Hey I'm new here and I was wondering how to proceed...

[bluejazz87]

Hey. I'm new here. It's been a while since I studied Japanese. About four years almost. And so I guess you could say I'm familiar with the way the language works and how it sounds and all, but in terms of words and what a lot of them mean, Ive really lost track. So, I'm starting over with the "beginner" lessons offered on this site. I just signed up, and I listened to the first lesson, which was pretty easy. I mean I pretty much got everything that was said. It was more like a "Oh yeah, I remember now" kind of deal. But I know I have a long way to go. At this point, I probably couldn't hold a conversation for more than 15 seconds.

So I was wondering, since I'm new, and I'm doing the seven day free trail thing, how should I go about things? There are so many resources, and I'm just not sure how to focus on both the language and the grammer. Oh and I'm really lost when it comes to sentence structure and how it's mixed in with the grammer. Like, I'd know what words mean, but I would have no clue how to place them in sentences, and using more complicated sentence structure techniques like "wa", "ka", etc. So anyone have any notable methods on how a new person should proceed? One that wants to learn the language and grammer in the correct fashion? Whoever can help me with this I'd be very grateful. Thank you!

[Harv]

Here's a very good Japanese grammar guide http://www.guidetojapanese.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
It'll take you through all the basics and there's more advanced grammar there as well.
Note that everything in section 3 is in casual Japanese (short form) but polite form is introduced in section 4.

If you are going to subscribe to Japanese pod 101 then you can use their vocabulary and kanji flash cards, but if not then http://www.speedanki.com/ is a decent kanji flashcard site.

[bluejazz87]

Hey thanks a lot. What do you think I should focus on doing first though? Speaking? Writing? Do you know of a good way to focus on both at the same time?

[Mass_Zero]

I'm new myself, but I think the most ligical thing to learn first is speaking the language. Understanding the words, grammer, etc... and when you got all that, learn how to write it down, starting with the Hiragana.

[bluejazz87]

Okay thanks a lot. Yeah I was going to do a few lessons and then start with katakana and hirigana. That's pretty much how I first starting learning years ago. Might take the same approach.

[kc8ufv]

One other idea, if you are getting a lot of oh yeah, I remember that, would be to try the intermediate lessons, and Miki's blog. You will find much higher concentrations of Japanese in these.

[Javizy]

I'm new myself, but I think the most ligical thing to learn first is speaking the language. Understanding the words, grammer, etc... and when you got all that, learn how to write it down, starting with the Hiragana.

Are you saying start learning to write after attaining fluency? That's at least a couple of years, and considering that becoming literate is one of the greatest challenges of Japanese, I'd say it's best to get started right away. It'd take at least another couple of years to gain a basic understanding of kanji, so you'd regret wasting all that time.

I find writing a great way to review and practice grammar and vocabulary, and to start with it's impossible to hold a conversation or maybe even find a conversation partner. Getting an e-mail "penpal" is quite easy and more motivating than, say, keeping a diary or writing stupid stories. It's rewarding to be able to read more and more of the replies.

Reading is probably an even better way to review/learn new stuff; it's much easier to absorb the lesson content if you read the PDF as well as listening to the audio. If you buy some manga, it hardly seems like you're studying at all.

[kc8ufv]

I'm new myself, but I think the most ligical thing to learn first is speaking the language. Understanding the words, grammer, etc... and when you got all that, learn how to write it down, starting with the Hiragana.

Are you saying start learning to write after attaining fluency? That's at least a couple of years, and considering that becoming literate is one of the greatest challenges of Japanese, I'd say it's best to get started right away. It'd take at least another couple of years to gain a basic understanding of kanji, so you'd regret wasting all that time.

I think what Mass_Zero meant was to get some basic speech down before learning to write. In other words, you might want to know a basic way to introduce yourself, say good morning/good day, and have a vague idea what the copula is before learning to write. I don't think anyone is realistically going to say you should wait until you are able to have an in depth conversation before learning to read/write.

Also, you should know how to say you are not very good yet. Learning it as a set phrase is fine.　Romaji is below is typed for an American English speaker to sound roughly accurate.

Nihongo ga skoshi wakarimas. Demo mada josu ja arimasen.
日本語少しわかりますでもまだじょすじゃありません

[bluejazz87]

Sorry to be bringing up such an old topic, but I just came back from a ten day trip in Tokyo. I had a lot of fun and did a lot of things. As a matter of fact, I wish I was still there. Despite all of the fun, I have two regrets.

