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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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by
on 2006-07-09 01:24:21 |
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I think the author may be a wee bit cynical in his humour on this essay. It is amusing, and there are some truths in there, but still... I think one of the faults of the anglo-based societies (Especially the States and Canada) is that they don't start their children learning foreign languages earlier. It is much easier for a young mind to grasp a foreign language, while it is still learning its native tongue, than it is for a grown mind (teenage and beyond) to start learning. And, like the author of the essay mentioned, you get those types that take Japanese simply because a: They like anime/J-pop and have decided they would like to learn the language or b: They think Asian chicks/blokes are hot and would like to learn it to impress them. Most of us here are obviously anime fans, and while that is what drove us to the interest in the language, obviously is not what fuels our passion for it. I had already become near-fluent in German when I started teaching myself Japanese. I have never been to a formal Japanese class. I taught myself purely through reading and writing and books. Thus I encountered a big surprise when I stayed with a friend for a month in Tokyo. I had no problem reading anything, but I had to listen very closely to understand when anyone spoke to me in Japanese. I used the phrases: 少し日本語が分かります。 and 分かりません。 quite often. But all of the people I met were very nice. Several wanted to test their English on me, and several wanted me to try speaking Japanese to them and they helped me. I am moving there in about a year, and it will be an interesting experience, but I don't hate any moment spent learning Japanese and, like the author of the essay said, have fun with a language.  |
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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by
on 2006-07-10 00:55:42 |
I have been learning for the past 3 years. At first I thought it seemed like a straightforward language then I realized how wrong I was. I am not even sure why I am learning it, I just enjoy learning it and it helps to pass the time. I guess I find it rewarding to read a Japanese news article or whatnot. My problem is I have never been there so my speaking is not up to par, however, my reading skills are good and work on listening a lot. It's a place I would like to visit but I don't see much point in living there. I am not a big time otaku so that takes away a lot of motivation to spend much time there unlike some people I know who spend all their time in Akihabaraku doign otaku things (although I enjoy anime, not really into the fan stuff, to me a show is a show and nothing else).  |
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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by
on 2006-07-10 01:06:09 |
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This person is just complaining. If you don't/can't go to Japan for a long time to study the language you might as well quit. This person seems like they are majoring in Japanese in their American University and no matter how many years in the US you take Japanese you will not beable to function in Japanese society. They probably studied for 2 or 3 years and then went to Japan to find out it wasn't what they expected and then are complaining about their lives because they realise university is hard. There's no real worries about the three types of Japanese students you have to look out for, because it seems that most of the people here can qualify for all three- so they wouldn't find anyone like that because it would be them. Learn Japanese dudes, or any other language for that matter. You're bound to find a "Four-Twenty-ten means nintey wtf!?" essay about french so don't let it dissuade you. If you come to the point where you can understand the anime in it's own language you can tell that it is just as lame as the dubbed stuff that is why it really is for children even in Japan. Ontop of that if you ever go to Japan you figure out that anime and manga is just as socially cool there as it is in the US. It would be very hard for you to make friends if you preach that manga stuff. Why do people worship Japan anyway? They are just another group of people like America, spain, or kyrgystan. When you get to Japan your unique identity will become your curse and your honor so don't give your home contry a bad name and further the steriotypes they have about us.  |
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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Anyone have any idea how to learn japanese in a easy way? (ma.t.ta.ku.de.ki.ma.se.n) ^^;
Never Give Up When Failed! Stand Up And Try Again!
___________________________
It Is Nice To Be Important, And It Is Important To Be Nice!
