learning japanese

dimitri_can

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Can someone please kindly advise when should i be using が instead of は?

「が」 is used in a situation when the predicate describes only 1 subject.
「は」 is used to make the word preceding particle 「は」 to be the topic of the sentence. Below are some example sentences how 「は」 and 「が」 can be used.

1. As a subject in a positive sentence describing existence.
Example:
AKB48会場あります。
前田敦子います。
道頓堀に一蘭ありました。
先生いました。

2. Sentences with both 「は」and 「が」
Example:
東京バナナすきです。      I like Tokyo Banana.
あなたぶどう嫌いですか。 Do you dislike grapes?
ミラーさん日本語わかります。 Mr Miller understands Japanese
恵子さん料理上手です。          Keiko-san is good at cooking.

今日天気いいです。            Today’s weather is good.
てんや天ぷらおいしいです。        Tenya’s tempura is delicious.
Michael Jordanたかいです。       Michael Jordan is tall.
日本きれいです。 Japan’s mountains are beautiful

3. When the subject is an interrogative or an indefinite pronoun.
だれきますか。 Who is coming?
。。。サントスさんきます。 Mr Santos is coming.

どちらいいですか。 Which is good?
。。。こちらいいです。 This is good.

だれかいます。 There’s someone.

4. When subject is limited to one thing, has a nuance of only, nothing, but or none but etc.
その答え正しいです。 That is a correct answer. (only 1 correct answer)

5. The subject of an subordinate clause
田中さん行けば、私もいきます。 If Tanaka-san is going, i am going too.
漢字で書けば、わかりますか。 If i write in Kanji, will you understand it?


6. When subject of the sentence is strongly emphasized in a certain situation (In English, words like Look! Listen! Watch out!, etc)
ほら!木村さん泣いています。 Look. Kimura-san is crying.
あゆみちゃん歌っています。 Ayumi-chan is singing.
 

ah_nix

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Hi all, I'm new to the forum. :)

Just started on pre-advance class at Ikoma, learnt my basic & intermediate at Tenrikyo few years ago before I stop. I find myself unable to speak proper japanese & forgot most of the intermediate stuffs, very demoralizing... :(

Can recommend some books to help to remember vocabs & grammars? Thanks! =:p
 

jeremiahtong

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Hi all, I'm new to the forum. :)

Just started on pre-advance class at Ikoma, learnt my basic & intermediate at Tenrikyo few years ago before I stop. I find myself unable to speak proper japanese & forgot most of the intermediate stuffs, very demoralizing... :(

Can recommend some books to help to remember vocabs & grammars? Thanks! =:p

How did you pass the interview at Ikoma?
 

dimitri_can

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Should be MNN
actually, just need to review the grammar & translation notes of MNN, should be enough. =)

btw, have decided that i will not take in any more beginner students temporarily. Wanna focus more on my relationship with my Japanese gal. =)
 
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ah_nix

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actually, just need to review the grammar & translation notes of MNN, should be enough. =)

btw, have decided that i will not take in any more beginner students temporarily. Wanna focus more on my relationship with my Japanese gal. =)

Oh ok, I shall go dig out my old notes! Thanks. =)

How did you pass the interview at Ikoma?

The sensei asked roughly where I have learn up till for MNN & put me into the class haha =X
 

commonjunk

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Hi.

I like to watch Japanese drama but it pain in arse to wait for someone to translate in English subs.

I have zero knowledge in Japanese, any advice where i should start (BTW i am 35 :)).

Thanks in advance.
 

Ah_keong

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Hi all, I'm new to the forum. :)

Just started on pre-advance class at Ikoma, learnt my basic & intermediate at Tenrikyo few years ago before I stop. I find myself unable to speak proper japanese & forgot most of the intermediate stuffs, very demoralizing... :(

Can recommend some books to help to remember vocabs & grammars? Thanks! =:p

I recommend Japanese for Busy People since you have some basic foundation (I assume) and revision of your MNN? :D

Good Luck!!
 

Ah_keong

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Hi.

I like to watch Japanese drama but it pain in arse to wait for someone to translate in English subs.

I have zero knowledge in Japanese, any advice where i should start (BTW i am 35 :)).

Thanks in advance.

You may wanna try start by getting a N5 and learn in a school environment? (assuming you don't have friends who are also interested in Japanese Language) :D
 

commonjunk

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You may wanna try start by getting a N5 and learn in a school environment? (assuming you don't have friends who are also interested in Japanese Language) :D
My wife had her Japanese language certificate but it was long way back. And yes i don't have any friend who will learn Japanese (i just want to learn because of my interest in Japanese drama/manga).
I started Chinese sometime back but in my class all were young kids (teenagers) and it was very hard to catchup, not sure if N5 you mentioned have adult learner or child?
And which school i should check? I live in West not sure if there any school here?
 

dimitri_can

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My wife had her Japanese language certificate but it was long way back. And yes i don't have any friend who will learn Japanese (i just want to learn because of my interest in Japanese drama/manga).
I started Chinese sometime back but in my class all were young kids (teenagers) and it was very hard to catchup, not sure if N5 you mentioned have adult learner or child?
And which school i should check? I live in West not sure if there any school here?

