Second Language

I've been learning Japanese for a few years now (2 classes, and self-study since).

I found the verbal language rather easy (compared to french, which I took in highschool), but the written language is a beast.

My suggestion is to learn Hiragana and Katana first, and practice to pronounce them (they are phonetic japanese letters). Next, move on to verbal until you're pretty comfortable with normal conversation... then do Kanji (written, MANY words).

This is something I would be interested in doing if I ever got the time.

I have been wondering though, I know you can get CDs, online tutorials etc, but I wonder if there are language lessons that are released by podcast. I think it would be handy to have something like this in episodic, relevant chunks that I can listen to on my mp3 player - think of it as like a class room session*, released every week, or every other day.

*I'm aware of the severly broken analogy, but its the best I can think to compare it to at this groggy hour of the workday.

Quote:

Original post by tstrimp Inspired by this thread. Evidently you need to speak 2 languages to be a genius.

German, English, Polish, Java, a bit of c++ and spanish... why the f... im still soooo far being genius... ?? ;)

I learned...
polish - grew up there
german - speak it since I can think - a kind second native language (learned it mainly via TV-cartoons, i think)
english - school, private lessons (the second is the most effective, appart from cartoons ;))
spanish - different home-audio-courses (with good courses and determination its a quite good way to learn a language)
java - a bit at university - rest by practice
c++ - via Java ;)

The most important is to have permanent contact with the language - TV, forums etc.

Class is OK, but self-study is the way to go if you're motivated. I was able to go at least 5x faster than any class learning Japanese, and I'm certainly no genius. Of course, you're going to have to find some way to learn to pronounce the language at first, so you might want to take at least an introductory course anyway. And eventually you'll really need someone to talk to on a regular basis, but that can probably wait until you've mastered the very basics.

I don't know about japanese specifically, but I learned german simply by doing. I signed up at mylanguageexchange.com and found some pen and online-chat friends. You're horrible at first, but after a hundred emails and chats AND book-study you get the rules down. Then it's time for actual talking, which is the most difficult part. It just takes practice.

I'm bilingual. ( meaning I can clearly think, speak, write, type (( i can type 110 wpm in english, i can type 130 wpm in my native language )) and know the cultures of both languages )

hoping that someday i can be trilingual by writing fluent code.
and even quadilingual by being able to fluently compose music.
Seriously, both above are so broad that you can literally claim them as separate languages.

I've seen many people who can speak english more fluently than I, of course nobody in my household speaks english, and they're born hearing english, so this is fucking obvious. I hate it when US borns think i'm stupid cuz i can't react to speech that quickly.

and I've seen many many FOB's speak my native language more fluently than I, of course they've been living in their country for almost forever. and again, they think i'm stupid cuz i can't react as quick.

So, i'm kinda stuck in between and it somewhat sucks to be bilingual in many many ways.
#1) you have to keep up with both. constantly read materials and speak and use that language continuously, otherwise you'll fall behind. hence you need to spend twice as much time socializing, reading the newspapers, listening to both culture's music. do you understand how much time only those social things take up? and learning slangs is a biggy. if you don't learn slangs, you can't communicate with your peers and will remain isolated.
#2) if you don't do #1, people will think youre stupid, unless that person shares the bilingual trait.
#3) I think it's almost dead impossible to master 2 languages completely, you really have to be a goddamn genius. live in both countries for half your life each. ( that's what I did and still fail to be close to perfect )





Seriously, I'm bilingual enough. I speak my native language about 5~10% better than english, yet i'm nowhere close to being bilingual IMHO.
THIS SUCKS, AND I HAVE TO READ VOCABULARY BOOKS EVERY NIGHT BEFORE I SLEEP SO THAT I DON'T FALL BEHIND IM SO FUCKING RESTLESS.

omg, and I thought I'm the only one that has problems with bilinguality - sorry - "biculturality"...

I suggest This Site for learning. There are pronunciations along with the letters.

Quote:

Original post by smr ...I signed up at mylanguageexchange.com and found some pen and online-chat friends...

GREAT site! I've looked for this type of thing before with no luck.
++

yay! rate++ all around. Strangely enough I helped all 3 of you break the 1300 barrier.

No, the best way to learn a second language is to live in that country.

but assuming you can't perform those expensive and impossible investments, the best and the quickest way:
1) listen. listen to the sounds of that language.
2) learn to read and read with proper pronunciation.
3) learn to write, and learn the grammar.
4) expand vocabulary. reading japanese comic books ( extemely amusing )
5) go and chat to practice. But trust me, it's really difficult to even type in japanese. I believe their typing system is based on sound, and brute memorization of even word.

This process should take you a year or longer (probably longer), if you invest 1 hour each day will full concentration. you're japanese skills should be of a 5-7 year old.

I've tried learning japanese myself, the writing system is extremely complex, as they have adopted chinese symbols as well. Hirakana & Katakana
Also there's something called the Chun-Ja-Moon (that how it sounds could be mistyped though), it's the first recommended 1000 words you should learn.

I would learn a language for a country that I would like to spend a significant amount of time in. Germany and Italy fit that bill (and I've got the German, though it's rusty now). Of course, I'd like to travel the entire UK and Australia, and I'm already equipped for that. The Japanese are just too weird for an extended trip.

Quote:

Original post by capn_midnight The Japanese are just too weird for an extended trip.

If I could afford it and I didn't have a family, I would love to spend a year or two there.

Quote:

Original post by capn_midnight ...The Japanese are just too weird for an extended trip.

What's so weird about Used Schoolgirl Panty Vending Machines?

Quote:

Original post by tstrimp Quote: Original post by capn_midnight The Japanese are just too weird for an extended trip. If I could afford it and I didn't have a family, I would love to spend a year or two there.

I know of two guys who actually did this very thing, although they took their families with them. One has written a book about his experience (he still lives there I believe). And the other is writing one (I wish he'd finish it already...).

They're both martial artists, but I think would be interesting reads to learn about what it's like for gaijin (forgeiner, sometimes derogatory) living in Japan.

Karate The Japanese Way
24fightingchickens.com

I'm trying to learn Creole (native language), French (country's official language) and Japanese (I love anime... and just about anything Japanese).

Unfortunately, I have the work ethic of a lazy mule doped up on sugar with ADHD.

Quote:

Original post by Alpha_ProgDes I'm trying to learn Creole (native language), French (country's official language) and Japanese (I love anime... and just about anything Japanese). Unfortunately, I have the work ethic of a lazy mule doped up on sugar with ADHD.

Which creole?

Quote:

Original post by necreia I suggest This Site for learning. There are pronunciations along with the letters.

Thanks for the link, nice site!

Quote:

Original post by Tradone I'm bilingual.

Quote:

Original post by Tradone yet i'm nowhere close to being bilingual IMHO.