This is when, I was thinking of making this site a Japanese learning website, but I changed my mind, and decided to stick with sheet music.
Questions:
Q:Am I Japanese?
A: No, I am not. I'm half white and latin.
Q: Well, if your not Japanese. Then how long have you been studying the language?
A: I've been studying the language for about little over a year. Just because I'm not that advanced in Japanese doesn't mean I can't teach you a few things. I study the Japanese language and history daily. I'm very determined to learn it.
Q: Can you teach me Japanese slang?
A: Not right now, First of all. I'm not that interested in learning informal Japanese yet and anyways .The first step to any language is to speak the language right. Learning informal Japanese can be very rude in Japan. It's not polite at all! It's fine if your talking to someone you know, but chances are if you visit Japan. You're not gonna know a whole lot of people right off the bat, and your not gonna get much respect either if you speak informal Japanese. So, for right now we'll stick to Polite Japanese. Please remember, just because you watch anime or something of the sort and they speak informal Japanese. Doesn't mean that's how all Japanese people talk. Again, please remember, the younger generation may speak informally, but the older generation finds it very rude for someone younger then them to speak it. So, it's better safe then sorry. That's another reason you should learn formal Japanese first. I may include a word or informal phrase of the week though. Also, if your interested in learning Informal Japanese. I'll link to a great website! That teaches it. This person deserves alot of credit!
Q: What books do you study from?
A: I study quite a few books. I'll list them in order if your interested in picking one or all of them up.
1st: Easy Kana Workbook- Rita L. Lampkin, Osamu Hoshino. This is the first step in reading Japanese. This is a great book and it's not very long. It took me about a 2 months to finish. Don't worry if you finish this book you don't remember all the Kana characters. It's only normal, I would suggest for reading practice, to go to a Japanese website and just read the Kana characters. Before you know it, you won't even have to think about it. It will become natural. Just like reading the Western Alphabet.
2nd: Teach youself Beginner's Japanese- Helen Gilhooly. I sometimes wonder how can one of the cheapest books teach you so much? This book is not expensive at all ,and is one the best out there. It's really reader friendly and goes at a easy pace. I really recommend this book. If you can't buy the cassette for it. That's alright! Just pay extra attention to the pronounciation guide. Or get the below.
3rd: Pimsleur Japanese course. This course can be very very expensive, but It's great! I always listen to it. While I'm driving . It really helps your speaking and listening skills! My friends couldn't believe how fluent and well I sounded after just doing the course for a month. I would really recommend it. At times, it can be challenging, and you may have to play parts over a few times, but it's great! The only thing about this is that it's all audio. If you can't afford the large expensive course. Then just get the cheaper ones. It doesn't include all the CD's but it still will help you.
4th: Breaking into Japanese Literature- Giles Murray. This book is excellent! Only buy after you have learned Kana and are a higher level beginner. It teaches your 50% of all Kanji. It has Kanji and Kana on one side and the other is English, and on the bottom are the defintions of the Kanji and words in order from how they appear. It's really a big help! It puts Kanji into real unedited Japanese literature stories. I wish there were more books like this.
5th: Making Sense of Japanese (what the textbooks don't tell you.)- Jay Rubin. I bought this book not to long ago. It's mostly for 3rd year Japanese learning students, but I find it easy to read and haven't had a problem yet. I only read the first chapter though, but from what I learned so far. This books is awesome! It really takes all the difficult parts of Japanese and actually makes them make sense. I'm not sure if you pick up this book yet. I'll update, and tell you if it became more difficult to understand.
6th: Random house Japanese- English vice versa dictionary. This is a must have for any beginner. It's not the best dictionary, but it's all you need for right now. It includes the words and Japanese characters. Not like another dictionary I had *cough* Living Language*cough* SUXS! *cough*.
7th: Let's Learn Kanji- Joyce Yumi Mitamura, Yasuko Kosaka Mitamura. I just started this book. Oh yeah and only use this book after you have mastered the Kana! If not, you will be completely lost! It is a excellent book and you should have no problem with it. There is another book that I heard is better, but it cost a little more. Plus, this book hasn't given me any problems. One thing though, if your a beginner to the Kanji. Do not do the Reading and Analyzing exercises in this book! Leave them alone, until you become more advanced in the Kanji. It will just give you a headache if you try to do them. Also, to help you even more use the book below with this one.
8th: Kanji Pict-O-Grapix- Michael Rowley. I woud definitly recommend this book! It makes learning Kanji so much easier. It doesn't really teach you the On and Kun readings (Chinese, Japanese readings), but it does help you remember what the charaters are. I would recommend this book with the above. It'll make your Kanji study go alot faster.
Also, please don't think I do each of these books every single day. I do only certain one's on certain days. I would recommend though to study the "Teach yourself beginners Japanese" daily. This is the only book. I think, you should do daily. It's alright if you skip it a day or two, just make sure you come back to it and not give up.
