How to improve oral/conversational skills?

[Kai13]

My writing skills (grammar, kanji, etc) are very, very good, even though I'm at a basic level.

When I'm on the class breaks and talk to the sensei however, my knowlegde does not come out, I just say things like "chotto", "ee", "sou desu ne", ...(sorry, no ime in this computer), when I try to make up a whole sentence I have to think first in my language and most of the times I cannot remember what grammar to use, and even forget particles now and then :P, but as I said, my writing and listening skills are very good (at least for my level).

I practice talking to myself, but that's not enought, though I'll try to do that more often. I also have been listening a lot more japanese daily (sound files of JLPT 3 and 4, cd's from Genki and an integrated approach to intermediate japanese, etc etc...), and my listening skills are improving I believe.

Do you have any tips? There's no way to have japanese friends because there are no japanese here.

If you know any threads regarding this let me know.

[KyleGoetz]

Originally Posted by Kai13

My writing skills (grammar, kanji, etc) are very, very good, even though I'm at a basic level.

When I'm on the class breaks and talk to the sensei however, my knowlegde does not come out, I just say things like "chotto", "ee", "sou desu ne", ...(sorry, no ime in this computer), when I try to make up a whole sentence I have to think first in my language and most of the times I cannot remember what grammar to use, and even forget particles now and then :P, but as I said, my writing and listening skills are very good (at least for my level).

I practice talking to myself, but that's not enought, though I'll try to do that more often. I also have been listening a lot more japanese daily (sound files of JLPT 3 and 4, cd's from Genki and an integrated approach to intermediate japanese, etc etc...), and my listening skills are improving I believe.

Do you have any tips? There's no way to have japanese friends because there are no japanese here.

If you know any threads regarding this let me know.

To get better at speaking, speak. That's the only way. Try Skype to find a Japanese practice partner.

[RickOShay]

Originally Posted by Kai13

My writing skills (grammar, kanji, etc) are very, very good, even though I'm at a basic level.

When I'm on the class breaks and talk to the sensei however, my knowlegde does not come out, I just say things like "chotto", "ee", "sou desu ne", ...(sorry, no ime in this computer), when I try to make up a whole sentence I have to think first in my language and most of the times I cannot remember what grammar to use, and even forget particles now and then :P, but as I said, my writing and listening skills are very good (at least for my level).

I practice talking to myself, but that's not enought, though I'll try to do that more often. I also have been listening a lot more japanese daily (sound files of JLPT 3 and 4, cd's from Genki and an integrated approach to intermediate japanese, etc etc...), and my listening skills are improving I believe.

Do you have any tips? There's no way to have japanese friends because there are no japanese here.

If you know any threads regarding this let me know.

Before I came to Japan for the first time I had taken two years of an elective course, so I had some knowledge, certainly enough to make a conversation, but it was hard. After living in Japan though for about 4-5 months I finally started to feel like I could have somewhat of a fluid conversation, even if I was just doing most of the listening. For me, a little immersion was what I needed to push me over the hump.

But for you though, since you do not have that opportunity, just as KyleGoetz said, practice, practice, practice. Find somebody who will talk with you, even if it is just another classmate. I have seen Japanese people do this a lot to practice their English.

[Kai13]

Thanks for your sugestions
I'll try do to that.

Doens't any you know any audio that has questions for us to answer? I have genki audio, but the answers we have to give are always so short...

[RickOShay]

Originally Posted by Kai13

Thanks for your sugestions
I'll try do to that.

Doens't any you know any audio that has questions for us to answer? I have genki audio, but the answers we have to give are always so short...

Naa, all I have is something from Unicom that I used to use to practice for JLPT 1. But you do not give responses, you just listen and choose the proper response. Sorry. I am sure somebody will have a recommendation for you though.

[KyleGoetz]

Originally Posted by Kai13

Thanks for your sugestions
I'll try do to that.

Doens't any you know any audio that has questions for us to answer? I have genki audio, but the answers we have to give are always so short...

You can just ask yourself questions instead. But you really need to find a native to speak with.

[steven]

I think a good way to learn how to speak is listening to people speaking Japanese. I'm sure you can read kana, but simply looking at the kana and trying to produce sound will not always be the answer. Rhythm, intonation, and dynamics are probably the most important thing for language. I think that's the reason you can usually understand your friends when they talk with their mouths full or do something similar in nature to that.

Imitation is important-- and the best way to imitate is to listen. However, like someone said before, the actual physical act of speaking is very important. It's basically muscle coordination. The sounds you make might sound right to your ears, but the more you listen, the more you will be able to hear your own mistakes. Your tongue has like a muscle memory for language and is set to English (I assume as that's what your message was written in) and has to get used to a new language.

If you have the means, record yourself and listen to your practice. I don't find it much different than practicing singing or other instruments for that matter. Just like music, rhyhtm and intonation are the biggies.

[sakaeyellow]

Originally Posted by Kai13

My writing skills (grammar, kanji, etc) are very, very good, even though I'm at a basic level.

When I'm on the class breaks and talk to the sensei however, my knowlegde does not come out, I just say things like "chotto", "ee", "sou desu ne", ...(sorry, no ime in this computer), when I try to make up a whole sentence I have to think first in my language and most of the times I cannot remember what grammar to use, and even forget particles now and then :P, but as I said, my writing and listening skills are very good (at least for my level).

I practice talking to myself, but that's not enought, though I'll try to do that more often. I also have been listening a lot more japanese daily (sound files of JLPT 3 and 4, cd's from Genki and an integrated approach to intermediate japanese, etc etc...), and my listening skills are improving I believe.

Do you have any tips? There's no way to have japanese friends because there are no japanese here.

If you know any threads regarding this let me know.

The best way to learn, speaking or writing, is to have someone who is willing to do the bad guy part and tell you where you have done wrong. I take the liberty to be a bad guy this time. If you don't like it, just tell me and I will be a good guy.

Your signature has a few problems.

日本語と中国語を勉強しています。勉強のが好きです。 (勉強が好きです should have no の)
アジア研究の一年生です。中国語は私の専門です。(You should avoid です…です…です…, use で to combine two sentences, e.g. アジア研究の一年生で中国語が専門です。)

我学汉语和日语。我喜欢学习。
我是东方学的学生。
A more natural way to rewrite your Chinese would be:
我正在學習漢語和日語，是一個喜歡學習的東方學學生。

As for your question, I suggest you should find some "bad guys" to point out your mistakes in spoken Japanese.