learning japanese

[terraj]

It was possible to take 2 exams on the same day provided there was no clash in timing, but apparently not anymore.

 

[yukaguri]

Thanks for your responses.

I have to admit that I'm quite the manga/anime fiend and I've been trying my best with original Japanese texts and so far, I'm reasonably successful. My problem, however, is retention of vocabulary since I don't really have friends who speak the language.

I'll look into the courses at Ikoma. I presume I should begin from Intermediate I or should I try II? I was also wondering what I should expect in terms of the test itself. Is it purely written or are there other components?

本当に　ありがとう　ございます。

 

[terraj]

The vocab part initially will be hard. But if you have knowledge in Chinese it will help you tremendously. You can find a general pattern in which sounds are mapped from Chinese/Japanese in kanji and learning becomes a lot quicker as you familliarise yourself with the kanji. Once you start to learn Japanese idioms you'll see even more similarities (even with English idioms) and learning accelerates. Oh and if you can, when you're a bit more comfortable with the basics, get your hands on Japanese games with spoken dialogue that plays as the text flashes across the screens. For starters don't try those mega-animated games because the dialogue moves too fast and u can't really pause; get the text based games with audio since u can pause after each sentence. IMHO the fastest way to learn new words is to actually read the Japanese subs while it's being spoken. You can also try Japanese movies with Japanese subs but the language used in live action is normally spoken a lot faster and with less clarity than Japanese voice actors (seiyuus) you might have more difficulty there.

For Ikoma I believe you can get a placement test or speak to one of the Japanese teachers there for advice.

Thanks for your responses.

I have to admit that I'm quite the manga/anime fiend and I've been trying my best with original Japanese texts and so far, I'm reasonably successful. My problem, however, is retention of vocabulary since I don't really have friends who speak the language.

I'll look into the courses at Ikoma. I presume I should begin from Intermediate I or should I try II? I was also wondering what I should expect in terms of the test itself. Is it purely written or are there other components?

本当に　ありがとう　ございます。

 

[direbmem]

anyone knows any other gd txtbks for self study of lower levels of jlpt besides mina no ninhongo???

any tips for self study of the listening part???

 

[surfuz]

yukaguri, you can see samples of JLPT at this very useful website.
It's free to register.

http://jlpt.info/jlpt/

Direbmen,

Japanese for Busy People is quite reputable for self learning.
For listening, I suggest you watch anime or some other japanese show. Listen to what they said, repeat it. If you can repeat it pretty well, you should be able to do very well at the listening part.

 

[direbmem]

yukaguri, you can see samples of JLPT at this very useful website.
It's free to register.

http://jlpt.info/jlpt/

Direbmen,

Japanese for Busy People is quite reputable for self learning.
For listening, I suggest you watch anime or some other japanese show. Listen to what they said, repeat it. If you can repeat it pretty well, you should be able to do very well at the listening part.

does japanese for busy pple cover the vocab and grammar tested in jlpt 3 and 4???because ultimately i would be taking the test so its better to be focus on those stuff...

looking for an alternative cos mina no ninhongo is meant to be used with a teacher.

Thnx in advance..

 

[terraj]

I used Kanzen Master for my JLPT2 prep (self study). Not sure if the JLPT3/4 version is any good though but the JLPT2 material was quite thorough. My Japanese class at that time was only at JLPT3 level so I learnt the JLPT2 stuff from scratch and didn't have much problems during the actual exam.
You might want to check it out here:

There is one particular grammar book at Kinokuniya that is very good and very thorough for JLPT3 stuff but unfortunately I can't remember the title. The intermediate version is used at Ikoma in some of their notes but the basic version has a lot of English explanations. It's probably located in the 3rd-4th shelf at Kinokuniya if they have any stock. I'll post the title if I can find it from Amazon...

 

[yukaguri]

Well, I was in the area today (read: raiding Kino -- again) and paid a visit to Ikoma. My they're popular -- May classes are full. The receptionist asked me whether I wanted to speak to one of the senseis there which made me extremely nervous. I declined and told her I'd need to be mentally prepared for it.

Am I a wuss? Probably. XD

terraj: I'm glad to know that I won't be stumbling for long. It's the pronunciation that gets me everytime, which is why I can read text but conversation... is slightly more difficult. Thanks for the game tip, I'll consider that. I manage live action ok. I don't think listening is as much a problem for me as speaking is. Obviously the latter can't happen without practice.

