learning japanese

[dimitri_can]

Mind pm me with ur MSN? see how i can help?

btw, you shouldn't study japanese because you wanna take JLPT.. JLPT only grants you an interview, but if you can't speak well, it would be very hard to find a japanese related job

 

[xanthoo]

おはようございます！

I'm currently halfway through my Ele 1 @ Bunka.. Pace's pretty fast but it somehow keeps me on my toes so I'm rather motivated to study. lol.

Anyway can any helpful senpai introduce sites which have exercises, etc that helps to further consolidate the content taught in class? Things like particles, verb conjugation etc. I've tried to find the Minna no Nihongo workbook that dimitri san introduced somewhere back in this forum but was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of books in the series. Thus I gave up. -.-

Thanks in advance!

 

[dimitri_can]

xanthooさん、おはようございます。
ポストを見ていただき、ありがとうございます (Thank you for reading my post)

情報をpmでメールします (I will pm you some materials).

なお、これだけ十分だと思いますので、ご購入ください
(In addition, i think this is enough, please buy it)

http://www.3anet.co.jp/japanese/minna_mondai.html

Click on the 立ち読み to read the contents.

 

[dimitri_can]

Just a quick writeup on how to improve your conversational Japanese. I am not a good speaker, but at least i am at a level where i do not need to think very long (<5-10 secs) to know what i want to speak.


1. Japanese Karaoke
A lot of people do not know this, for me, i started becoming better in my conversation through singing Japanese songs. You might feel that it doesn't help. If you choose this way, you need at least 1-2 years of singing before you can start becoming better.


2. Watching Japanese Dramas/Anime
There are lots of them available on the Internet. What you need to do is find a character that you like in the drama, mimic what the character say 10-20 times.. This method is known as Shadowing.


3. Repeating any conversation passages that you can find in the textbook
This way is easier that what's mentioned at point 2, but the problem here is that you need to keep on substituting words in and out. The result here is that you can speak, but it would be quite difficult to make long sentences. Long sentences as i define as those can when you speak, can last for more than 30 secs.


Yesterday i was in a online class, then i found another fellow Singaporean using "chim" words but his intonation of the words used are not correct. Thus, it's best that to know the intonation of the words before attempting to use it.

To be able to speak is good, to be able to speak with good intonation is the best!

I can't think of anymore right now and i need to get back to work, but if i do, i'll come back and edit this post. Feel free to comment on anything if you find interesting. (^_^)

 

[holybell84]

Mind pm me with ur MSN? see how i can help?

btw, you shouldn't study japanese because you wanna take JLPT.. JLPT only grants you an interview, but if you can't speak well, it would be very hard to find a japanese related job

Sent liao. Actually I studied Japanese not for JLPT, just that next year maybe got a job interview that requries JLPT; the only reason that I looking for courses now because my first half of the year got eaten by my FYP..... I planning to take double courses though

 

[dimitri_can]

追加しました。私の名前はmsnで見えるはずです。

 

[holybell84]

Yeah saw u. Too bad I can't type Japanese on this office computer lol

 

[Ah_keong]

oh meaning we need to go for both Basic 1 & 2 = jlpt 4?

errm...

maybe u missed it in the thread...

Its Basic I + Basic II + Intermediate I Term I = JLPT 4...

 

[Ah_keong]

Just a quick writeup on how to improve your conversational Japanese. I am not a good speaker, but at least i am at a level where i do not need to think very long (<5-10 secs) to know what i want to speak.


1. Japanese Karaoke
A lot of people do not know this, for me, i started becoming better in my conversation through singing Japanese songs. You might feel that it doesn't help. If you choose this way, you need at least 1-2 years of singing before you can start becoming better.


2. Watching Japanese Dramas/Anime
There are lots of them available on the Internet. What you need to do is find a character that you like in the drama, mimic what the character say 10-20 times.. This method is known as Shadowing.


3. Repeating any conversation passages that you can find in the textbook
This way is easier that what's mentioned at point 2, but the problem here is that you need to keep on substituting words in and out. The result here is that you can speak, but it would be quite difficult to make long sentences. Long sentences as i define as those can when you speak, can last for more than 30 secs.


