super-famicom
Member
I'd love to learn to read Japanese, but I have no idea where to start.
http://m.neogaf.com/showpost.php?p=149234237
I'd love to learn to read Japanese, but I have no idea where to start.
Oh this looks like it be helpful, is it any good?
Ohhh, must've missed this post. Thanks!
Ohhh, must've missed this post. Thanks!
Thanks super helpful
Oh this looks like it be helpful, is it any good?
That sounds great! I use Imiwa along with books I have so this will help. Going to get this!I have this and it's one of my favorite tools for learning. The mini-games are good for repetition and learning, but it can still be challenging. I think it is best used as a supplement to another learning resource though.
You're welcome, guys. And I think one shouldn't learn just how to read Japanese. Reading/Vocabulary/Grammar, writing, listening, and speaking are all essential in learning a new language, and if you earnestly want to learn Japanese (even just to a basic level), I highly recommend not ignoring any one of these things.
Edit- oh, I didn't know Slime Forest Adventure would make Avast go nuts for you.
Yep, there's a way to play region locked games now http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=973700
My 2 cents being a weabo in my teens, studying Japanese on the side in college, then doing an exchange in Japan. I've been doing translation work for 7 years now (not in the entertainment business) and currently live in Japan.
I do not recommend reading manga or playing games in Japanese unless you are currently studying or have passed JLPT Level 3 (I believe it's now classed N4?) level. Why? At lower levels of Japanese, your knowledge would be so limited that it would be a struggle to comprehend each and every sentence. You will not be able to understand much, EVEN with a dictionary at hand (been there, done that). The 20 minutes or so you use up trying to figure out a single sentence would be better spent studying the language.
The more you study the language, the less dependent you will be on a dictionary. And even if you need to use it, you will be more efficient in looking up words.
I took and passed all levels of JLPT (back when there were only 4 levels) and the level I was studying for was a good indicator of how much I understood Japanese. I had lots of manga and materials in Japanese even before I started studying and it was amazing to me how much more I understood as I progressed through the levels. Here's how each level measures up in a real-world scenario in my experience:
Level 4 (N5):
The lowest level, covered by most beginner Japanese classes. Teaches you hiragana, katakana, and 200 or so kanji. You learn basic sentences and stock phrases.
Real-world usage: Helpful if going as a tourist in Japan, but you will not be able to hold a meaningful conversation, read through a book, or play through a game without LOTS of effort.
Level 3 (N4)
Intermediate level. Here's where it gets interesting, because the grammar learned is what native Japanese use in every day life. At this level, reading manga and playing games in Japanese become enjoyable. Having learned the most common 500-600, kanji, you will depend less on a dictionary, and you will be smarter in figuring out meanings. You will also be able to hold a conversation.
A person can live in Japan for years and get by just fine with Level 3 proficiency.
Level 2 (N3-N2)
Upper Intermediate-Advanced. Japanese proficiency is honed to finer level. Having learned 1,000 kanji, you will have no problems reading and discussing on a wide variety of topics.
Level 1 (N1)
Advanced. After you reach the top, you will realize that there is so much more you need to learn about the language and might decide to throw in the towel.
First things first, learn hiragana and katakana. Use mnemonics to learn how to read and write them. Then start learning basic grammer, as in how to use particles etc.After learning Spanish for around 5 years and then German for another, I finally want to learn a language that I am interested in. Really want to learn japanese but I dont really have any idea where to start lol