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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by
on 2006-07-23 12:46:42 (edited 2006-07-23 12:47:34)
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There is not really an 'easy' way to learn any language. To learn a new language takes work, especially the older you get. Everyone has a different learning style, so depending on what learning style works best for you, that's how you should learn it. I taught myself Japanese, but discovered I can only teach myself so much. You must be immersed in the language and culture to truly be able to learn it completely. And two important things my German teacher taught me about learning foreign languages: You must know your native language first (it is amazing how many native english speakers don't really know English...) and you must know the culture of the language you are learning. Both of those factors will make learning a language that much easier. And when I say 'know your native language' I am not talking fluency... if it's your native language, obviously, you are fluent lol. I mean you need to know grammer and semantics, rules and inflections et c. Anyway, in most cases taking a formal class is usually the easiest way and best way to start learning. |
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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by
on 2006-07-23 14:12:50 |
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I "NEED" to learn this soon. I need to get books and what not, maybe search around online, and practice writing Kanji and Japanese. This would also help me understand anime music without looking at the lyrics along the way. XD 
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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by eternaltorture
on 2006-07-23 15:50:55
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熱すぎる.....*sigh*....no air condition.... and i...only know a lil about japanese....=.= |
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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I recently found this site by a friend. Seeing your replies and comments really is very comforting that I don't feel alone in this persuit of mine. Being a mix blood, I connect more to the states from where I was raised, but recently became interested in learning my other side. It is really tough at first I thought, I have only been learning for 4yrs if you don't count self learning without teachers, but am a litte jumpy from taking the JPE. I guess I need more confidence. I'd like to say though, from hearing relatives talk as a kid, making me feel like a dope that couldn't understand a word, calling me "American Boy No Manners" at every interaction. Putting some investment into learning Japanese and to finally being able to listen and respond somewhat to converations and getting a little understanding in why they do what they do, I find learning and spending time and effort for progress very rewarding. For those people who want to go for it and learn something new, be prepared for a long road, I think a key thing to help out is to make it as fun as possible. Music is my best friend. |
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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by csxwinner92
on 2006-08-12 21:59:45
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if only tenchnology gets very advanced and we have like a device that teaches us Japanese in 10 minutes. BUt for now , im willing to ditch Chinese for Japanese just gotta finish 1 more year of middle school |
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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gaijin~gaikoku jin desuka? watashi wa ninggo ga sukoshi dekimasu. Is that right? Btw is there's anyone who's going to take nouryouku-shiken on this december? |
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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by
on 2006-09-06 09:52:27 |
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But japanese are hard to be learn? Is it? Cause the word are soo, errie type. But if i'm able to learn some japanese. I believe hooking up babes won't be a problem=) Speaking spanish is simply awesome, it's so smooth and the words are romantic. HAHA  |
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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by gothicbutterfly
on 2006-09-06 14:36:18
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I just took a look of the link well, I believe this article is written by a western guy. As for te pronunciation, Japanese is not as difficult as he said. But for writing, of course, is a different case. However, I think that if one strives, one will succeed. Good luck for those who wanna learn japanese^^ |
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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that had to be one of the funniest things ive read about languages XD but Mark Twains "the awful german language" is better ;) still, that was great :D 
sig made by brightdarkness |
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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by
on 2006-10-07 22:00:55 |
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quote "Just resign yourself to talking like a little girl for the rest of your life and hope to God that no one beats you up." /quote Also, everyone seems to learn german and japanese. what next, italian? @csxwinner92: kanji makes you thankful for 16 years of forced chinese language classes @Vee: ninggo?   |