Yesterday i was in a online class, then i found another fellow Singaporean using "chim" words but his intonation of the words used are not correct. Thus, it's best that to know the intonation of the words before attempting to use it.

To be able to speak is good, to be able to speak with good intonation is the best!

I can't think of anymore right now and i need to get back to work, but if i do, i'll come back and edit this post. Feel free to comment on anything if you find interesting. (^_^)

I strongly agree..
wat u mean by good intonation?

on point 3, speaking with the correct accent is critically important... else the japanese conversational skills is wasted in front of the listener...

imagine a westerner speaking chinese with a lousy accent... its similar we easterner speaking english with a lousy accent...

 

[dimitri_can]

I strongly agree..
wat u mean by good intonation?

on point 3, speaking with the correct accent is critically important... else the japanese conversational skills is wasted in front of the listener...

imagine a westerner speaking chinese with a lousy accent... its similar we easterner speaking english with a lousy accent...

Good intonation is the way how you end the sentence and start the sentence.
Accent is critically important as well.

 

[dimitri_can]

Like to also share what my friend wrote...

If a non-native speaker of Japanese speaks Japanese at the average speed of a native Japanese speaker and use expressions 言い回し that a native Japanese uses for that particular context and situation, then he/she is a fluent Japanese speaker.

Another point is, I believe that once a learner REALISES that he/she has used the wrong expression while speaking, he/she can self-correct himself/herself. Native Japanese speakers also sometimes search for the right word to use when speaking. You will know this when they say 「えーと、なんだっけ。。。」 or 「何て言うか」smile


Allow me to relate an anecdote:

In 2003 when I was studying Japanese full-time in Tokyo, I met a fellow Singaporean lady who was then studying for her Japanese Linguistics undergraduate degree as a PSC scholar at University of Tokyo 東京大学. Before that, she had studied Japanese as a third language from Sec 1 till JC 2. When we became friends, I asked her how long she took before she felt that she could speak fluent Japanese after she came to Japan. She thought for a while and replied 3 years (if I remembered correctly).

Thinking back on her reply now, I've come to the following conclusion:

When a person speaks his/her first language or second language that is almost equal to his/her first language, he/she literally speaks what is on his/her mind i.e. thoughts are directly expressed in the language itself. These thoughts are NOT translated into Japanese first and then spoken. If a learner has reached this stage, then he/she has become fluent.

A essential element of attaining fluency in Japanese (or any other language) is one's sensitivity to language. For example, when a person feels that a word/an expression sounds "weird", and can provide the correct word/expression, then he/she possesses the sensitivity. Although this sensitivity is more or less inborn, a person can "train" this sensitivity by reading/listening to a LOT of Japanese, consciously THINK about what he/she has read, and CHECK the dictionary if he/she doesn't understand a word/express.

 

[Ah_keong]

heh....

i see... thats important as well...

i needa brush up my japanese...

 

[unfinished07]

Just a quick writeup on how to improve your conversational Japanese. I am not a good speaker, but at least i am at a level where i do not need to think very long (<5-10 secs) to know what i want to speak.


1. Japanese Karaoke
A lot of people do not know this, for me, i started becoming better in my conversation through singing Japanese songs. You might feel that it doesn't help. If you choose this way, you need at least 1-2 years of singing before you can start becoming better.


2. Watching Japanese Dramas/Anime
There are lots of them available on the Internet. What you need to do is find a character that you like in the drama, mimic what the character say 10-20 times.. This method is known as Shadowing.


3. Repeating any conversation passages that you can find in the textbook
This way is easier that what's mentioned at point 2, but the problem here is that you need to keep on substituting words in and out. The result here is that you can speak, but it would be quite difficult to make long sentences. Long sentences as i define as those can when you speak, can last for more than 30 secs.


Yesterday i was in a online class, then i found another fellow Singaporean using "chim" words but his intonation of the words used are not correct. Thus, it's best that to know the intonation of the words before attempting to use it.

To be able to speak is good, to be able to speak with good intonation is the best!

