[QUOTE=iLife_Aftermath;38802071]So it's 私は, not 私わ? (I am)
[editline]12th December 2012[/editline]
all i've learned is for naught[/QUOTE]
The particle Wa will always be represented as は
[QUOTE=PeejsterM;38800763]nobody can help you
[SUB]Start learning the radicals first.[/SUB][/QUOTE]
Radicals were really helpful
[editline]12th December 2012[/editline]
Like even if i don't know the kanji then i still have some sort of basic idea of what it might be about
[QUOTE=Megafan;38807051]中級の助けが必要ならば、スティムで遠慮なく僕に連絡をしたり質問をしたりして下さい。[/QUOTE]
Holy shit.
You've got the Japanese skills to pay the bills :v:
Also seeing as you guys all speak Japanese here, I figure I can ask some important questions here and maybe get some answers, seeing as I've tried everywhere else on Facepunch.
I'm looking to get my certificate in ESL (English as a Second Language) to teach, and I'd love to go over to Japan to do it. However, I've heard both wonderful stories and absolute fucking horror stories about people going into countries without knowing the language. I'm looking at going this summer, so that being said, what should I do? How should I prepare?
[QUOTE=ewitwins;38807140]Holy shit.
You've got the Japanese skills to pay the bills :v:
Also seeing as you guys all speak Japanese here, I figure I can ask some important questions here and maybe get some answers, seeing as I've tried everywhere else on Facepunch.
I'm looking to get my certificate in ESL (English as a Second Language) to teach, and I'd love to go over to Japan to do it. However, I've heard both wonderful stories and absolute fucking horror stories about people going into countries without knowing the language. I'm looking at going this summer, so that being said, what should I do? How should I prepare?[/QUOTE]
One can really only speak in generalities about things like this, because it depends on where you go and how you're going, what have you, but I've been to Japan myself and if you don't know the language at all you're going to have quite a time. Most Japanese students study Japanese, but not often in speaking, only reading and writing, which would make it difficult for you to ask directions, talk to people you need to get in contact with, and all the rest.
As a side effect, you may also be respected less or talked down to, but that's more to do with you you're dealing with than anything.
I kind of want to make a note to those starting out on learning the language. Not teaching yourself both [url=http://www.textfugu.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/hiragana-chart-textfugu-2.pdf]Hiragana[/url] and [url=http://www.textfugu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/katakana-chart-textfugu2.pdf]Katakana[/url] when starting to learn Japanese is a handicap on a massive level. I cannot stress this enough. Once you get that done avoid all learning material that use Romaji. In fact, avoid all contact with anything Romaji.
Learning those two syllabaries is hard only if you make it out to be hard. If you find the most efficient teaching method that applies to you then you will learn it incredibly quickly. I'm not exaggerating this. I don't want to come out as forceful but I cannot stress enough how important it is.
This is purely coming from my side though so others may have different opinions about it.
The only remotely practical thing I've gotten around to using Japanese for is looking at stuff on the internet because I don't like the country very much even though there are good things about it there are also bad things
If you can withstand the societal norms they place on people, then, great it's the country for you but the focus on conformism over individuality and a traditional shame culture instead of a western guilt culture really dampens how I feel about the country in general
[editline]f[/editline]
Though I hear good things from people who go over there to teach ESL
[QUOTE=Megafan;38807192]One can really only speak in generalities about things like this, because it depends on where you go and how you're going, what have you, but I've been to Japan myself and if you don't know the language at all you're going to have quite a time. Most Japanese students study Japanese, but not often in speaking, only reading and writing, which would make it difficult for you to ask directions, talk to people you need to get in contact with, and all the rest.
As a side effect, you may also be respected less or talked down to, but that's more to do with you you're dealing with than anything.[/QUOTE]
I appreciate the response, really. I've really had my heart set on this thing for awhile, and teaching English is one of the only ways I'll be able to afford travelling to Japan.
I figure having to stumble through teaching English and learning Japanese at the same time is completely worth it. It seems like such an interesting place, and if this gives me a chance to see things like their incredible National Parks and their National Landmarks (old town Tokyo, Shikoku, Kanazawa City, etc) it'll be completely worth it.
[QUOTE=ewitwins;38808412]I appreciate the response, really. I've really had my heart set on this thing for awhile, and teaching English is one of the only ways I'll be able to afford travelling to Japan.
