Post: #26

(12-14-2016 07:48 AM)YMD Wrote:  



I believe that this is a good start point, although I'm not a Japanese learner (because it's my first language...)
I like watching a video made by a vlogger like him, a person who is from an English speaking country and speaks Japanese.
The GENKI series, which is introduced by him in this video, is apparently very popular among other J-vloggers too.




This advice is for people who are very serious about improving their accent.

Awesome YMD, thanks for the first video.

Are there any suggested methods for someone who is already near intermediate (say, JLPT 3 level) but is rusty and hasn't spoken much for the last few years?

I started learning Japanese many years ago, primarily from books, then lived in Japan for 18 months, where I was nearing intermediate level but moved back to the West and haven't been focused on it as much. Looking to get back in but looking for a solution more tailored to someone who can already speak some and can already write hiragana and katakana.

I think I need to step away from the textbooks...those made my Japanese over formal and I never sounded truly conversational, though people knew what I was trying to convey.

Post: #27

Japanese is a massive subject.

What do you want to be able to do? Bang girls? Get a job there? Read a bunch of cool books?

Post: #28

(03-18-2018 03:36 PM)SamuelBRoberts Wrote:  Japanese is a massive subject.

What do you want to be able to do? Bang girls? Get a job there? Read a bunch of cool books?

Good question. I want to be able to:

1) Make friends and network
2) Bang girls

I'm an attorney and some of my work is related to Asia, though not Japan focused. I soon want to focus more on Asia and perhaps start my own consulting that is Asia focused. Knowing Japanese may not directly help me in the work I do but will help establish my legitimacy in the region while helping me explore a culture that I'm really into.

I also want to start making trips to Japan once per year to build my network and also bang girls.

Post: #29

(03-18-2018 06:29 PM)DonovanVC Wrote:  

(03-18-2018 03:36 PM)SamuelBRoberts Wrote:  Japanese is a massive subject.

What do you want to be able to do? Bang girls? Get a job there? Read a bunch of cool books?

Good question. I want to be able to:

1) Make friends and network
2) Bang girls

I'm an attorney and some of my work is related to Asia, though not Japan focused. I soon want to focus more on Asia and perhaps start my own consulting that is Asia focused. Knowing Japanese may not directly help me in the work I do but will help establish my legitimacy in the region while helping me explore a culture that I'm really into.

I also want to start making trips to Japan once per year to build my network and also bang girls.

Are you Asian or do you already speak another Asian language due to your work?

The reason I ask is that I also thought I'd make a lot of Asian dudes friends by learning their language and spending time in those countries. In countries like Thailand most expats that I know, whether they speak the language or not, have few if any local dude friends because of significant cultural differences IMHO.

Japan seems to be a bit different. I've met some cool dudes who offered to hang out and they seemed sincere and they could hold down a conversation about pretty much anything. I think this is because:

a) Japanese are much more intelligent than SE Asians
b) Many Japanese are very well traveled and/or have lived abroad and want to have more contact with the outside world

But just remember, those types of Japanese already speak English. So learning Japanese is going to give you access to Japanese who don't really give a fuck about the outside world. That probably means dudes who aren't interested in the same things as you as well as HOT chicks.

TLDR: You're realistically learning Japanese for HOT chicks.

Post: #30

(03-18-2018 07:02 PM)Xenophon Wrote:  

(03-18-2018 06:29 PM)DonovanVC Wrote:  

(03-18-2018 03:36 PM)SamuelBRoberts Wrote:  Japanese is a massive subject.

What do you want to be able to do? Bang girls? Get a job there? Read a bunch of cool books?

Good question. I want to be able to:

1) Make friends and network
2) Bang girls

I'm an attorney and some of my work is related to Asia, though not Japan focused. I soon want to focus more on Asia and perhaps start my own consulting that is Asia focused. Knowing Japanese may not directly help me in the work I do but will help establish my legitimacy in the region while helping me explore a culture that I'm really into.

I also want to start making trips to Japan once per year to build my network and also bang girls.

Are you Asian or do you already speak another Asian language due to your work?