Number one, I didn't have that great of an exploring partner (kind of a lazy guy) so I had to do a lot of things on my own, which was cool sometimes since I got to go to places like parks and malls and just sketch people (I'm an artist trying to master human anatomy). And the second thing was that I didn't speak that much Japanese. I could "survive" I guess, but I couldn't have a good conversation with the majority of people I ran into that didn't speak English very well. And that barrier was really annoying.

That being said, Tokyo was a great place. So was Kyoto which I spent a day in. I want to go back there someday, but next time, I want my Japanese linguistics to be pretty sharp. So going there has really inspired me to finally put the financial effort into Japanese Pod 101.com. I initially didn't go through with it because the "basic" level wasn't teaching me very well. And I wasn't sure I would be committed back the, just like I wasn't in high school, but...now that I have some goals I want to shoot for...I'm going through with it. I think I'm going to get the Premium 12 month package since the Premium Plus is just way out of my range. I hope it's enough to teach me. Does anyone have any comments about my potential selection?

[bluejazz87]

Nihongo ga skoshi wakarimas. Demo mada josu ja arimasen.
日本語少しわかりますでもまだじょすじゃありません

Errrm...I can understand the romanization quite well...not so much the kanji. Let's see that says..."I understand a little Japanese, but...don't have..." Yeah I don't really get the second sentence. I don't know what "josu" means. I'm not sure about mada either. It's not "end" is it? Like "kara" is start and "made" is end??? Well anyways, just want to show what kind level I'm at.

The thing like I said before that really gets me is the particle structure or rather...(I'm not sure what to call them exactly) the inserts that make correction sentence structure possible such as inserts like "ga", "wa", "no", "de", "o", "te", etc. I know "wa" and "no" alright...I think "wa" basically sets up the subject right? For example:

Kore wa hon desu = this is a book

Kore no hon arimasu ka? = Is this your book? (i'm not sure if that's correct, it might be 'do you have this book')

Anyways yeah, just to give a better idea to you guys so in the future you guys can help me out with a better understanding. Thanks.

[bluejazz87]

Come on don't forget to give me some feedback!

[beata]

Kore wa hon desu = this is a book

Kore no hon arimasu ka? = Is this your book? (i'm not sure if that's correct, it might be 'do you have this book')

Someone please check my translations.

Is this your book?
1. Kono hon wa anata no desu ka meaning "This book - is it yours?" (without the discussion on the use of "anata" and other possibilities for "you", I guess it can be found elsewhere, and it's not the point at the moment)
2. Kore wa anata no hon desu ka meaning "This thing - is it your book?"

Do you have this book?
Kono hon ga arimasu ka

[bluejazz87]

Kore wa hon desu = this is a book

Kore no hon arimasu ka? = Is this your book? (i'm not sure if that's correct, it might be 'do you have this book')

Someone please check my translations.

Is this your book?
1. Kono hon wa anata no desu ka meaning "This book - is it yours?" (without the discussion on the use of "anata" and other possibilities for "you", I guess it can be found elsewhere, and it's not the point at the moment)
2. Kore wa anata no hon desu ka meaning "This thing - is it your book?"

Do you have this book?
Kono hon ga arimasu ka

Oh okay. Thanks!

[jaypunkrawk]

I'm new myself, but I think the most ligical thing to learn first is speaking the language. Understanding the words, grammer, etc... and when you got all that, learn how to write it down, starting with the Hiragana.

Are you saying start learning to write after attaining fluency? That's at least a couple of years, and considering that becoming literate is one of the greatest challenges of Japanese, I'd say it's best to get started right away. It'd take at least another couple of years to gain a basic understanding of kanji, so you'd regret wasting all that time.

I think what Mass_Zero meant was to get some basic speech down before learning to write. In other words, you might want to know a basic way to introduce yourself, say good morning/good day, and have a vague idea what the copula is before learning to write. I don't think anyone is realistically going to say you should wait until you are able to have an in depth conversation before learning to read/write.

Also, you should know how to say you are not very good yet. Learning it as a set phrase is fine.　Romaji is below is typed for an American English speaker to sound roughly accurate.

Nihongo ga skoshi wakarimas. Demo mada josu ja arimasen.
日本語少しわかりますでもまだじょすじゃありません

I'm guessing this should be jouzu meaning skillful. So it would mean "but I'm not skilled yet."