I figure having to stumble through teaching English and learning Japanese at the same time is completely worth it. It seems like such an interesting place, and if this gives me a chance to see things like their incredible National Parks and their National Landmarks (old town Tokyo, Shikoku, Kanazawa City, etc) it'll be completely worth it.[/QUOTE]
Well if that's what you want to do, then power to you, but allow me to offer an anecdote:
At the high school I visited (This was in a city in Okayama Prefecture called Kurashiki), there was a western teaching associate who didn't know much Japanese but was assisting in teaching the English class. She seemed to enjoy the job, but couldn't do much and had a lot of difficulty communicating with the students.
So it may be worthwhile, but just make sure you understand the challenge that comes with it.
[QUOTE=Megafan;38808640]Well if that's what you want to do, then power to you, but allow me to offer an anecdote:
At the high school I visited (This was in a city in Okayama Prefecture called Kurashiki), there was a western teaching associate who didn't know much Japanese but was assisting in teaching the English class. She seemed to enjoy the job, but couldn't do much and had a lot of difficulty communicating with the students.
So it may be worthwhile, but just make sure you understand the challenge that comes with it.[/QUOTE]
That being said, do you think that a half a year of conversational Japanese is enough to skirt around the edges?
[QUOTE=ewitwins;38808671]That being said, do you think that a half a year of conversational Japanese is enough to skirt around the edges?[/QUOTE]
I would say it depends what level of teaching you'd be doing/helping with.
If say, you were teaching high school students alongside a Japanese-speaking teacher then you'd be fine, but if you were at the elementary or junior high level, they'd have little or no foundation for speaking English at all, and you'd need more experience.
I'm by no means an expert, but that's what I'd say.
I've been asking myself this all my life.
Why do japanese porn stars sound like they're getting raped in every scene?
Please reply.
[QUOTE=Megafan;38808640]Well if that's what you want to do, then power to you, but allow me to offer an anecdote:
At the high school I visited (This was in a city in Okayama Prefecture called Kurashiki), there was a western teaching associate who didn't know much Japanese but was assisting in teaching the English class. She seemed to enjoy the job, but couldn't do much and had a lot of difficulty communicating with the students.
So it may be worthwhile, but just make sure you understand the challenge that comes with it.[/QUOTE]
I have a cousin who was doing something like that. She taught in Poland for a year to teach English; then she came back to the US for a few months then went China for several months to teach English. Who knows what she'll do next. She loved it.
I personally hope to study in Japan, but I don't want to have to go through US schools to study. I have a friend who is going there for four years. She was there for a year before she entered university to learn the language (apparently that's what they do there).
[QUOTE=MountainWatcher;38808705]I've been asking myself this all my life.
Why do japanese porn stars sound like they're getting raped in every scene?
Please reply.[/QUOTE]
I don't think I need to tell you that's not what this thread is for.
[QUOTE=Chaohord;38797349]I'll be sure to take a look at the demo, anything that'll help me remember all those symbols and readings is a godsend[/QUOTE]
I just noticed your post. I'm sorry for the long quote I'm about to give but I can't be bothered rewriting what I wrote a long while back. I snipped out a few parts just to keep it relevant:
[QUOTE=GreenDolphin;36837300]I can vouch for this. Heisig's method does allow you to write and recognize 2000 of the common Kanji from memory. I used this and the Anki deck for it and made it to around 1000 characters in just over a month before I got derived by life events. The biggest downside though is that you will not know the readings for them nor are you learning any actual Japanese from it.
This method is really only beneficial when you start to learn Japanese vocabulary in context with Kanji (ie sentence farming). Not only will you learn the readings of the Kanji but you will also easily remember the vocabulary since you actually have something to associate them with (ie your recognition of certain Kanji). In my case I easily remembered a small share of readings and vocabulary of the Kanji when it was used in context without the need of rote repetition. I also cannot stress enough the importance of doing daily revision recaps (I highly recommend to use Anki since it organizes all your revisions for you).[/QUOTE]
It's not for everyone though. For some people it works while for others there are better alternatives.
On my side I found it worked great for me. I absolutely hate being cocky but this was coming from someone who literally had zero background association of these Chinese characters in the first place. It really was that effective on my end. Try out the demo first and see how it goes for you.
[QUOTE=GreenDolphin;38809020]It's not for everyone though. For some people it works while for others there are better alternatives.
On my side I found it worked great for me. I absolutely hate being cocky but this was coming from someone who literally had zero background association of these Chinese characters in the first place. It really was that effective on my end. Try out the demo first and see how it goes for you.[/QUOTE]
Starting with Kanji (as opposed to making sure you have all the hiragana and katakana down first) isn't really the path I would recommend, as it teaches you more through rote memorization than through building a foundation. Once you reach a certain point it will be very difficult to keep them all in your head without having understood their hiragana base first, let alone the kun-yomi and on-yomi readings.
