Tofugu Comments - Latest Comments in How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

spacejay4000 — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:16:02 -0000

i studied japanese in college, but only for a year (boo) so i'm still at a very low level and i think that i've gotten lower than that since i havent studied since i left college almost 5 months ago!! *fail*

but i really want to learn it! and i know that i cant through osmosis, though that would be freaking awesome if i could!! anywho, i really appreciate your blogs and vlogs cuz i've learned a lot from you and are using your resources. i did just randomly come across it as i was searching youtube for japanese lessons and your panda hat and the title "learn japanese while watching anime NOT!" really intrigued me and i havent gone back since. and i'm so glad that i havent! ive watched your koichiben vids as well and i really want to be able to understand that so i'm going to try to do some hard core studying!! (sorry this is soooo long! it wasnt intentional!! ^_^)

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

koichi — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:24:35 -0000

heh, if I had to choose between math and Japanese, I'd be practicing Japanese a lot more I think :)

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:21:48 -0000

Haha, trouble concentrating on Japanese? It's like the opposite for me. I'm supposed to be doing math, but I end up doing Japanese the entire day. The worst part is that only one of my friends (that I have regular contact with) is trying to learn Japanese, and she gave up on hiragana, katakana, and kanji. In fact, she has decided to start learning 'later.' That means I haven't had a lot of practice (I'm not allowed to buy stuff, including books, online.) and I forget a lot... but I'm going to start using that Lang-8 site now.

What you really need is a guide on how to pull away from Japanese and do boring stuff... like conic sections.

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

terindamico — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:14:25 -0000

For me fluency in a foreign language is about being able to clearly and correctly communicate your thoughts in the target language, to be able to quickly and accurately read in the target language, and to be able to listen to a foreign speaker and to be able to accurately understand the conversation. Does it require native level fluency to the point that your own speech patterns are indistinguishable from a native speaker? Absolutely not, though it would be a lofty goal. I studied Arabic at the Defense Language Institute at Presidio of Monterey a long time ago, and after studying Arabic for 6 hours a day, five days a week for 16 months, I can assure you that I was nowhere near a native speaker. But, I was able to communicate on a wide variety of subjects and understand most of what I heard (assuming the speaker was not trying to talk in a subject that contained a lot of specialized, unfamiliar vocabulary). Learning a language is about bridging the gap between two cultures and trying to meet others on their grounds. Most countries have a low opinion of Americans, and think that most Americans “expect” them to speak English. When you attempt to speak in their language, you build instant rapport. I have experienced this first hand with speaking Arabic in the Middle East, and also speaking Korean here in Korea. Just my two cents on the comment of "native fluency".

I'm just beginning learning Japanese and look forward to the new experiences that will bring.

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Izeyhec — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:55:19 -0000

wish i had read this 2 weeks ago when i decided to take a 3 day break when i was hangin out at my friends and ended up takin a 2 week break that left me lost to where i left off at

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Mohamed — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:08:41 -0000

I know what you mean! Ever since my exams back in April, I haven't opened a single textbook. I've been reading alot on mixi and sending messages in Japanese. But because I haven't practiced my Japanese, I forgot how to write over 20 Kanjis, but i can still read 90% of the 310Kanjis I've learned in the past 2 years.....SO no more breaks for, a 30min study session is an awesome idea!

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Dark — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:31:14 -0000

I have been putting off learning Japanese again since I took my final exams this year. Just starting to get into the books again. Lang-8 looks like an excellent site, thanks for that.

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Jamaipanese — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:03:34 -0000

thanks for the tips you have inspired me to study more japanese this summer

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Wafukari — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:49:07 -0000

Oh, Koichi, being responsible and trying to get us in the studying mood. Well, it worked XD.

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

emiko — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:03:10 -0000

Oh . .. okay ^^

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Kitam — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:00:45 -0000

im saying ill be sure to tell you.. and thanks for volunteering to be a part of it

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

emiko — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 02:43:43 -0000

hmm . . . i'm not sure what your saying . . . so confused

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Kitam — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 02:37:27 -0000

YAY! 4 Fun!!!
you much more awesomer than correct grammar will allow me to express

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

emiko — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 02:12:14 -0000

hmm . . . Well, during the summer I have a ton of free time on the computer, but I have a lot less time during the school year. But if you do start one be sure to tell me, I'll try to see if I can find the time to join. It sounds fun!

