do very well. I tried to read Japanese manga and website but I was still unable to understand them. :/ However, I play Final Fantasy XI on Japanese version. I am able to learn many vocabulary. I am able to communicate between Japanese people but not at all. Lots of Japanese people said that I am very good at Japanese but my Japanese is still basic. lol

For now, I am studying Japanese for intermediate level in my own because I am unable to return to college.

Also, I am studying Japanese Sign Language because I am deaf.

よろしくです～　(*゜ー゜)

頑張れ！！！
I'm cheering for you!

I used to work with the Deaf community in Maryland, USA. I volunteered at the bi-annual American Deaf-Blind Association conference (which was actuallyl held at my university), and it was one of the highlights of my life. I used to be fluent in ASL, but I haven't used it for years, so I think I'm limited to basic conversation at this point

HOWEVER! One of my professors at my University in Japan, an American, is very much involved in the Japanese Deaf community and is fluent in spoken Japanese and JSL. He's one of the presidents of the Deaf association in the Osaka area, so if you ever come to Osaka, PM me and I'll hook you up!

[calv930]

I was "self-taught" by using the internet and my ipod touch.

There are apps that contain flashcards and audio which is really helpful.
There are different categories for you to study.

Listening to Japanese music helps with how to speak the language.
Being Asian and knowing a Asian language helps with pronounciation.

Currently trying to learn how to read/write Japanese.

[Ninjakutsu]

Originally Posted by ThaDuke

I've been through books and software, but the one that I'm working with now is a tool for the Nintendo DS, "My Japanese Coach". So far, so good. However, I'm wondering how much more training I'll need after it.

I believe that learning Japanese by yourself is the most awesome achievement. I guess it requires loads of self-discipline to actually learn regularly, neh? (:

I tried it as well but I never managed to improve until I met that half-Japanese guy living in a nearby village, to tutor me. Now I'm studying (and teaching) it at a university.
For the basics, I used books like Everyone's Japanese, Minna no Nihongo I, and for kanjis we used Nihon wo Shiru. Now is the phase of forgetting all I've picked up. That might be prevented with music as previously mentioned, or even anime, I think, and books of course, depending on your interest. Currently, I'm reading the Japanese translation of a sci-fi novel for children to maintain skills. Shokubutsu Ningen (aka Plant Man). Whoo. :P