|
 |
Learning Japanese | ||
Tags: Japanese | ||
Share with:
| ||
 Language Learning Forum : Advice Center |  | |
| 1337_5p34k Newbie United States Joined 524 days ago 2 posts | Message 1 of 26 21 February 2009 at 2:16am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
|
Hello all,
My name is Pete, and well, I am trying to learn Japanese... first I want to learn to speak it then write it, since it seems that speaking is easier than writing or reading. The reason I am trying to learn Japanese is because in about 3 yrs. I am going to Tokyo, Japan and I am a believer that knowing at least some of the language before I go to the country. Anyway, if anyone could help me in learning Japanese that would be completely awesome! Thanks a lot! | ||||||||||||
| OneEye Senior Member United States chinesequest.blogspo Joined 1619 days ago 343 posts - 73 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: Mandarin, Latin, German, French | Message 2 of 26 21 February 2009 at 3:47am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
|
That the written language is harder than the spoken language is a misconception. It takes some getting used to, and you do have to learn a lot of characters (some 2000+) to be literate, but the kanji are very logical once you learn how they work.
There's no need to hold off on the written language. You can learn the kanji and kana systematically, and separately from the spoken language. That's the idea behind the first few phases of the AJATT (All Japanese All The Time) method. You listen a lot while you learn the kanji using Heisig's Remembering the Kanji (makes learning the characters MUCH easier), then you learn the kana, and then you can start with reading. The thing is, since you've learned all the general-use kanji and all the kana, you'll be able to use authentic, native material rather than stuffy, contrived, dry textbook dialogues. You can use learning material like newbie-level podcasts and such while you're learning the kanji and kana, but move on to authentic stuff as soon as you can. It may all sound far-fetched, but the method is firmly grounded in modern Second Language Acquisition theory. The author of the site used this method, and at the end of 18 months had an interview for a job in Tokyo. The interview was in Japanese and he got the job. He went from zero to a very high level of fluency in only 18 months, and in a language that is considered to be quite difficult for native English speakers to learn. Follow the right method and have the right mindset and it can be done. Read this and all the links on the page. Yes, that will take quite a while. Hit these specific articles first, then get started, and read the rest at your leisure. http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/introduction-and-f oreword http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/about http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/about/overview-pag e http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/10000-hours-buildi ng-listening-comprehension http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/japan-is-wherever- you-are-10-ways-to-turn-your-environment-japanese http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/what-is-an-srs http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-learn-kanji -using-an-srs http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/kanji-files http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/10000-sentences-in put-before-output http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/10000-sentences-wh y http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/10000-sentences-ho w http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/10000-sentences-wh ere http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/10000-sentences-mo re-on-what-sentences-to-learn The first batch outlines the method, and this second batch is just further info, explanations, and motivational pieces. I still recommend reading as much of the rest of the site as you can. http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/make-japanese-the- center-of-your-life-the-only-time-you-have-is-the-time-you-m ake http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/shaping-what-the-i mmersion-environment-does-for-you http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/what-is-an-srs-2 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-score-yours elf-on-repetitions http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-score-srs-r epetitions-2 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/popping-bubblewrap -tips-for-better-srs-sentence-items http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/why-monolingual-di ctionaries-are-worth-your-time http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make -the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-pronounce-j apanese http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-speak-like- a-native http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/isnt-real-japanese -too-hard-for-beginners http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/faqs-frequently-as ked-questions I know it's a ton of info. Don't get overwhelmed. Work through the articles gradually. The first batch of links is plenty to get you started learning. Don't forget to have fun! Anything you enjoy doing in English, do in Japanese. There are some awesome Japanese bands, movies, TV shows, etc. This site has some links to streaming Japanese TV channels, and I'm sure it would be easy to find more. You might also try this site's forum for some other tips (many of the users there follow the AJATT method). There's also an SRS built into the site based on Heisig's book, along with links to mnemonic stories to help you. I hope this helped. | ||||||||||||
| 1337_5p34k Newbie United States Joined 524 days ago 2 posts | Message 3 of 26 21 February 2009 at 7:08pm | IP Logged | |||||||||||
|
Hey, thanks sooo much for all this info. I am most definitely going to check out all of those links! And thank you for explaining that it's probably a better idea to learn both the language and writing at the same time... which will, in the long run, help in Japan! Thanks again!
