Wanting to Learn Japanese

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firefuze

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#89945 12-Sep-2011 12:51

Hi All, As the Subject states, Im wanting to learn Japanese. I want to be able to speak it and read it, not too worried about writing at the moment.

Ive been trying to teach myself for the past year with little progress. I have Rosetta Stone which is a good program but its just not my learning style, I need explanations and reasoning not just matching words and pictures together. I have some other basic Japanese videos etc on the computer and have a couple Japanese kids books that I got off TradeMe that are mostly written in Hiragana. I thought I knew a bit but when I went to Japan last month, everything I thought I knew disappeared!

Anyway, does any know of any private Japanese tutors around the Hamilton area? (can't seem to find any) Wintec don't do anything and neither does Waikato Uni (only full-time Japanese studies). Or can anyone recommend any great programs or books etc? Would like to immerse myself as much as possible but I struggle to even find Japanese TV shows like kids programs or the news.

Appreciate any feedback/ideas :)

Cheers

dolsen

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#519911 12-Sep-2011 13:02

firefuze: Would like to immerse myself as much as possible but I struggle to even find Japanese TV shows like kids programs or the news.

Appreciate any feedback/ideas :)

Cheers

Seeing as this is Geekzone, you obviously need to buy a dvb-s satellite card or satellite receiver so that you can watch the Japanese news shown on the SBS channel :-)

Sorry, not too much help...

scuwp

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#519917 12-Sep-2011 13:10

Sorry, no specific advise or recommendations to offer.

Went through the same exercise myself a handfull of years ago, but apart from the odd night class at Frazer or Melville (from memory) I didn't find much. Even then those classes seemed to be more meant for tourists to be able to tout a few choice phrases when on holiday in Japan. If you have been cracking on yourself for a year then you are probably already way above their level.

The only 'proper' study I could find was at the Uni as well.

They say the best way to learn is to live there and have no choice. Working holiday perhaps?

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

firefuze

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#519921 12-Sep-2011 13:14

Not a bad idea. $$ but still cheaper than going thru Sky I guess in the long run. I see Sky have WTV which has a Japanese NHK channel but at a extra $56 a month I don't think so! Hoping to find some good quality streamed Japanese TV but that isn't so easy.

hellonearthisman

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#519925 12-Sep-2011 13:21

NHK have news in both English and Nihongo as well as http://www3.nhk.or.jp/lesson/

You could advertises for a tutor on trademe, having someone to use the language with makes it easier.

scuwp

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#519927 12-Sep-2011 13:22

firefuze: Not a bad idea. $$ but still cheaper than going thru Sky I guess in the long run. I see Sky have WTV which has a Japanese NHK channel but at a extra $56 a month I don't think so! Hoping to find some good quality streamed Japanese TV but that isn't so easy.

Maybe join FATSO and delve into their back catalogue of classic Japanese cinema with English subtitles? Great learning to be had in 4 hours of "The Seven Samurai"!

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

firefuze

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#519932 12-Sep-2011 13:24

scuwp: Sorry, no specific advise or recommendations to offer.

Went through the same exercise myself a handfull of years ago, but apart from the odd night class at Frazer or Melville (from memory) I didn't find much. Even then those classes seemed to be more meant for tourists to be able to tout a few choice phrases when on holiday in Japan. If you have been cracking on yourself for a year then you are probably already way above their level.

The only 'proper' study I could find was at the Uni as well.

They say the best way to learn is to live there and have no choice. Working holiday perhaps?

Thanks for your reply, confirms im not just looking in all the wrong places then.

Would love nothing more than a working holiday, but with my close friend called mortgage wanting money every pay day its almost out of question. It shouldn't be this hard to learn something new!

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

dontpanic42

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#519940 12-Sep-2011 13:31

Do you have an iPhone or iPod touch?
There are quite a few paid and free apps that might be of some use.

firefuze

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#520092 12-Sep-2011 17:32

hellonearthisman: NHK have news in both English and Nihongo as well as http://www3.nhk.or.jp/lesson/

You could advertises for a tutor on trademe, having someone to use the language with makes it easier.

Great site, Thanks.

John2010

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#520098 12-Sep-2011 18:01

Have you tried seeking advice from the Embassy of Japan in Wellington?

There are also Japan Societies in the bigger centres who may be able to give advice plus give conversational Japanese experience?

Behodar

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#520120 12-Sep-2011 19:04

I suggest downloading Human Japanese (it's about $15 if memory serves) and using it in conjunction with Rosetta Stone. It'll teach the grammar that RS doesn't :)

firefuze

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#522435 17-Sep-2011 19:13

Thanks for all the replies,

Ive put a couple posts up on some forums to find someone willing to do some teaching around Hamilton, surely there must a few.

The NHK link above is great, got some audio companions and some Japanese Dragon Ball episodes, have Rosetta Stone, iPad apps and kids books. Just gonna have to combine it all, stick to it and make it a tight routine.

Thanks again.