Trying to learn Japanese, and I need help

[jj0304957076]

Konnichiwa! My name is Julian, I'm an 18 year old college student with a passion for Japanese culture and the Japanese language, it's awesome to be a part of the JapanesePod101 community! I want to learn Japanese for two reasons; I am traveling to Japan in July to visit some very close friends, and they speak both English and Japanese, but they prefer that I speak in Japanese with them. It is difficult for me to start and maintain a conversation with them in Japanese and therefore they get upset. They want me to learn Japanese so it would be better for the both of us. The second reason is because I have a deep-rooted admiration for the Japanese language, but the methods I've seen aren't really that gripping. When I was in high school, the Japanese language teacher wasn't really approachable with asking for help, and now here in my community college, in Los Angeles, theres full classrooms, at least 40 to 50 students and the teacher cannot give out individual help for more than 30 minutes. I really want to learn Japanese, and this place looks like the best option, this whole community looks so enthusiastic and committed, I'd appreciate any and all help you all have to offer

[mewes6190]

jj-san,
konnichiha and welcome to the forums.
You're lucky, there are a lot of nice and helpful people around here who try their best to answer any questions you might have. Especially Natsuko-sensei tries her best to help with anything there is.

In general I would only give you two tips: keep practicing, and learn the Kana. Those are the two japanese alphabets, the Hiragana and the Katakana. Apart from the question if you want to learn reading and writing the language or only be able to speak it, the Kana are, in my opinion, crucial for understanding a lot of the grammatical rules and changes to words, which are never as satisfying explained by romaji.

Have fun on your journey!

Kurokuma

[jj0304957076]

Arigato gozaimasu for the great introduction, I appreciate it greatly I also have a desire to write and read Japanese I understand the charts of hiragana and katakana, the main difficulties I have is the communication in Japanese and writing in hiragana and katakana. One of my friends in Japan regularly Skypes me, and they have made alot of requests that I talk to them in Japanese. I can introduce myself, and say a few words, but in terms of keeping a flow to the conversation, it's difficult for me, and my friend really is bothered by it. I really have a desire to talk to them in Japanese, because it's more easy conversing in their language. My community college's Japanese classes are too packed with distractions; loud students, outdated textbooks, and not a personalized experience. I tried learning at my high school by reading textbook after textbook but it just did not sink in. As of right now, I'm getting the money to upgrade to the premium plus package for Christmas, because I would enjoy the one on one approach and the full experience

[bradeatspie8566]

初めまして、　ＪＪ-色々な数字-さん。（^▽^）
Hajimemashite, JJ-iroirona suji-san
Nice to meet you JJ-various numbers-san.
（コメントを見ます）
(Comento wo mimasu)
(sees comment)
ジュリアンさんを呼んでいいですか？
Jurian-san wo yonde ii desuka?
Is it all right if I call you Julian?
僕はブラッドです、どうぞよろしく。
Boku ha Buraddo desu, douzo yoroshiku.
I'm Brad, (not quite sure how that ends out translating xD but trust me it makes sense.)
I'd be happy to help you with your study. I'm a high beginner/low intermediate (although my speaking is pretty basic beginner) and I think it'd be great to be able to get some speaking practice for both of us. I've been studying on my own for about a year now (only recently have I started seriously) so I know a lot of online resources that I've been using/used to learn the different vocabulary and (not quite mastering at reading perfectly) but reading ひらがな、カタカナ、and currently am learning a lot of new 漢字.

[jj0304957076]

Arigato gozaimasu Brad, I appreciate your offer, and I'd be greatful to accept any help you could give me! The online resources I've tried before this website really do not work as well for me and I just really want to learn as soon as possible. Is there any way I could contact you so we could study?

[bradeatspie8566]

Skype would be the most convenient for me if that's okay with you. Before I go about telling you like the various reading practice/vocab sources I've used, how are you with Hiragana and Katakana?

[jj0304957076]

Skype is perfectly fine with me, and I've studied the hiragana and katakana charts before. I've written the charts before, I just need to work on the neatness a bit, and just trying to translate the hiragana and katakana is a bit tricky for me

[bradeatspie8566]

Ah, okay. Well the this first site that I'll link to you can use to practice some reading and get some vocabulary. The games have listening, romaji, and Japanese script settings. I know of this other website too but for some reason it seems to not be working. It was basically this quiz database where you could practice Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji reading. For some reason it doesn't seem to be working for me (it did a few days ago) but I'll still link it to you incase it may work for you.
http://www.digitaldialects.com/Japanese.htm
http://www.manythings.org/japanese/
Other than things that you'll learn by actively listening to and interacting with the lessons here I would recommend buying some study books maybe from Barnes and Noble or something. My skype is Bradzilla94 if you would like to add me. Anyway, I'm going to head off to bed now.
お休みなさい。
You can also use this if you would just like to review the Kana http://www.realkana.com/

[community.japanese]

Julian-san, Kurokuma-san, Brad-san,
kon'nichiwa
Thank you very much for creating another warm friendly space on forum!

Thank you for your kind helps, Kurokuma-san and Brad-san!
Julian-san, welcome to forum and please feel free to practice Japanese or ask any questions
Like Kurokuma-san wrote, there are many kind and keen learners of Japanese on our community
and you'll never be alone on this! We, J-Pod team, will algo be always seeing the comments both
on forum and lesson comment boards; we're all happy to help you!
I myseld also drop by and appear here and there, like Kurokuma-san said
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu

Natsuko (奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com