Hougang Japanese language school has a branch at Queensway. :)
 

dimitri_can

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Anyone thinking of taking a speaking test to see how you fare?
I am trying to compile the list of people interested.
Currently i have 10 students interested. Pls contact me if u are interested to take the test.

59700_10151334026216930_582638594_n.jpg


From Aoba Language School:
「BJT(ビジネス日本語能力テスト)はいつですか」という質問を頻繁に受けます。メールで確認したところ、「決まったらお知らせします」という返信をいただきました。・・ということは、当分シンガポールでの実施はなさそうですね。
BJTに比べると知名度もまだまだ、信頼性もこれから実証(?)・・というテストなのですが、「JSST」という試験があります。最近、取引先の方とお話しているときにもこのテストの話題がでました。日系企業では既に数社が導入しているようです。これだったら、いつでも、どこからでも受験が可能ですから、どうしても実力を証明したい人は検討してみてはいかがでしょうか。
詳しくは ⇒ JSST |
 
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ed19900621

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Hi, I would like to know if anyone can give me any advice on whether I should switch schools.

I am currently studying at Ikoma as it is the only school that I know of that conducts daily intensive lessons all the way from my ORD date till my university's orientation. However, as my university is starting soon, I will be unable to continue with the daily intensive lessons and will have to switch to part-time. I will be ending my daily intensive lessons after completing Basic 1-B in Ikoma's course schedule.

I noted that the other schools tend to require fewer hours/lessons to qualify for JLPT N4 compared to Ikoma. Do you think I should switch schools upon completion of my daily intensive lessons, wait till I complete the entire "Basic" level before switching schools or just stay with Ikoma?
 

plutoplace

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Hi, I would like to know if anyone can give me any advice on whether I should switch schools.

I am currently studying at Ikoma as it is the only school that I know of that conducts daily intensive lessons all the way from my ORD date till my university's orientation. However, as my university is starting soon, I will be unable to continue with the daily intensive lessons and will have to switch to part-time. I will be ending my daily intensive lessons after completing Basic 1-B in Ikoma's course schedule.

I noted that the other schools tend to require fewer hours/lessons to qualify for JLPT N4 compared to Ikoma. Do you think I should switch schools upon completion of my daily intensive lessons, wait till I complete the entire "Basic" level before switching schools or just stay with Ikoma?

Stay with ikoma until u finish your basic course.
 

dimitri_can

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Hi, I would like to know if anyone can give me any advice on whether I should switch schools.

I am currently studying at Ikoma as it is the only school that I know of that conducts daily intensive lessons all the way from my ORD date till my university's orientation. However, as my university is starting soon, I will be unable to continue with the daily intensive lessons and will have to switch to part-time. I will be ending my daily intensive lessons after completing Basic 1-B in Ikoma's course schedule.

I noted that the other schools tend to require fewer hours/lessons to qualify for JLPT N4 compared to Ikoma. Do you think I should switch schools upon completion of my daily intensive lessons, wait till I complete the entire "Basic" level before switching schools or just stay with Ikoma?
Actually what's ur purpose of studying Japanese?
You seem to be chasing cert rather than learning how to speak.
 

ed19900621

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Actually what's ur purpose of studying Japanese?
You seem to be chasing cert rather than learning how to speak.

Mostly being able to read manga/watch anime/play JRPGs without having to wait for translations/localizations to comprehend what is going on in the story. A secondary concern would be to be able to find jobs in Japan if it came to that. I intend to enter the game design industry. Some of the companies that states that they are willing to consider foreigners for the jobs state that they must have at least passed JLPT N3 to be considered. Considering the relatively scarce options we have in Singapore for the industry, it would be good to have that as an alternative.
 

plutoplace

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Mostly being able to read manga/watch anime/play JRPGs without having to wait for translations/localizations to comprehend what is going on in the story. A secondary concern would be to be able to find jobs in Japan if it came to that. I intend to enter the game design industry. Some of the companies that states that they are willing to consider foreigners for the jobs state that they must have at least passed JLPT N3 to be considered. Considering the relatively scarce options we have in Singapore for the industry, it would be good to have that as an alternative.

I wish you all the best. I have personally interviewed for a big japanese gaming company (and failed :( ). They emphasize a lot on Japanese skill (N2/N1 + Good speaking skills) So brush up on your Japanese if you want to work in Japan. Good luck and dun give up.
 

tannl88

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Mostly being able to read manga/watch anime/play JRPGs without having to wait for translations/localizations to comprehend what is going on in the story. A secondary concern would be to be able to find jobs in Japan if it came to that. I intend to enter the game design industry. Some of the companies that states that they are willing to consider foreigners for the jobs state that they must have at least passed JLPT N3 to be considered. Considering the relatively scarce options we have in Singapore for the industry, it would be good to have that as an alternative.

usually N2 is the requirement, not N3. :o
 
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