I can't think of anymore right now and i need to get back to work, but if i do, i'll come back and edit this post. Feel free to comment on anything if you find interesting. (^_^)

why did u leave out the best way, actually practising it with a native japanese
better if that person will correct u and help u with your wrong japanese.
mostly, if they are not close to u, will just accept and cont with the conversation, as long as he/she knows what you are talking about.

i think intonation is more of how to pronounce the words, and not the accent.
eg: はし（箸）　と　はし（橋）
same hiragana, but diff ways of pronouncing will have different meanings.
just like our 四声 in chinese.

 

[dimitri_can]

Hmm... Well that's a good way too...

Please see the difference b/w intonation and accent from みんなの日本語

Intonation

Accent

 

[unfinished07]

hmm.......i got it the other way round....:S

 

[dimitri_can]

Don't worry, you are not alone... I thought so too, till i double checked.

unfinishedさんは今年１級を受けますか？

 

[ahmahippo]

errm...

maybe u missed it in the thread...

Its Basic I + Basic II + Intermediate I Term I = JLPT 4...

wow. a lot of lessons
but along the way got test? keke

 

[azumangadaioh]

Hi , ask you pros ar which one is better for me to learn jap? Bunka or ikoma? I have a friend who recomd me ikoma because the lecturers are from reputable universities in Japan but i heard bunka is cheaper or more into grammar? Can anyone help me a noob?

I am currently at bunka [ waiting to go to PA1 from Int4 ], yes, bunka is a lot cheaper, but also fast, so long you do your revisions you will be fine.

bunkalang.com

course schedules
bunkalang.com/courses_schedules.shtml

placement test details
bunkalang.com/evaluation.shtml

cultural events
bunkalang.com/events_cultural.shtml

courses and pricing
bunkalang.com/courses_details.shtml

There is also a VCD/DVD library but have not borrowed any videos yet...


Or you can also choose to follow the advice from others to go to IKOMA from Bunka after Intermediate levels...

Or if you feel generous, you might want to take classes from both schools and tell us here.

Here is also the website for IKOMA
ikoma.com.sg/jcourse/index.htm

 

[azumangadaioh]

Like to also share what my friend wrote...

If a non-native speaker of Japanese speaks Japanese at the average speed of a native Japanese speaker and use expressions 言い回し that a native Japanese uses for that particular context and situation, then he/she is a fluent Japanese speaker.

Another point is, I believe that once a learner REALISES that he/she has used the wrong expression while speaking, he/she can self-correct himself/herself. Native Japanese speakers also sometimes search for the right word to use when speaking. You will know this when they say 「えーと、なんだっけ。。。」 or 「何て言うか」smile


Allow me to relate an anecdote:

In 2003 when I was studying Japanese full-time in Tokyo, I met a fellow Singaporean lady who was then studying for her Japanese Linguistics undergraduate degree as a PSC scholar at University of Tokyo 東京大学. Before that, she had studied Japanese as a third language from Sec 1 till JC 2. When we became friends, I asked her how long she took before she felt that she could speak fluent Japanese after she came to Japan. She thought for a while and replied 3 years (if I remembered correctly).

Thinking back on her reply now, I've come to the following conclusion:

When a person speaks his/her first language or second language that is almost equal to his/her first language, he/she literally speaks what is on his/her mind i.e. thoughts are directly expressed in the language itself. These thoughts are NOT translated into Japanese first and then spoken. If a learner has reached this stage, then he/she has become fluent.

A essential element of attaining fluency in Japanese (or any other language) is one's sensitivity to language. For example, when a person feels that a word/an expression sounds "weird", and can provide the correct word/expression, then he/she possesses the sensitivity. Although this sensitivity is more or less inborn, a person can "train" this sensitivity by reading/listening to a LOT of Japanese, consciously THINK about what he/she has read, and CHECK the dictionary if he/she doesn't understand a word/express.

There is one more stage... This stage may appear early or appear late after those stages have occurred for those stated above. That is when you start dreaming during your sleep and in your dream you were speaking coherent japanese to another japanese. That is when the brain has already started moving to *unconscious competence* from *conscious competence*. The more frequently this happens to you, the better...

If you have reached this stage, congratulate yourself...But of course more practise is necessary to take you further...

 

[ahmahippo]

anyone got penpal?