Regarding the grammar book, I think there's a fairly good chance I've got it or at least have flipped through it. I have, to date, three books on grammar alone. I happen to love grammar and was a linguistics major... figures. I saw a Basic Grammar dictionary today in yellow that looked like a reasonably good find. It's on the upper shelves (the intermediate one is light blue-grey). Has detailed explanations in English.

direbmem: Personally, Minna no Nihongo is fairly simple to use without a teacher. Although I find that I end up not quite sure where I'm at with relation to the JLPT, so I bought the Preparatory Course books for JLPT 3 and 4, which allows me to get a gist of what's included. I'm officially a book fiend.

sufuz: Thanks for the website link! <3

 

[dimitri_can]

Hi there. Sorry to jump in on the thread like this, but since you guys are talking about schools, I thought I'd ask since I can't seem to get any decent response elsewhere.

I'm currently doing self-study using Minna no Nihongo and a number of other linguistic texts (I'm a Kino reference book fiend) and am really slightly beyond the beginner level. My schedule isn't really fixed at this point but I'd like to take up lessons so I can work towards JLPT 4 end of this year and so on.

Should I enroll in Ikoma and follow their schedule, try the JLPT 4 exam at the end of this year or should I just work on my own and sit for the exam? I really don't want to relearn whatever I've already mastered at this stage since it would be fairly pointless.

Any advice would be appreciated. Big decision for me since okane is involved. XD

Hi, would you like to join my class? MSN me for more details: takahashi_tsubasa@hotmail.com

 

[dimitri_can]

anyone knows any other gd txtbks for self study of lower levels of jlpt besides mina no ninhongo???

any tips for self study of the listening part???

You can try Japanese For Busy People or Shin Nihongo no Kiso...that one doesn't really teach in depth as compared to Minna no Nihongo... =)

 

[dimitri_can]

does japanese for busy pple cover the vocab and grammar tested in jlpt 3 and 4???because ultimately i would be taking the test so its better to be focus on those stuff...

looking for an alternative cos mina no ninhongo is meant to be used with a teacher.

Thnx in advance..

Hi, yes. Minna no Nihongo is meant to be used with a teacher. So is Nihongo no Kiso. Japanese for Busy People, u need to learn book 1-book 3 to be prepared for JLPT 3. Book 1 and 2 for JLPT 4.

 

[dimitri_can]

Well, I was in the area today (read: raiding Kino -- again) and paid a visit to Ikoma. My they're popular -- May classes are full. The receptionist asked me whether I wanted to speak to one of the senseis there which made me extremely nervous. I declined and told her I'd need to be mentally prepared for it.

Am I a wuss? Probably. XD

terraj: I'm glad to know that I won't be stumbling for long. It's the pronunciation that gets me everytime, which is why I can read text but conversation... is slightly more difficult. Thanks for the game tip, I'll consider that. I manage live action ok. I don't think listening is as much a problem for me as speaking is. Obviously the latter can't happen without practice.

Regarding the grammar book, I think there's a fairly good chance I've got it or at least have flipped through it. I have, to date, three books on grammar alone. I happen to love grammar and was a linguistics major... figures. I saw a Basic Grammar dictionary today in yellow that looked like a reasonably good find. It's on the upper shelves (the intermediate one is light blue-grey). Has detailed explanations in English.

direbmem: Personally, Minna no Nihongo is fairly simple to use without a teacher. Although I find that I end up not quite sure where I'm at with relation to the JLPT, so I bought the Preparatory Course books for JLPT 3 and 4, which allows me to get a gist of what's included. I'm officially a book fiend.

sufuz: Thanks for the website link! <3

Minna no Nihongo 1-1,1-2: JLPT 4
Minna no Nihongo 2-1,2-2: JLPT 3

Need more info, MSN me. =)

 

[dimitri_can]

I used Kanzen Master for my JLPT2 prep (self study). Not sure if the JLPT3/4 version is any good though but the JLPT2 material was quite thorough. My Japanese class at that time was only at JLPT3 level so I learnt the JLPT2 stuff from scratch and didn't have much problems during the actual exam.
You might want to check it out here:

There is one particular grammar book at Kinokuniya that is very good and very thorough for JLPT3 stuff but unfortunately I can't remember the title. The intermediate version is used at Ikoma in some of their notes but the basic version has a lot of English explanations. It's probably located in the 3rd-4th shelf at Kinokuniya if they have any stock. I'll post the title if I can find it from Amazon...