[QUOTE=GreenDolphin;38809020]I just noticed your post. I'm sorry for the long quote I'm about to give but I can't be bothered rewriting what I wrote a long while back. I snipped out a few parts just to keep it relevant:
It's not for everyone though. For some people it works while for others there are better alternatives.
On my side I found it worked great for me. I absolutely hate being cocky but this was coming from someone who literally had zero background association of these Chinese characters in the first place. It really was that effective on my end. Try out the demo first and see how it goes for you.[/QUOTE]
I've already gone through a little over three years worth of Kanji, and I don't really have any problem with discerning the meaning of a character by looking at its radicals. I've got more trouble with remembering the kun-yomi and on-yomi, so I don't think it'd help me much considering it doesn't list any readings.
I've been trying to mix Kanji into my vocabulary as of late, but I'm finding it difficult to break out of my habit of writing most of it in Hiragana.
[QUOTE=MountainWatcher;38808705]I've been asking myself this all my life.
Why do japanese porn stars sound like they're getting raped in every scene?
Please reply.[/QUOTE]
thats just how they sound when they enjoy themself
I can translate Japanese orally pretty well, I'd say if someone was talking to me, I'd be able to understand what they're saying, some things I wouldn't but generally, I can. But, I cannot read or write anything. I really want to learn the language. What do you think would be the best course? Hiragana memorizing? etc? If so, what would I use? I read the OP but it doesn't say which is best exactly.
[QUOTE=zerothefallen;38810790]I can translate Japanese orally pretty well, I'd say if someone was talking to me, I'd be able to understand what they're saying, some things I wouldn't but generally, I can. But, I cannot read or write anything. I really want to learn the language. What do you think would be the best course? Hiragana memorizing? etc? If so, what would I use? I read the OP but it doesn't say which is best exactly.[/QUOTE]
My path
Hiragana>Katakana>Everything Else
If anyone's having trouble with counting just watch this
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9_TCfzPlLI&playnext=1&list=PLzbHLqX7JyIYx7_lZJyIvcLZaujtBGDjZ&feature=results_video[/media]
[QUOTE=Chaohord;38810155]I've been trying to mix Kanji into my vocabulary as of late, but I'm finding it difficult to break out of my habit of writing most of it in Hiragana.[/QUOTE]
That's why you have that space bar while typing Japanese. It's quite reliable when it comes to choosing the right kanji. Don't be afraid.
Memorized Katakana and the appropriate modifiers, moving to Hiragana now. My learning method is when I drive around town I try to read all the business signs when I get the chance :) , and my fiancé is a Japanese and English teacher (graduating from uni this year). For anyone starting to learn katakana and hiragana with an iPhone/iPad/iPod go to the AppStore and buy dr. Moku's hiragana and katakana mnemonics. I seriously learned all the katakana characters with one week of studying.
[QUOTE=DEG_fan;38811310]That's why you have that space bar while typing Japanese. It's quite reliable when it comes to choosing the right kanji. Don't be afraid.[/QUOTE]
I never actually type out my practices, I keep most of my work in a notebook
Although that's a good idea, I should look into that
This is /a/'s guide on learning Japanese if anyone is interested
[url]https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QkKNc3AYP5sOv23FRjBoCs2dDzHN83BuT1T_aRU21t0/edit?pli=1[/url]
Nice touch with the comic sans
Learning all the hiragana and katakana characters is obviously the first step, but I would say the harder (hardest?) part is making sure you memorize how each type of verb is conjugated.
おはよございました！私は日本語を習ういます。ひらがなが分かります。でも、カタカナが分かりません。いくつかの漢字を知っている。
ともかく、みなさん、頑張れよ！
sorry if there's any grammar mistakes or general weirdness in there, i'm still getting the hang of grammar and choosing the right words.
anyways, i just wanted to drop in and recommend a website i haven't seen posted:
[url]http://www.kanjinetworks.com/index.cfm[/url]
it has lots of cool info for kanji, like etymology and stuff. also, you can look up kanji by radicals/number of strokes, so that's handy if you're trying to translate kanji off something that you can't copy/paste (images, magazines, etc).
Trying out Wanikani for kanji/vocab/radicals, it started out slow as hell and it seems to be picking up pace.
[url]www.wanikani.com[/url]
I'm finding Japanese grammar the hardest thing for me to study, not that it is hard, but that it is so boring. Any way to make it more exciting?
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