Want to learn Japanese?

Question:

Hi, I'm 13 and can read, speak, and write vietnamese perfectly (I'm vietnamese but was born in US). I'm planning to learn japanese because it seems like an interesting language to learn and some games are only released in japanese T^T

Any good free programs i could use to learn japanese?

Of course I won't let this interfer with my school work, this is sort of a side thing.

Answer:

I have been learning Japanese for over 15 years and still really enjoy it. Japanese has given me a great insight to the Japanese language and culture.

The best way to learn Japanese is by taking a class, enrolling in a course or investing in a good textbook. If you can't take classes then the self-study method with the correct resources is a good way.

The key to learning Japanese effectively is to work on your grammar, listening, speaking, reading and writing. Its best to think of these as separate categories and focus on each specific category as these require different methods and techniques.

Start by learning the basics through grammar. These books really helped me.

• Shin Nihongo no Kiso I & II
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2011…

• An Introduction to Modern Japanese by Osamu Mizutani & Nobuko Mizutani
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2011…

• Japanese Demystified by Eriko Sato a self-teaching guide
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2011…

These books cover both polite Japanese, which is extremely important to learn in order to speak Japanese effectively and causal Japanese, which is great for everyday conversations.

I also recommend trying to learn a certain amount of vocab or kanji each day as this helps you build up your vocab and kanji ability. I tried to learn 5 kanji per day or about 20 a week and did the same with vocab.

Watching Japanese anime or any Japanese TV program is a good idea for improving your listening skills and also your vocabulary. Keep a notebook and jot down any new words you hear. Then look them up and find out the meaning.

Websites are not always the best way to learn Japanese. Most websites are run by people with no teaching credentials and are not even native speakers of Japanese. Some of them are just interested in making money and not in helping you in what you need to be successful in learning Japanese.

How to Learn Japanese
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2010…