learning japanese

[foreseer]

anyone study at ikoma? between bunka and ikoma which is better? how long does it take to get to each levels of JLPT? Can someone please advise?

 

[Ah_keong]

Haha, I also want to find. Yes, I agree with Mr Ah Keong also, need a person to instil discipline in you. Want to do self study since jan, since then, I havent touch any of japanese material.

Then u need a good partner or a mentor.
I have been mentoring some students and from my observation, there are usually 4 main groups of Japanese students who are keen on studying Japanese

Type 1) Interest Type
Type 2) Practice Type - ppl who need Japanese to survive (work, studies, etc)
Type 3) Friends / Partners of the above 2 types
Type 4) For Fun / Try-Try type - This is the type of students i pay most attention to when mentoring them

No matter what is the motivation of studying Japanese. Studying a language required effort and dedication and never-give-up attitude. Interest and Talent would be a plus too

 

[Ah_keong]

I just took my first elementary 1 lesson at Bunka and oh my.... the pace is really too fast for me. And i'm really scared cos' I can't really grasp much of the teaching. And the teacher didn't even tell us what is Hiragana or Takatana (spell wrongly i think) are for And we are expected to know the Hiragana by lesson 2?

Any tips on how to learn Hiragana efficiently? Am I expected to write also? Hiragana is basically the pronouciation of the words with no meaning at all with each hiragana word right? That's what I research on the internet.

If u feel that the pace does not suit u, then u should consider:

1) Change a school that suit your pace
2) Ask a senior / mentor / Sensei for guidance
3) Ask friends / classmates /Sensei for help

Mastering reading and writing Hiragana and Katakana requires discipline and drilling them at an early stage would be benificial for later stages where u would soon learn Grammar at a fast pace in BUNKA.

Hiragana and Katakana are like ABC in english. If u don't know how to read and write ABC, how are u suppose to learn English Language which I believe is the same in the case of Japanese Language

 

[azumangadaioh]

Strongly agreed.

To add further, bunka is in someways better [ than elsewhere my frd at sch A & me at sch B ], at least will take the time to make everyone correct & pronounce e words a few times before moving on e next one, & a hiragana worksheet for u to practise writing, which e sensei will ask u to hand in during yr 2nd lesson & point out errors later.

As for wat's hiragana & katakana, if yr sensei forgot 2 explain 2 your class, then at least one of u in e class shd ask questions abt it, after all, if u paid money to attend lesson, then u shd get e most out of it. Furthermore, all that is explained in your Ele 1 textbook also, if u take e time to read it...

Dont worry, after a few lessons u will get e hang of it.

If u feel that the pace does not suit u, then u should consider:

1) Change a school that suit your pace
2) Ask a senior / mentor / Sensei for guidance
3) Ask friends / classmates /Sensei for help

Mastering reading and writing Hiragana and Katakana requires discipline and drilling them at an early stage would be benificial for later stages where u would soon learn Grammar at a fast pace in BUNKA.

Hiragana and Katakana are like ABC in english. If u don't know how to read and write ABC, how are u suppose to learn English Language which I believe is the same in the case of Japanese Language

 

[Ah_keong]

Strongly agreed.

To add further, bunka is in someways better [ than elsewhere my frd at sch A & me at sch B ], at least will take the time to make everyone correct & pronounce e words a few times before moving on e next one, & a hiragana worksheet for u to practise writing, which e sensei will ask u to hand in during yr 2nd lesson & point out errors later.

As for wat's hiragana & katakana, if yr sensei forgot 2 explain 2 your class, then at least one of u in e class shd ask questions abt it, after all, if u paid money to attend lesson, then u shd get e most out of it. Furthermore, all that is explained in your Ele 1 textbook also, if u take e time to read it...

Dont worry, after a few lessons u will get e hang of it.

yeah, since the class is paid for, just approach the sensei in BUNKA.

I like this "Dont worry, after a few lessons u will get e hang of it"

 

[Litmuss]

dunno leh, honnin neber say anything
anyway, I did a 5min google search and I found this site; could be one of the symbols
if not then it's like wat u say loh, something found in learning materials

I've attached a picture to illustrate what i'm talking about.....

 

[Litmuss]

Strongly agreed.

To add further, bunka is in someways better [ than elsewhere my frd at sch A & me at sch B ], at least will take the time to make everyone correct & pronounce e words a few times before moving on e next one, & a hiragana worksheet for u to practise writing, which e sensei will ask u to hand in during yr 2nd lesson & point out errors later.

As for wat's hiragana & katakana, if yr sensei forgot 2 explain 2 your class, then at least one of u in e class shd ask questions abt it, after all, if u paid money to attend lesson, then u shd get e most out of it. Furthermore, all that is explained in your Ele 1 textbook also, if u take e time to read it...

Dont worry, after a few lessons u will get e hang of it.

Yeah, starting to get the hang of it. And manage to memorise majority of the Hiragana words.

