is there a way to learn japanese easily & quickly?

Question

i really would love to learn it, but i dont know any good books to actually help me learn it from start to finish. (jlist usually takes forever to send books out.) any ideas?

Answer 1

There are some very good ways to learn japanese, depending on your methods, it could cost a little, or a lot of money.

For learning to speak, The Pimsleur audio lessons are phenominal, they are arranged in a constant quiz type method that will teach you something, have you answer, teach you something else, make you make logical jumps on figuring out things, and every lesson has built in reviews to reinforce previous teachings and lessons.

For books, there are mountains of books out there and depending on how your brain works, you could find the learn by manga, the for dummies, or some of the more advanced books fit perfectly into the niche in your brain.

Get into playing online games with japanese people, I really need to get back into playing Pangya on the .jp server because that really makes you have to learn to read/type to be able to communicate, this is a hard hurdle tho and you really need to do some pre-practice

For self study of reading and to improve your level, find copies of Hiragana Times, it has each article in both japanese and english, all the kanji have furigana, and you will pick up a lot of stuff quickly, also if you pick up one of the weekly/biweekly/monthly manga magazines from japan, they are a wealth of study, and they are dirt cheap, on average 5-10 bucks finding them may be a bit difficult but there are many sources.

There are also websites, I belong to www.yesjapan.com they have lessons, with audio, downloadable videos, and even live lessons available. its not too expensive monthly either.

If you like anime, you can also watch it in the regular japanese language with or without subtitles to see how much you can understand.

Helpful links:
http://www.hiragana.jp/ will take any japanese webpage and add the furigana for the kanji
http://www.speedanki.com/ online flash cards to learn Kanji
http://yesjapan.com/ Online learning place costs $
http://www.jlptstudy.com/4/ what you need to study to pass the level 4 (basic) Japanese language proficiency test
http://www.sasugabooks.com/ place where you can buy many books on learning japanese, as well as regular manga magazines for study, and tons of books in full japanese.
http://www.animenation.com/ another place to get import manga for study. also can buy anime there.
http://www.jlist.com/ many great items here as well, import items from japan, I got a great hiragana poster from here that has helped me many times when I go braindead on a hiragana that I don't see often (they also sell raw manga)
http://store.aikotradingstore.com/canonwordtank.html sells the canon wordtank which is a great item to study with as well.

Answer 2

These days you can learn how to speak Japanese over the internet. Check out this online course, it's voted as the best Japanese online course of all time: http://www.rocketlearner.com/japanese The course is very easy to follow, I was able to learn Japanese in just 3 months.

I live in New York City, I wanted to go to a Japanese language teacher but that would have cost me over $800 per month. Good thing with this internet, $800 it's a lot of money for me.

Answer 3

Actually a very good way to learn Japanese is interacting with Japanese kids!

Anyways, try and contact the embassy of Japan. The phone number is 202-238-6700.
If you're near DC you might drive there. The address is 2520 Massachusets Ave 20008 is the zipcode just in case you need it for driving directions.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

If it's just for travel and general communication, I've found the "Learn in Your Car" series very helpful. It's on two tracks--one side is the English speaker, the other side the Japanese speaker.

That way, you can hear something in English, then Japanese, then speak it. After you've learned the phrases, you can either (a) turn off the Japanese side to test yourself, or (b) turn off the English side to see if you can recognize what is being said in Japanese.

Answer 5

Learn quickly? Do you mean enough to travel or enough language skills to effectively communicate?

If it is travel, maybe a few weeks of lessons. A private tutor is better. Learning on your own can be similar to the blind leading the blind. Guidance is important.

For serious communication.
Immersion programs are the best. My colleague spent one semester in a total immersion program. He has good Japanese. His Chinese language ability helped out. My first 6 months in Japan was a big boost to add to my four years of Japanese language and lingustics studies.

Answer 6

I came here when I was older 35 they say young people learn faster I don't know, After almost 3 years living in a Japanese speaking house (well wife speaks English) and going to school twice a week for four hours. I can get around go shopping, make dinner resevations, Banking and post office. That being said I still can't really express my thoughts feeling (emotions) or opinions all that well.
A fun way to learn Vowels is to go to a book store get an English/Japanese dictionary, Then go to office depot and buy a bunch of those "Stcky Tabs" you can write on. Go back home sit in the middle of each room and look around (If you live with your Parents at least do this in your room). Open your Dictionary everything you see look up, write the Japanese word on a sticky and stick it on the item.
I mean everything Shoes (Kutsu) door (Doa) on your bedroom door (Heya) evrerything open you Refridgerator (Reizoko) label the eggs(tamago) put Yasaii & Kodomono on the "Fruits and Vegetable "draw go nuts. Everytime you touch or your near that item say the word. Next when your out of your house maybe looking at Shoes say to yourself (Or out loud if noone is around) "Kutsu".
Bonus points if you figure out how to TAG your "INU" or "NEKO"

Answer 7

If you want to learn a language, be in the country, for 10 months at least. Then, you'll tune into the vibrations of the language.
Language is a *vibration*, believe it or not.

If you learn Japanese, learn it from a Japanese teacher. You'll learn the *way* to think in terms of the language and grammar.
Also, in different province, there are different style and pattern of language.
In speaking Japanese, you have to learn the etiquette of expressions. The way you address your wife to others, is not the same words as you address the other's wife. ..etc.

Answer 8

Japanese is quite difficult because the writing system alone takes years to learn. 1845 Kanji(Chinese Characters)
If you want to learn; find a language excahnge partner and a good book like "Japanese for busy people" there are three levels that I know of. Learn Hiragana first and write all your vocab in kanji and hiragana otherwise you might use English pronunciation. Use flashcards and try to enjoy writing practice. Use a Japanese brush and ink. Don't rely on your language excahnge partner to "teach you" just learn stuff form your book and practice it with your partner. Most of all enjoy meeting them. Walk and talk in a park, beach, or sit down in a cafe, don't go to a library.

Answer 9

ways to learn japanese...maybe u should contact with culture center or the embassy of japan may help u in books and thats stuff...
But to learn it quickly i'm sorrow to say no way its hard language... but do ur best and u'll learn it and talk japanese better than the ppl in japan it self..
Good luck

Answer 10

I'm using a really good book called 'Oxford take off in Japanese'. It has five hourse of ausio, and is really fun, quick, and easy. Only Japanese reading and writing is difficult to learn, and even that's not too bad. The actual speaking is surprisingly simple.

Answer 11

No body knows what kind of books fit to you.
But I am sure, most foreigners who learn and speak fluent Japanese have several text books and dictionaries.
Visit big book store and flip some.

I don't know where you from, however, Kinokuniya and Asahiya are famous Japanese bookstores. Check it out.


http://www.kinokuniya.com/
(the adress of US shops are shown at the bottom of each pages)
http://www.japanjournals.com/lon_navi/news/news.html
http://sun3.lib.uci.edu/~ltanji/asianv.htm