How best to learn Japanese?

[kyokushin4life]

There are some nice youtube channel out there! Some people just want to teach for free!

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by satodojo

Osu, Dent san,
You live in the area that has a great language school.
Check the website below.
http://www.pcjls.org/e_index.html
Their JASL (Japanese as second language) program is highly recommended.
Or, come to NYC to attend our Friday's second session every week.

Looks like I'm going to have to rely on you for a while, Sato-san. They are closed for the summer, and only meet on Sundays during the term.

Osu!

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by kyokushin4life

There are some nice youtube channel out there! Some people just want to teach for free!

A sterling idea. I will check those out too. Not like this though, right?

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I AGREE

Osu!

[satodojo]

Dent san,
I knew that they are closed during summer. But their program is truelly excellent and you should really conceder to start taking class after the summer vacation.
If you are serious about leaning Japanese, I can introduce you a personal instructor. (She is also a cute young lady!!)

[satodojo]

And of cause you are always welcome to participate our session(s) to learn Japanese.

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by satodojo

Dent san,
I knew that they are closed during summer. But their program is truelly excellent and you should really conceder to start taking class after the summer vacation.
If you are serious about leaning Japanese, I can introduce you a personal instructor. (She is also a cute young lady!!)

I'd love to, Sato-san. They are close, and the fees are very reasonable. Unfortunately, my wife's current work schedule includes Sunday mornings. When they return from summer vacation, I will call in person, and ask for their suggestions. There may be students looking to do a language exchange.

While the two other suggestions you offer are delightful, I think only the Dojo visits are wise. I'm not sure I could survive the other.

Osu!

[Dent]

Osu!

As an update: I believe that idf you want something, you have to work to make it happen, but also have a positive mindset that it will happen.

I decided to pick up a couple of books and a dictionary, and at least do some light browsing. Well, I found out that my grasp of English as a structure isn't good enough
to learn Japanese from books. (What the heck are Postpositional Particles anyway? And why haven't they been banned by the Geneva Convention?!)

So, this week I was in our little gym, and saw a fellow resident switch the channel to the early morning Japanese broadcast. "Hello!", I thought, "This is interesting!". A few questions later, and it turns out he studied in Japan, and his wife is Japanese.

Unfortunately, they are in the process of moving to Seattle, but I may still be in luck! We're going to try and find someone within the local Japanese community who may be interested in giving lessons. Wish me luck!

Osu!

[vapor]

Very nice introduction to a good resource!

Make sure you get all the info you need before he heads out west!

vapor

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by vapor

Very nice introduction to a good resource!

Make sure you get all the info you need before he heads out west!

vapor

I'm trying, and I think his contacts will be quite helpful. He's also quite understanding of why I want to learn the language. As always, it's better to have someone introduce you to the right people, rather than blunder around, and potentially upset someone.

Osu!

[vapor]

Or come across as someone with too much time on their hands and a wild hair about immersing themselves in all things japanese so that they can order sushi better and impress their dining companions!!

vapor

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by vapor

Or come across as someone with too much time on their hands and a wild hair about immersing themselves in all things japanese so that they can order sushi better and impress their dining companions!!

vapor

Well, I'm missing the hair, so that helps, and I do have to do a better job of ordering food, otherwise I'm likely to get the actual plastic display stuff on a plate.

Osu!

[OokamiHenrii]

If your goal is to become fluent in Japanese, this is the way to do it. It will take about two years, if you're living in Japan. It will probably take a bit longer if you aren't living in Japan.

1. Study the Hiragana and Katakana.
2. Study the Kanji.
3. Study the Vocabulary.
4. Study the Grammar.
5. Practice Daily.

In that order. I recommend using Spaced Repetition Study (SRS) and a program such as iFlash.