| ||||||||||||
| LittleKey Senior Member United States Joined 721 days ago 141 posts - 1 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish, Japanese | Message 4 of 26 21 February 2009 at 11:42pm | IP Logged | |||||||||||
|
yeah, i would say listen to khatzumoto. dude knows he's talking about. and i'd also like to thank you for that list, those are some very good articles.
| ||||||||||||
| mytamk Diglot Groupie United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 1047 days ago 64 posts - 1 votes Speaks: Cantonese*, English Studies: Mandarin, Japanese | Message 5 of 26 25 February 2009 at 4:04am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
|
I think AJATT is a very good website and khatzumoto is incredible in his determination and language acquisition. However I truly believe somewhere in your language learning, you should get some formal language education.... I think of a lot people could "pick up" their target language on the street, among friends etc... But if you want to be an educated speaker, you have to get some formal education, that could be classes, private tutor etc... I had a Japanese friend look at khatzumoto's video where he spoke Japanese and she said, "He sounds like a Japanese teenage boy! He uses a lot of slangs." Of course his major source of Japanese is anime. Words of caution, once you pick up on habits, speech pattern, it is very difficult to "undo" As a woman, I would NOT want to sound like a "Japanese teenage boy!!"
| ||||||||||||
| icing_death Senior Member United States Joined 630 days ago 296 posts - 2 votes Speaks: English* | Message 6 of 26 25 February 2009 at 3:40pm | IP Logged | |||||||||||
Hi Pete. I think you're on the right track starting with speaking. I'd recommend a beginner course that doesn't require written language. Pimsleur and Michel Thomas are 2 that would probably fit your program. You might try one at first, and then decide what to do when/if you finish. In other words, don't go spending crazy. Speaking of that, I think both of those programs can be found in libraries or on line.
disagree, unless you have a fear of speaking, are introverted, etc
disagree - it's closer to 3000
disagree. He certainly has some good stuff on his site, but he's an angry kid on the internet(those words stolen from another forum member) that wants your praise and money for a method that he didn't use. | ||||||||||||
| phelps110 Diglot Newbie United States Joined 1238 days ago 5 posts Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Italian | Message 7 of 26 26 February 2009 at 1:37am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
|
Take OneEye's advice and follow the the AJATT method. Read as many articles of khatzumoto's as you can. Infact try to read all of his posts (if thats possible). Eventually you'll come to realize how and why language aquisition works. The process is very natural and does not involve the tortures of formal classes (which despite what you've been told to believe, DO NOT WORK!), inumerable amounts of tapes and CD's, and large sums of money in general.
Theres not much for me to say....its all there in his website and his method pertains to any language...actually for a lot of things in life besides languages too. Anyways just read the website and it will all become clear. You'll never even need to come to this website again. | ||||||||||||
| LittleKey Senior Member United States Joined 721 days ago 141 posts - 1 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish, Japanese | Message 8 of 26 26 February 2009 at 2:55am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
Yes, but you'll WANT to, because you get such good advice here! hahaha. and icing death, i have some questions about some of your comments (just curious is all). you say the necessary number of kanji is closer to 3,000, but from what i've heard the point of the jouyou kanji is that it's what you need to get along comfortably reading japanese. and there's about 2,000 or so jouyou kanji. i may be wrong, but it seems like learning 3,000 kanji is not strictly necessary unless you'll be doing more advanced novels and stuff. if someone could clear up this issue, that would be appreciated. Also, you say khatzumoto is an angry kid who wants our money and praise, for a method he didn't even follow. now, from what i've read of the AJATT website, he's never seemed to be the least bit angry at, well, anything. also, to my knowledge, he DID follow the method he outlines. he is honestly trying to help people, and from my experience the only prompt i've had to donate to him is the little donation link at the bottom of every article, which is perfectly tolerable. i'm just curious as to why you have this opinion of him that seems to differ from everyone else's thoughts about him and the AJATT website. |
|  | 
Printable version
|
| Copyright 2010 FX Micheloud - All rights reserved No part of this website may be copied by any means without my written authorization. |