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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easy way to learn Japanese? Start young and immerse yourself in it. re: teaching foreign languages in American schools. Funny you should mention this a friend of mine is actually very upset that her first grader came home recently from school with a nice drawing of a rainbow with the colors named in Spanish. It wasn't that she didn't like her child learning another language, it was that she didn't have a choice NOR was she informed that the school was giving such lessons. Depending on where you are, languages are taught in American schools, and they are getting earlier and earlier. Most places that are doing this are teaching Spanish or German. re: the essay itself Like all satire, it has elements of truth as well as humor. What he doesn't get, is that learning a language isn't just about learning the language. If you don't learn the culture (and history and social-economic interactions) as well, you may as well be learning a dead language. re: teaching yourself Japanese. As someone who does speak Japanese and English and has close relatives in Japan, this is a pet peeve of mine. You cannot accurately learn a language, ANY language, by being self taught. No book system, no CD system no matter how good, is a fraction as good as having someone to give you feedback. As Aya's experience attests, you cannot truly learn the spoken language, even if you are fully literate. I can hear the difference between hana (flower) and hana (nose) and hana (speak) when a person whose first language is Japanese says it, but not so from anyone who learned it as a second (or third or whatever) language. There are subtle, very subtle, differences in pronunication. This is why I laugh at my SO (very American) when he tries to speak Japanese. I can correct his pronunciation a 1000 times, and he'll only get it by accident, never hearing the difference. Chinese is similar. What appears to be a homonym on the page has entirely different pronunciations in practice. @korndog re: arab in Japan You're a gaijin, expect to be treated like one. re: Anti-gaijin sentiments Japan has ALWAYS been a herd mentality culture, much like teens in the US. If everyone does, then everyone can and should do it. You must NOT stand out. And Japan is very nationalistic. It's people (yes mine) are prejudiced against EVERYONE ELSE, always have been, and it's been a very VERY slow thing to change over the decades. It got quite the kickstart when WW2 ended, but while American Culture is adored in Japan, not so American people. Why? Because you are OTHER. You aren't Japanese, you aren't as good, you are different, and in Japan, it's always been bad to be different. Does all this mean that I think non-Japanese should not learn the language? No, being multi-lingual (and therefore multi-cultural) is what's going to save the world from WW3. Learning for the sake of learning is always a worthy pursuit. The least prejudiced Japanese have been the ones who have been able to be exchange students in other countries, becoming more multi-cultural, more tolerant and more accepting of differences. But if you go to Japan, you need to realize that book-learning is completely different from actually being able to talk Japanese. |
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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by lalalahahaha12345
on 2006-10-11 14:38:50
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Japanese people are great. I have a lot of japanese friends. I'm Chinese so my parents don't want me to take japanese even though I know a lot of it already mostly from reading completly japanese manga. The thing is most japanese people won't talk to you unless you yell at them. I know this kid named Yuto. He will not say anything in English unless the teacher asks him to explain something. Even if he wants to borrow a pencil, he will just poke you and point at the pencil. Then he'll grab it from you. Well japanese isn't too hard if you know some things like I know kanji since I'm Chinese...Infact If you're like me then japanese and korean would probably be easier than a European language like French. I take it right now and I DISPISE it with my whole heart but of course my parents won't let me take japanese because they're racists.... I apologize for ranting...
「僕には見える。君の羽が。」
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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by レミリア・スカーレット
on 2006-10-12 15:42:42
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Kanji is primarily derived from Chinese so there's the large similarity there, kanji is a lot easier for me because of my Chinese background, and I dun like learnign European languages 'cause the alphabet can sometimes mix me up (ACCENTS) whereas pictographic language rely solely on memorization and hard work, lol. :X
--scarlet devil--
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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AS LONG U GOT DDETERMINATION MONEY AND ESPECIALLY A LOT OF TIME TO LEARN JAPANESE...SURE IT WILL BE OKAY. BOUT THE POLITENESS...YOU GUY DETERMINES IT YOURSELF IF JAPANESE POLITENESS LAVEL WAS SO HARD TO LEARN...  |
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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Wa was that site supposed it be a sacarsm towards learning japanese language or encouragement to people interested in learning? Confused..... zZzZZz anyways, true or not, hard or not, its just great to be able to learn things that you are interested in instead of whining on its difficult or whatever reasons. Meow!!!! SAA MINNA!!! NIHONGO O BENKYO DE GAMBARIMASU!!!! meow!!
僕は忍者だ!
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Re: So you want to learn Japanese...
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| I've reviewed these comments and they've really helped me decided what I'm going to do for my freshman year in college. I was hoping for an alternative for Spanish...which I can't stand...but alas I believe I lack what it takes to learn Japanese. I suppose I'll have to be content listening to my J-pop and not understanding a word of it, but enjoying the vocals. What many manga/anime fanatics need to understand is that what they are striving for is comprehension and not exactly fluency in the language. I just want to "understand" plots, themes and lyrics without the extra work of translation. LOL I will be the first to admit that I love anime/manga...could immerse myself in it all day. But I am the same way with cartoons on the Disney channel and fantasy novels too. LOL. So I don't have the need to worship Japanese culture the way others do. I believe that all cultures are interesting and have great things to contribute. It's actually funny to see how many want to find an "easy" way to learn another language. Many would say it's a flaw of American culture to desire what is convenient and easy. Hey I'm American so I see the validity of that. But from reading comments on the cultural intolerance that is a big part of the Japanese culture, I do appreciate that I live in an environment where individuality can be celebrated. Sorry for rambling a little. ^_^; |