Japanese Learning Help

[cmitchellcamzero_509825]

Hello,

I need some help and any help is helpful. I have reached a roadblock and don't know where to continue. I have listened to Absolute Beginner Season 1 and 2, Newbie 1,2,3 and took vocab cards and every so often go through them. I haven't started written Japanese because i don't know where to begin with it. All i have done is listen and try to memorize vocal words on the podcasts. I think there is a more effective way (that is why i'm asking advice). Other podcasts look as if they don't offer much more (based on titles of up to Under Intermediate 1).

Bottom line:

-Where to continue on the podcasts
-Any info on retaining/using spoken Japanese and written Japanese
-Where to begin with written Japanese
-whatever you deem useful

Thank you very much!

-Cam

[Varsh]

Konnichiwa Cam-san,

For my Kanji learning (before I started on JapanesePod101) I purchased a Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary. In it is a reference to 2230 Kanji characters with examples of meanings and translations to English depending where and how the Kanji is positioned. Underneath the Kanji characters includes the stroke order too which is what will help you writing Kanji correctly.

At the back of the dictionary is also a radical index and tells you exactly how to use them to quickly look up Kanji and understand them. Lastly at the back is the index of all the Kanji in the dictionary used, instead of by alphabetical order, they are all categorised in stroke order instead. I must admit that the stroke order has helped me loads to find the Kanji quickly.

The dictionary has server me well for a good 10 years now when I occasionally require it. But if you want to learn the stroke order then this dictionary will come in handy big time.

An idea to try and write Kanji, Katakana, and Hiragana is to do some of the lessons you have done already and instead of reading/speaking the sentences along with the commentary, you can try and write it at the same time. The more you do it the better you'll become at reading and writing Kanji through repetition.

Of course this is just an idea I have thought about doing myself though you could give it a go too.

Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kodansha-Kanji-Learners-Dictionary-Halpern/dp/4770028555

[cmitchellcamzero_509825]

Konnichiwa Varsh-san,

Arigatougozaimasu! I'll try the Kanji, Katakana and Hiragana idea and look at the book. I really appreciate your help!

[Varsh]

Dou itashimashite. Let me know how you get on, it'll be interesting to see how well you do.

I'm just beefing up my vocabulary first before I start doing that.

[community.japanese]

Cam san,
Konnichiwa.
If you want to learn writing in Japanese, please refer to the pages below.
http://www.japanesepod101.com/2010/07/09/video-s2-1-kantan-kana-1/
http://www.japanesepod101.com/write-japanese/
http://www.japanesepod101.com/learn-hiragana/

Varsh san,
Thank you for helping Cam san.

Yuki 　由紀
Team JapanesePod101.com