Hi, that book is light blue in color yea? 新日本語の中級 =)
Main Textbook: http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%96%B0%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E4%B8%AD%E7%B4%9A-%E6%9C%AC%E5%86%8A-%E6%B5%B7%E5%A4%96%E6%8A%80%E8%A1%93%E8%80%85%E7%A0%94%E4%BF%AE%E5%8D%94%E4%BC%9A/dp/4883191613/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/249-7349618-2976329?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178168128&sr=8-1

Grammer Explaination Book: http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%96%B0%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E4%B8%AD%E7%B4%9A-%E6%96%87%E6%B3%95%E8%A7%A3%E8%AA%AC%E6%9B%B8-%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E%E7%89%88-%E6%B5%B7%E5%A4%96%E6%8A%80%E8%A1%93%E8%80%85%E7%A0%94%E4%BF%AE%E5%8D%94%E4%BC%9A/dp/488319230X/ref=sr_1_5/249-7349618-2976329?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178168293&sr=8-5

Translation Notes Book (i guess): http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%96%B0%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E4%B8%AD%E7%B4%9A-%E5%88%86%E5%86%8A%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E%E8%A8%B3-%E8%B2%A1%E5%9B%A3%E6%B3%95%E4%BA%BA%E6%B5%B7%E5%A4%96%E6%8A%80%E8%A1%93%E8%80%85%E7%A0%94%E4%BF%AE%E5%8D%94%E4%BC%9A/dp/4883192849/ref=sr_1_6/249-7349618-2976329?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178168293&sr=8-6

 

[dimitri_can]

Anyone looking for an electronic dictionary at student's price?
Pls MSN me. Thks

 

[direbmem]

are these books oni sold at kinokunya??????????? thanx for all the help......

 

[direbmem]

direbmem: Personally, Minna no Nihongo is fairly simple to use without a teacher. Although I find that I end up not quite sure where I'm at with relation to the JLPT, so I bought the Preparatory Course books for JLPT 3 and 4, which allows me to get a gist of what's included. I'm officially a book fiend.

sufuz: Thanks for the website link! <3

u mean there really are preparatory course books specially for jlpt??? i tot there werent any so i search for those sch's txtbk...so most are sold oni in kinokunya....then i think i shall buy those specialised course books....they shd be more focused and better rite...??

 

[dimitri_can]

u mean there really are preparatory course books specially for jlpt??? i tot there werent any so i search for those sch's txtbk...so most are sold oni in kinokunya....then i think i shall buy those specialised course books....they shd be more focused and better rite...??

The specialized preparatory books only prepare you with the grammer and vocab,etc.. They don't really teach you when to use the sentence patterns,etc.

If you need more help, just drop me a MSN yea? =)

 

[terraj]

Nope that's not it. :-(

Hi, that book is light blue in color yea? 新日本語の中級 =)
Main Textbook: http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%96%B0%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E4%B8%AD%E7%B4%9A-%E6%9C%AC%E5%86%8A-%E6%B5%B7%E5%A4%96%E6%8A%80%E8%A1%93%E8%80%85%E7%A0%94%E4%BF%AE%E5%8D%94%E4%BC%9A/dp/4883191613/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/249-7349618-2976329?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178168128&sr=8-1

Grammer Explaination Book: http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%96%B0%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E4%B8%AD%E7%B4%9A-%E6%96%87%E6%B3%95%E8%A7%A3%E8%AA%AC%E6%9B%B8-%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E%E7%89%88-%E6%B5%B7%E5%A4%96%E6%8A%80%E8%A1%93%E8%80%85%E7%A0%94%E4%BF%AE%E5%8D%94%E4%BC%9A/dp/488319230X/ref=sr_1_5/249-7349618-2976329?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178168293&sr=8-5

Translation Notes Book (i guess): http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%96%B0%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E4%B8%AD%E7%B4%9A-%E5%88%86%E5%86%8A%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E%E8%A8%B3-%E8%B2%A1%E5%9B%A3%E6%B3%95%E4%BA%BA%E6%B5%B7%E5%A4%96%E6%8A%80%E8%A1%93%E8%80%85%E7%A0%94%E4%BF%AE%E5%8D%94%E4%BC%9A/dp/4883192849/ref=sr_1_6/249-7349618-2976329?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178168293&sr=8-6

 

[terraj]

Totally agree. How I passed JLPT2 was to first learn the grammar by myself then watch tons of anime and read novels lol. I have a kanji JLPT2 book but in the end I hardly looked at it because it was too boring. Was easier to approach learning from an entertainment manner. In any case the JLPT2 kanji isn't too difficult. JLPT1's is probably a lot tougher though.

The specialized preparatory books only prepare you with the grammer and vocab,etc.. They don't really teach you when to use the sentence patterns,etc.

If you need more help, just drop me a MSN yea? =)

 

[yukaguri]

Like I said, I'm a manga/anime fiend, so I get lots of conversational input in terms of language. Having said that, I'm probably more adept at listening than speaking.

I didn't expect the preparatory books to provide enough material for holistic language education but they do give me a focal point in terms of structures, kanji and vocab (which is immensely helpful).

dimitri: added you to my msn (me = janettoyu). You're from the meetup forums aren't you? I've seen you around although I haven't met up with anyone yet. Hah.