The reason I ask is that I also thought I'd make a lot of Asian dudes friends by learning their language and spending time in those countries. In countries like Thailand most expats that I know, whether they speak the language or not, have few if any local dude friends because of significant cultural differences IMHO.

Japan seems to be a bit different. I've met some cool dudes who offered to hang out and they seemed sincere and they could hold down a conversation about pretty much anything. I think this is because:

a) Japanese are much more intelligent than SE Asians
b) Many Japanese are very well traveled and/or have lived abroad and want to have more contact with the outside world

But just remember, those types of Japanese already speak English. So learning Japanese is going to give you access to Japanese who don't really give a fuck about the outside world. That probably means dudes who aren't interested in the same things as you as well as HOT chicks.

TLDR: You're realistically learning Japanese for HOT chicks.

During my 18 months living in Japan, I experienced the same thing - meaning, I did make some good guy friends. I agree though that most did speak some English, so yes...learning the language would give me access rather to people who aren't as interested in non-Asian issues and the main benefit would be girls.

If that's the case, do you have any advice on the best learning strategy given my prior experience?

Post: #31

Stupid question, TJ mentioned that before you read the Genki books you should learn hiragana and katakana. Where/how do you learn those? Any good resources?

Post: #32

One good way is to just write them out onto flashcards, that's what I did back in high school. Or try to write them out from memory.

https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/hiragana-chart/

The charts here are probably fine too.

Post: #33

(03-19-2018 12:16 PM)TigerMandingo Wrote:  Stupid question, TJ mentioned that before you read the Genki books you should learn hiragana and katakana. Where/how do you learn those? Any good resources?

Flashcards are a good start. Once you become familiar with the characters, I would recommend picking up a copy of the Hiragana Times. That way you can learn them in context.

Post: #34

Google hiragana and katakana charts, write and memorize. That's what I did.

For the sounds, its not too difficult.

A (ah)
I (ee like in see)
U (oo like in wool)
E (eh like saying the alphabet A)
O (oh)

Everything else is just adding a consonant in front and you basically got the sounds mastered.


Realistically, if you're learning Japanese from scratch, it would be more difficult than European languages if you only speak English. If girls are all you want and since Donovan stated he's only coming once a year, English is good enough since you'll most likely be in Roppongi and the girls there speak English.

Not discouraging you to learn, its nice to see people challenge themselves so if you need help in the language, Ill be happy to help.

Post: #35

Thanks guys. I'm choosing to use Japanesepod101 now; its helping me refresh my skills conversationally pretty quickly. Once I'm "back", I can think of something more substantive if need be.

Post: #36

Anyone tried Memrise Japanese courses?

Post: #37

I'm going to Japan and Korea for about 10 days in the end October, so I tried my luck to learn basic Japanese. A few things:

The Pimsleur Japanese course is available ln Youtube. FOR FREE (I don't know how it hasn't been taken down yet)
Hiragana and Katakana characters aren't all that hard to learn. It took me a weekend to learn all of them. Kanji though, that's a whole different manner. I just wanna be able to read most the signs and do basic communications while there.

Speaking of Kanji, I'm reading a book about Japan to enhance my knowledge of the place, customs, traditions, behavioral etiquette, and this really caught my attention. The Kanji characters for Husband and Wife

Post: #38

I'm German and dedicated time to learn Spanish and Japanese the last 5 years. 2/3 of the time Spanish, 1/3 Japanese. Lived in both language areas for at least 6+ months.

Just to give you an orientation: Now I'm fluent in Spanish and can read basically any book. In Japanese, I'm still an advanced beginner.
To conclude, Japanese is fucking hard in comparison with any Western language.

Post: #39

I would like to know the opinion of someone that can talk good Japanese.... I have tried know many Japanese girls and I have found that has a "personality" a little strange..... Japanese girls can be very funny... very naughty (who said that in Japan people don't like sex LOL I have to find many girls that was searching Sex especially MILF) .... talkative

But can disappear of a day to another .... How to overcome this attitude? This is the thing most frustrating with Japanese girls

I think that Learn Japanese could be interesting... not just for the girls if not that i like the culture and is third market most important in the video game industry (so is good for my business)