What is the best way to learn japanese?

Question

I'm homeschooled so it's not like I can take a class or anything. Does anyone have any good ideas?

Answer 1

You can learn quite a bit through home study. Try to find a good textbook that you can use that has a tape that you can listen to as well. I've never tried the Rosetta Stone series, so I can't recommend that myself. My first classes used the Japanese for Busy People books. You can also get a cd for these that has all the listening sections. These are a little business oriented, but have very good, useful phrases and you can start learning katakana and hiragana from the beginning.

These books are based mostly on teaching useful phrases, and while there is some grammar involved, I know personally I wanted better grammar explanations. I simply bought a grammar book to use along with whatever textbook I used.

I would also recommend practicing kanji from the start. You can buy flashcards that are really helpful. I was always a bit skeptical of flashcards, but once I got a set, i could learn about a hundred in a week or two. I think it's important to start learning kanji at the beginning, even though it might seem a little difficult. Alot of people I know seem to be too intimidated by it and then never learn. It takes some work, but it's very useful, especially in terms of reading.

One of my biggest suggestions, which might sound a little crazy and is really only for the patient lol, is to start reading. I started reading manga about six months after I started learning as a way to practice, and have realized that I learn alot from reading. It's good practice for kanji and casual language, which books really don't usually teach very much of. Also, however, you start to learn to infer things. You can pick up grammar patterns and word meanings, etc., that you might not otherwise, and you get a more "natural" feel for the language. I'd suggest something you can pick up in English and read afterwards, or so if you got really stuck you could read it in English. I only understood about fifty percent when I first started, and it took AGES to get through one, but it really is good practice. Now I can read through an entire volume without a dictionary in about four hours and understand at least 90% most of the time. Besides, it's a fun way to learn. :)

I'd also suggest trying to find someone to practice with. It can be someone online, though having real face-to-face speaking practice is really important. Even if you're homeschooled, you might be able to find a tutor in your area. If any of the local schools (or universities) offer Japanese, I would suggest asking the instructor if they know of any good tutors or could recommend a study partner. That way you have someone you can ask questions to, but more importantly, someone that you can just have some speaking practice with. Even once a week is better than nothing. :)

Hope this helps, and good luck! Japanese is a fun langauge to learn, and it will open up your eyes to a whole new culture.

Answer 2

I've been learning Japanese for about a year now and I've tried a lot of different programs. Here's what I have found.
1. Speaking Japanese is a million times easier than writing and reading it and the best program purely for understanding the spoken language (and for speaking Japanese yourself) is the Pimsleur Japanese program, After completing all three levels you will be able to understand most of the formal speech in Japanese and have a great understanding of how the language works.
2. For vocabulary I would say Rosetta Stone is the best, but a note of caution - do not try to learn Japanese using this program alone you can't. It only teaches vocabulary, not grammar, or speaking skills.
3. You need to get a good Textbook because there is no way around old fashion learning. Slowly work your way through the levels and it will improve all areas of your Japanese, writing, reading, and speaking.
4. Now reading and writing is the most difficult part and I really haven't found a great way to go about this, its really just tons of memorization. After learning Kana (the Japanese alphabet that is fairly easy) Get some flashcards and a Kanji book and start memorizing Kanji.
5. Try to find someone that speaks the language, my best friend is Japanese and this has helped me more than any program ever could. Speaking the language is paramount.

Answer 3

The best way to learn any language is to speak it and hear it.
So you need to find a native speaker, or get some audio tapes or computer programs like the "Rosetta Stone." Check your cable company for channels or programs in Japanese, or rent movies in Japanese so you can get used to the accents and speech patterns.
Even if you're homeschooled, your parents might consider signing you up for a class at a local community college, since it's something they can't teach you themselves.

Ganbatte!

Answer 4

Get a good textbook and practice, and/or see if you can find a Japanese person or someone else who speaks Japanese in your neighborhood who's willing to tutor you or at least help you practice conversation. Also, if there's a community college anywhere near you, would it be possible for you to take a Japanese class there? A lot of community colleges have elementary language classes in the evenings and on weekends that people who aren't regular students there take.

Answer 5

I'm homeschooled as well.. First you learn the basics lik ethe alphabet. Then just get some books that teach you the basics of how a sentence is put together. Learn vocab and watch lots of japanese drama.. You will pick up quite a lot of vocab from the dramas.

Answer 6

The Rosetta Stone programs is really good to use to learn languages, especially Japanese. I actually used it to supplement my study of the language with my Japanese teacher, a nice lady from just outside of Tokyo that is living in the area.

Answer 7

Watch more Japanese movies regularly, which are subtitled in your language

Answer 8

well there is some cds on it and you could take some class or just hang around some japanese people! j/k
bye

Answer 9

I am using this site to help me. I am not taking any classes but i speak english but it is short simple and to the point http://www.learn-japanese.info/

Answer 10

well.. first,you should learn the basics of it and then the best way to learn it and keep it is practicing. good luck!