If u feel that the pace does not suit u, then u should consider:

1) Change a school that suit your pace
2) Ask a senior / mentor / Sensei for guidance
3) Ask friends / classmates /Sensei for help

Mastering reading and writing Hiragana and Katakana requires discipline and drilling them at an early stage would be benificial for later stages where u would soon learn Grammar at a fast pace in BUNKA.

Hiragana and Katakana are like ABC in english. If u don't know how to read and write ABC, how are u suppose to learn English Language which I believe is the same in the case of Japanese Language

At the moment, grammar is still a challenge for me. Those particles (topics/subjects)... i'm getting so confused.

 

[bonkers85]

I've attached a picture to illustrate what i'm talking about.....

I think the lines refers to "the tone" for pronouciation of the words. Pls correct me if im wrong, still in elementary class in JCS. haha

 

[wenxi]

yeah, since the class is paid for, just approach the sensei in BUNKA.

I like this "Dont worry, after a few lessons u will get e hang of it"

I went bunka and stop at my intermediate. As the level goes up, i find it difficult to catch up coz the pace is too fast for me too.

 

[only_lonely]

I've attached a picture to illustrate what i'm talking about.....

is the tone....raise /down the tone..ask sensei la if u are interest on that...i like to listen my sensei pronouncing it...clear n sweet

 

[Ah_keong]

At the moment, grammar is still a challenge for me. Those particles (topics/subjects)... i'm getting so confused.

I see, if after you finish the basic classes and still don't understand plus u got extra cash to spare. I would recommend this.

Good Luck!

 

[Ah_keong]

I think the lines refers to "the tone" for pronouciation of the words. Pls correct me if im wrong, still in elementary class in JCS. haha

wee u weet!
I was also from JCS

which sensei were u under at?

 

[Ah_keong]

I went bunka and stop at my intermediate. As the level goes up, i find it difficult to catch up coz the pace is too fast for me too.

hmm, after u grad from immediate, did u apply for JLPT 3 or N4?

 

[bonkers85]

wee u weet!
I was also from JCS

which sensei were u under at?

Previous sensei was Ozaki then changed to a new Hiromi sensei.

 

[azumangadaioh]

I went bunka and stop at my intermediate. As the level goes up, i find it difficult to catch up coz the pace is too fast for me too.

It's always easy to look back to say the previous lessons were easier than the current one. I presume u did not start Int4, if not, u will be in PA1 already, cause Int4 is the real killer. Once u r at PA1, u can start to relax, cause it's back to basics again. Real work only comes in at PA2.

There is always e option to take a few weeks break to do some revision b4 going back to take a new course.

Yeah, starting to get the hang of it. And manage to memorise majority of the Hiragana words.

Phase 1 [ hiragana ] completing soon. Particles are only limited to simple meanings of が / は /を / に / へ / で only. Make sure u learn all your hiragana quickly, cause there will be an unannounced test coming up any time soon. Think within 2 lessons will be taught in hiragana completely if remember correctly.

 

[lfrdtoh]

It's always easy to look back to say the previous lessons were easier than the current one. I presume u did not start Int4, if not, u will be in PA1 already, cause Int4 is the real killer. Once u r at PA1, u can start to relax, cause it's back to basics again. Real work only comes in at PA2.

There is always e option to take a few weeks break to do some revision b4 going back to take a new course.

Hey azumangadaioh, do you think it would be possible to self-study Int4?

N4 が申し込んだけど,今まだInt2 を習っています。もし試験が出来るようになったら，自習をしなきゃならない。

 

[Ah_keong]

Previous sensei was Ozaki then changed to a new Hiromi sensei.

Ozaki Ai Sensei? thought she left?

 

[bonkers85]

Ozaki Ai Sensei? thought she left?

ya, she taught me frm Jan to April and left after that.

 

[azumangadaioh]

Hey azumangadaioh, do you think it would be possible to self-study Int4?

N4 が申し込んだけど,今まだInt2 を習っています。もし試験が出来るようになったら，自習をしなきゃならない。

If u mean attending int4 w/o missing any single lesson, then revise on yr own then take the Int4 final test at yr own convenience, it's possible.

If u mean w/o attending any class but hv all e notes fr someone else, still possible, but slightly harder, since u will be missing out on the classroom experience [ including audio listening exercises ]. And in case u dont know, there is a listening comprehension test other than e usual oral & written test for Int4, u need to pass that also in order to qualify for PA1 [ unless u r able to get exemption ].

If u only hv the textbk, but no notes, then gd luck. Textbk is only meant as a [ teaching ] guide to senseis, trying to interpret e various nuances in e textbk w/o sensei & no notes [ e gems in e lessons ] is not recommended [ may b possible, but may take long time & monumental effort ]. Unless u really need 2 save e money, otherwise, it's not worth it from a cost-benefit point of view.

 

[Ah_keong]

ya, she taught me frm Jan to April and left after that.

i see, is Hiromi sensei good?