practicing japanese

[CoryInJapan]

first i will let you know that my shift key are not working so my typing isnt going to have capitalizations or other grammar stuff


anyways,im studying japaneses for personal perposess and i know practicing with someone else is the best way.the only thing is that i dont have someone to practice with so im wondering whats a better way to keep my japanese fresh so i dont forget words ive learned and stuff.

movie's maybe,music..im open for suggestions.

[SkyDiver]

Flashcards will be your no.1 friend!

[markystar]

i'm with skydiverさん on this one. flash cards are old as the hills, but they work.
when i first started learning, i made flash cards and after i guessed the word, if i was correct, then i had to make a sentence using the word. i'd usually try to make a sentence that applied to my current situation or surroundings. the idea was that i had to use the word immediately in a real world situation that i was currently involved in. (it was always possible, or i'd have to stretch it a little, but you get the idea).


also, somebody mentioned ANKI in the forum somewhere. i recently checked it out, it's a free opensource flashcard program and i'm really impressed with it. you can use it on your japanese cellphone or mobile device or computer.
http://repose.cx/anki/

maybe users could make lesson or level or interest-based flashcards and share them with other users back here in the forum.
i've started compiling 津軽弁 vocab and phrases and practice them on the train on my phone. woo-hoo!




ps: don't worry about all lowercase, i always type that way anyways.

[Shaydwyrm]

I second the recommendation for Anki. Since I started using it, my vocab retention has skyrocketed.

[CoryInJapan]

i will check that out.thanks for the help guys.

this is another reason i come to jpop101.the community here is so nice and helpful...thanks again guys.

[lazysunday]

I picked up these nifty Word Cards (which are mini blank flashcards on a ring) at Marukai Market.

This is a great study tool but... as for not having anyone around to practice with, my problem is there are plenty of places I could go to speak Japanese but I am nervous about sounding like an idiot. Here is what I am doing

1. I watch a lot of http://www.fujisankei.com/ which broadcasts the news in Japanese on weekday mornings and a variety of other programs on weekends. If you don't have this try ordering a bunch of different DVDs in Japanese or even see what you can find on youtube

2. I like to listen to Japanese radio on the net with Japanese Pod 101 open and when I hear a word I don't recognize I look it up then copy it down

3. I am listening to a lot of Japanese Pod 101

Hopefully in a few months I will be brave enough to head over to Little Tokyo and try out my listening comprehension. Hopefully I will have enough experience listening to natural conversations that I wont be laughed at

[CoryInJapan]

I picked up these nifty Word Cards (which are mini blank flashcards on a ring) at Marukai Market.

This is a great study tool but... as for not having anyone around to practice with, my problem is there are plenty of places I could go to speak Japanese but I am nervous about sounding like an idiot. Here is what I am doing

1. I watch a lot of http://www.fujisankei.com/ which broadcasts the news in Japanese on weekday mornings and a variety of other programs on weekends. If you don't have this try ordering a bunch of different DVDs in Japanese or even see what you can find on youtube

2. I like to listen to Japanese radio on the net with Japanese Pod 101 open and when I hear a word I don't recognize I look it up then copy it down

3. I am listening to a lot of Japanese Pod 101

Hopefully in a few months I will be brave enough to head over to Little Tokyo and try out my listening comprehension. Hopefully I will have enough experience listening to natural conversations that I wont be laughed at

\


hey your in la..ive been to little tokyo a few times.great place.i did live in culver city but no i live a little norht of there.


edit-i found that la channel 18 the ksci or w/e..the japanese channel..this shall come in hansy..thanks.

[markystar]

I am nervous about sounding like an idiot.

you need to drop that fear RIGHT NOW.
that'll hold you back forever. just get out there and make mistakes. everybody who's learning a language makes mistakes.
i have japanese friends who make all kinds of mistakes speaking english but they try and nobody holds it against them. so they won't hold it against you.



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