Help and advice for learning a new language

[Twinrehz]

I have for a very long time wanted to learn a new language (japanese), because I really want to. I have a basic textbook and workbook, 1 book for learning hiragana, 1 book for katakana, and a box with flashcards (which I haven't looked up the usage for yet, I assume it's pretty straight forward). I also have 3 CDs that came with the books and box, for verbal pronunciation.

I'm completely on my own in this, no one in my near vicinity is interested in helping. That shouldn't deter me though, my own motivation to carry on is most of the problem, probably because I don't have a proper plan over my progress.

So my question is, how do I go about setting up such a plan? Or are there better methods for learning languages in my spare time? I have some interest in japanese pop-culture (manga and anime, and potentially games) that allows me to learn more of the language once I'm advanced enough to begin with that. I would need some easy practices before I reach that point, too.

 

[Chasing-The-Light]

Hm... I'm not sure how well I can help you considering the fact that, while I did graduate from college with a degree in Chinese, I had classes to help me along the way so I wasn't on my own.

But the one thing I can tell you is the advice you're going to hear from everyone, but only because it's as sound of advice as you're going to get: immersion is everything.

Figure out first whether you're an auditory or visual learner for languages, ie do you learn better from reading your books about the languages, or do you learn better from listening to the conversations on your CDs? Once you figure that out you have to run with that. For visual learner, either creating flashcards to go through every day, or even making cards to post around your house for you to constantly look at might help. For auditory learning that can be as simple as watching raws of anime instead of with subs (because then your mind is too focused on the story instead of the language), or leaving on Japanese news channels, or listening to Japanese music all the time.

Hopefully this provides a good start at least! Japanese is definitely hard, so good luck!

 

[Twinrehz]

Hm... I'm not sure how well I can help you considering the fact that, while I did graduate from college with a degree in Chinese, I had classes to help me along the way so I wasn't on my own.

But the one thing I can tell you is the advice you're going to hear from everyone, but only because it's as sound of advice as you're going to get: immersion is everything.

Figure out first whether you're an auditory or visual learner for languages, ie do you learn better from reading your books about the languages, or do you learn better from listening to the conversations on your CDs? Once you figure that out you have to run with that. For visual learner, either creating flashcards to go through every day, or even making cards to post around your house for you to constantly look at might help. For auditory learning that can be as simple as watching raws of anime instead of with subs (because then your mind is too focused on the story instead of the language), or leaving on Japanese news channels, or listening to Japanese music all the time.

Hopefully this provides a good start at least! Japanese is definitely hard, so good luck!

Well that sounds like something I can manage, but I sort of need to set up a work plan for myself, I guess doing it on a monthly basis would be useful. I'm very much a book-person, but I rely very much on auditory work for learning.

Anyway, how soon could I start with raws? As of yet, my understanding of japanese is very limited. I finished the first chapter in the textbook, but that's so long ago I barely remember the hiragana that was part of the chapter.

Would a wall-poster of the hiragana and katakana alphabets be a good idea? I know kanji is much more extensive than the others, but it's still an integral part of the language, and apparently quite useful for learning new kanji.

Back to the topic of raws again, I assume that I need to start light somewhere, and I probably won't understand much of it in my first go, but I need some names on stuff I can start with. Learning a new language with a whole different alphabet and syntax to what I'm used to sounds a bit like jumping off the deep end of the pool and learn to swim from there.

 

[Twinrehz]

Want to update a bit by mentioning that what I'm most curious about is the time-aspect. It's been years since I tried to learn anything new, so my neurons might be a bit slow-firing and reluctant to any change, so they may need some convincing to get started. Anyway, I need to set some realistic goals for progress, but I don't know what is realistic.

 

[Chasing-The-Light]

I don't know if wall-posters would be good because you can stare at something forever, but that's not really engaging in it. Think about when you stare at an English book. Are you really getting anything out of it? Maybe a bit, but not necessarily. It might help for kanji. I don't know... Like I said, I study Chinese so all we have are characters so I've often been quite unsympathetic towards Japanese learners who complain about kanji lol.

I suggest using raws (search any anime online with 'raw' at the end, so it's only in Japanese, or with Japanese subtitles) I suggest this because it gets your brain used to hearing the sounds you're learning, and when you do start moving to grammar and vocabulary it is a better way to put all of that into better context. Really, it's not so much about surrounding yourself with it and immediately understanding it. It's surrounding yourself with it so you have a better environment to help your brain to make the links between what you're reading, and how it's used.

Hopefully this helps some! (Sorry for the break in response. Apparently Escapist doesn't alert to replied messages anymore? Maybe it's just me.)

 

[lechat]

damn beaten to immersion.
surround yourself in the language. The music that you listen to, the newspaper you read, if you write notes do it in japanese if you are talking to yourself do it in the language (even if you can barely speak it) if you bash your thumb with a hammer swear in the language. basically act like you are a child learning the language for the first time.

as a fellow language learner i have a few tips that may help especially since i have a bad memory and flash cards or listen and repeat language learning would not work very well for me.

1. As with all learning make sure you do it daily preferably before going to sleep.

2. focus on learning the verb structure of the language as this is the basis for all languages and sentence structure. (AFAIK)

3. watch as many movies and T.V shows as you can in the language with either english or japanese subs. try not to look at the subs (in english) unless you can't understand or try to create the sentences yourself before glancing at the translation.

4. try to resist going to a translation every time you can not understand a single word or even concept of a sentence.
If you read "the boy ???? with the ball" take a guess at what the verb is plays? dances? jumps? and leave it at that when possible. you will have a easier time remembering words and concepts if you make the connections yourself and the next time you read something like "The boy ???? over the fence" you will be able to associate the word with jumping or bouncing or whatever and cement it into memory.