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Kitam — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:24:06 -0000

how much free time do you have online >.<.. i was thinking of starting a little japanese learning group soon, obviously to benifit myself, my selfish motive.. but in all im sure alot of ppl would have good info to include as well as recieve, just from this area alone.
i think its feasible

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

emiko — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:04:11 -0000

Thanks I'll check it out

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

emiko — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:02:16 -0000

umm . . . In a previous post Koichi covered the importance of learning Kanji. In japanese things may be spelled the same in hiragana, but they have different meanings. So Kanji is more precise than hiragana. For instance, bridge, chopstick, and edge are all 'hashi.' In order to know the difference different Kanji are used. I hope I explained that right. I'm pretty new to Japanese myself. Hope I was of some help. Also try looking for the post. It might be of more help ^^

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

pixie_styx17 — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:31:26 -0000

whoops... accidentally managed to post the same comment twice XD not sure how to delete though.

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

pixie_styx17 — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:30:30 -0000

Before I started learning Japanese/Chinese, I had never studied before in my life XD (considering the American school system, it's never been really necessary) it's kinda hard to get used to it. A study tool I recommend to everyone is the Declan Japanese software series, it includes Declan's Japanese Dictionary, Declan's Japanese Flashcards, Read/Write Hiragana, Read/Write Kanji, and Read/Write Katakana. You can either buy it (expensive) or find it for free on torrent or usenet. Also if you're looking for vocabulary lists, you should check out www.rippasama.com, it has a lot of lists, for beginners as well as more advanced learners. ^^

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

tomususan — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:30:44 -0000

In my opinion 30 minutes a day ... not very much I prefer to learn more.
Nice article

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Kitam — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:06:29 -0000

okay cool.. and im not very knowledgeable but Kanji is the same but different from another way of writing japanese?.. but it seems kanji is more difficuly to learn i think.. if i chose to learn this.. then would anyone understand what i write or would that be like a foreign language to japanese ppl whom use the other system of writing.
let me know if im not making sense

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

koichi — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:00:38 -0000

definitely should learn to read first / at the same time. There will be people who tell you otherwise, but they are probably illiterate :)

Being able to read / write will really help with grammar, too. Gives you a good idea who the structure of the language stands up, and overall will give you a much deeper foundation.

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

kevinnwhat — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:25:14 -0000

koichi laying down the law right there

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Kitam — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:29:58 -0000

i think that its hard for some native ppl to learn their native language ^^
honestly.. my broken ebonics vs correct grammar, as high as it may be.. so totally suck, the only thing that seperates me from someone not from here is my confidence when aproaching words to interact with others.. i dont have to use the right words all the time, but theres little reason to do that.. there are things i can say to certain ppl in a certain way.. that if i say to others, the same exact way, they wouldnt understand a word.. understanding the difference between conversing between age/gender, age/race, gender/racial preference, social status/cultural interests, etc etc.. that has alot to say about speaking natively.confidence and knowing when to take your vernacular handbook and toss it out the window and just be relaxed and at the drop of a dime change it yet again if the situation calls for it., that takes a lot of understanding and reasoning from a native speaker alone.. maybe you CAN imitate accurately enough to fool ppl in low pressure situations.. but be interrogated having to embody multiple points of views mentally and render yourself to expression beyond just speaking and writing.. but body gestures and movements.. a person can NOT break the facts and habits behind what formed their squishy little brains first without their being a special reason for it. to clam to be a native speaker is somewhat insulting to anyones language without a person throwing theres whole self into first trying the falsify their authenticity amoungst a groups or groups of ppl that live a totally different life than that whom wants to claim native.. if your super young.. yea.. possibly. i think you can do a good transition between then.. but you are bound to say things a bit awkwardly no mater what.. if you think in english, and translate it to what fits.. or visa versa then that alone says something about your nativeness... and if you discard your original background and culture for anothers.. just to reach this lvl to communicate.. then something is very wrong with you...

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Kitam — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:25:31 -0000

hmm.. this post didnt end up in the right spot...
but.. yay for being humble