Anyone speak Japanese

[inukami]

Konban wa! O-genki desu ka.

I know Hiragana/Katakana, basic words and sentences. If any of you speak Japanese(nihongo ga!) how did you learn? did you take classes or something? I'm self teaching myself and it's very difficult to do. I started using pimsleur on my iPhone and it's helping a little bit. Any tips would be helpful!

[RiderLeangle]

I barely know it, only several words, just in Romaji, can't read any of the characters.
But does anyone know an easy way to learn?

[joemello]

Get CD's or take a class at the local community college. Whatever you do, DO NOT rely on television to teach you. It's good for pattern and intonation recognition, but that's about it.

[RiderLeangle]

Thats actually how I picked up a few words

[davidyko]

I speak Japanese, but unfortunately that's more because I was born there, and I am also half-Japanese. But I agree with joemello; watching anime, etc. is really NOT the way to go.

[inukami]

Yeah i agree, anime is a terrible way. I think real Japanese television is better and can help because it shows off emotions and what not making it easier to depict words.

As far as CDs i am using pimsleur, i was going to try rosseta stone or whatever it's called but i hear it doesn't work. For community college... well if it was available in my college i would of registered for a class years ago. Unfortunately i live in the east coast, Japanese isn't as big as the west coast.

[RiderLeangle]

So picking up words from subbed Japanese shows and Rosetta Stone don't work?......
s***! >_<

[inukami]

Hmm well about the rosetta stone that's what i've heard but i concluded so with Mike Phelps(you know the Olympic swimmer). I like how he's advertising for rosetta stone and how great it worked for him in China yet when he was interviewed just before the Olympics all he could say was like hello.

[RiderLeangle]

You sure that he actually used it before Bejing and they didn't just pay him to say he used it? Sponsorship happens like that?

[bigblind168]

im thinkin bout trying rosseta stone


any good?

[davidyko]

Never really worked for me while I was trying to learn Spanish.

[inukami]

Nov 13, 2008 15:57:54 GMT -5 RiderLeangle said:

You sure that he actually used it before Bejing and they didn't just pay him to say he used it? Sponsorship happens like that?

IDK but he was learning so he probably did use it.

[inukami]

Ok i found a great series of book to learn Japanese, it's widely used to teach Japanese in college and it's very beginner friendly.

It's called Genki.

www.thejapanshop.com/home.php?cat=270

You can also find it on Jlist.com(be warned adult content)

It falls into different sections:

Genki 1:
*Book on learning studying
*Book for actual practice exercises

Genki 2:
*Book on learning studying
*Book for actual practice exercises
These two books complement each others(learning studying-practice)
They also have another book Genki answer key which gives the answers to the practical book of Genki 1 and 2. To top it off they have a CD audio tape to complement everything.

If you're not sure you can always torrent it and try it out for free.

[bigblind168]

speaking of japanese in college

if u take it in college, do u have 2 know some japanese or can u go in their only knowing 2 words?

[joemello]

At least where I took it, there were no requirements.

[inukami]

No requirements, foreign language for colleges have different levels. Beginner, intermediate, advanced.

You usually just take a placement test, obviously if you don't know anything they place you in beginner.