What would be a good way to start learning?

[NekroNeko]

I got this program called Rosetta Stone which seems pretty good, but I think it'll need more than just that.

What I want to know though is what would be good to use? I'm thinking phrase books and that. Also, how many hours a day would be good practice?

I know I watch anime in Japanese, but it isn't enough on it's own and I know I'd enjoy it more if I didn't have to have the subs. Not only that, I would like to go to Japan someday.

All help is welcome.

[alyss]

The best way to start learning is to start learning. The best way to continue learning is to continue learning. I'm totally serious- the more time you spend studying, however you do it, the better. The more Japanese you hear the more it'll be in your head. The more words you learn the more things you'll be able to say and understand. Etc. You should do at least a little everyday. I used to practice 2-3 hours a day, even more when i was in Japan, but half an hour a day of hard practicing will still get you there pretty fast.

More specifically, first learn some basic grammar. I can't really recommend any specific texts (because I've used so many only briefly and never found any really super good ones), but there's lots out there. If you have questions ask me or other people on the board, or maybe find some Japanese people. I made at least one really good friend that way and learned a lot from him.

As soon as you are able to understand enough (with generous use of the dictionary), try to read things in Japanese. Children's books can be good (especially western ones in Japanese), pop songs can be pretty easy sometimes too.

Oh and I almost forgot, learn hiragana and katakana as soon as possible

[NekroNeko]

Originally Posted by alyss

The best way to start learning is to start learning. The best way to continue learning is to continue learning. I'm totally serious- the more time you spend studying, however you do it, the better. The more Japanese you hear the more it'll be in your head. The more words you learn the more things you'll be able to say and understand. Etc. You should do at least a little everyday. I used to practice 2-3 hours a day, even more when i was in Japan, but half an hour a day of hard practicing will still get you there pretty fast.

More specifically, first learn some basic grammar. I can't really recommend any specific texts (because I've used so many only briefly and never found any really super good ones), but there's lots out there. If you have questions ask me or other people on the board, or maybe find some Japanese people. I made at least one really good friend that way and learned a lot from him.

As soon as you are able to understand enough (with generous use of the dictionary), try to read things in Japanese. Children's books can be good (especially western ones in Japanese), pop songs can be pretty easy sometimes too.

Oh and I almost forgot, learn hiragana and katakana as soon as possible

Thanks for the advice, I'll start putting an effort into getting the characters learnt. Grammer will be the toughest part I think.

[Illsuions]

Originally Posted by NekroNeko

I got this program called Rosetta Stone which seems pretty good, but I think it'll need more than just that.

What I want to know though is what would be good to use? I'm thinking phrase books and that. Also, how many hours a day would be good practice?

I know I watch anime in Japanese, but it isn't enough on it's own and I know I'd enjoy it more if I didn't have to have the subs. Not only that, I would like to go to Japan someday.

All help is welcome.

I have Rosetta Stone too, but I would also like to have more personal training as well. I am thinking about taking lessons from a tutor, once or twice a week. Pending I can find one and fit it into my schedule somewhere.

As far as how many hours? as many as you can do without getting burnt out and deciding to quit... The more you engulf yourself with what your trying to learn the faster you'll take it in. Though everyones different, there's only so much you can take in in one day and remember...

I would like to go to Japan someday as well, I think as soon as I know how to speak the language well enough not to be totally lost I'd go.

Here's a good reference site that is a big help to me, might help you out too.
Learn Japanese Free

[rockenroll4life]

Yeah, I have Rosetta Stone as well. I find that it is very helpful for me. I think its a valuable tool just because you actually get a visual along with the picture. I myself am a visual learner so the more pretty pictures and art there is the better. ha ^_^. It allows me to connect a word to a picture.

Oh! and thanks Illsuion for the link. That should help me out some. And its the same way for me as well. I would love to visit Japan one day.....possibly even stay there for a while. Though I need to learn a lot more before that happens.

[BTime]

Anytime someone wants to learn Japanese, I feel obliged to link this

http://pepper.idge.net/japanese/

[alyss]

Originally Posted by NekroNeko

Thanks for the advice, I'll start putting an effort into getting the characters learnt. Grammer will be the toughest part I think.

You're lucky, actually, because personally I think Japanese grammar is really simple in a lot of ways. It's completely ass backwards from English but it's really logical, there's no (well, only a couple) irregular verbs, no masculine feminine to memorize, very simple verb conjugations, you can toss the subject and other unnecessary words a lot of times...

What Illsuions says is true- you don't want to study so much that you get burnt out. Don't make studying a chore. I used to watch anime or sometimes when playing Japanese games I would think "I wanna speak like that" or "I wish I could understand this" and it would really motivate me a lot.

[Dontais]

I'm planing on takeing japenese in a year and a haft in univ, going to go from buiness admistrative to international buisness(majoring in japenese culture and language). Looks like I have a bit to get started on before I start the classes.

How is Rosetta Stone ? I have a program that I purchased called Talk now anyone try this before?

[zoelyn]

Originally Posted by BTime

Anytime someone wants to learn Japanese, I feel obliged to link this

http://pepper.idge.net/japanese/

I remember that article. Love it.

As for me, I just purchased a used copy of Japanese for Dummies. Sounds basic, and I'm not expecting to be fluent, but it does come with an audio CD and is really "step by step". I'd recommend it so far.

[meromex666]

try the japanese section

http://www.notam02.no/~hcholm/altlang/