Armos Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Hey guys its me, I've been interested in learning Japanese for quite some time, due to lack of Colleges that don't offer any classes I've decided to teach my self the language. I've been into the language for quite some time now. And I'm into the culture, etc. I want to learn what I can because I want to get into the subject. Well any way, I have a question if anyone is familiar with the Japanese language. I have been on different websites trying to learn Hirigana "Have most of the Hirigana done" and I'm trying to learn Kana and Kanji. I know you can't learn this stuff over night and sometimes its hard for me to remember how to remember the words meanings. But I can sound out the romaji pretty well. I just want to know if anyone who is familiar with the language could give me some tips on what I should be studying. I also have a basic Japanese learning book for phrases and stuff such as learn on manners, etc and every day words, etc. And I've been learning from some sites like I said and I can recognize some words. If anyone can give me some advice to me on what I should do to make my self improve this study I'd appreciate it, I have a hard time focusing when it comes to remembering what the words mean, etc. Thanks in advice. Sorry if this topic seems usless or anything, just wanted some info. I just wanted to know like how many days a week should I study, etc. Thanks. EDIT: Also please don't mention programs like Rosetta Stone, etc. As I can't afford those kinds of programs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arceny Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Hmm.. I think ShadowFire-san speak Japanese... (see what I did there? You didn't?.... >_> ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Netsrac Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Could be that my memory is messing with me but I think I've read here somewhere that xDaniel is trying to translate a japanese game. You should ask him too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armos Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 Could be that my memory is messing with me but I think I've read here somewhere that xDaniel is trying to translate a japanese game. You should ask him too. Hmm, I'll ask him when ever I get the chance. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xdaniel Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Oh, well, I've been doing that for years with different games, but my Japanese is quite limited still. I've got some basic grammar down, I can read hiragana, katakana and a few kanji (standalone, not compound words where they might change reading), I know a few phrases and a bit of general vocabulary, but that's pretty much the extend of my knowledge... Now as for learning... I gotta say, I don't know. I guess 75% of what I know I just picked up in passing over the years (watching anime with subs, try to play/translate Japanese video games), the rest of which came from a beginners language course at the local... uh... Volkshochschule? "Adult high school" according to how Wikipedia DE links to EN. I remember my first steps to learning katakana was simply memorizing a table from a German magazine (an early issue of Bravo Screenfun, in case ex. Netsrac is wondering ), and then trying to apply this knowledge ex. when playing Japanese GB, GBA and WonderSwan ROMs - I think especially the latter helped me there, because I was a really big Digimon fan back in the day, and there's like 10 games for the system, two of which I actually have originals of now as well as a SwanCrystal to play them on. Yeah, so, I really am not sure, I'm just rambling along here. To remember katakana and hiragana, to get a feel for how the language is written out, where one word ends and the next one starts, etc., try playing a game without too much text in Japanese - so don't take Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy 6. Maybe a fighting or puzzle game, trying to read and potentially understand the menus and menu descriptions and such. Especially the endings and beginnings of words were kinda difficult to grasp for me at first, as the Japanese language doesn't really have a set... thing you put in between words, like the "space" you put in many other languages. Whew, well, I hope this helps somehow. Don't have any concrete steps for you to take, but maybe this was still insightful in some way? Oh, also, don't get discouraged by that "for years" I said there in the beginning; if I had actually properly studied Japanese, I'm sure I'd be much further by this point. Again, I picked up most of what I know in passing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Netsrac Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Are you studying the "arts" of programming in the Volkshochschule? (if you're still studying there) After making my Abitur (which will still take a few years) I was thinking of maybe going to Cologne to the Fachhochschule to study Game Design since that's where the "Game Lab" is and it's just about a 100 km away from my hometown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xdaniel Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Are you studying the "arts" of programming in the Volkshochschule? (if you're still studying there) After making my Abitur (which will still take a few years) I was thinking of maybe going to Cologne to the Fachhochschule to study Game Design since that's where the "Game Lab" is and it's just about a 100 km away from my hometown. Nope, only took that Japanese course there, once a week for three or so months a few years back. I was thinking of continuing that with the more advanced courses but cost is a limiting factor, as I'm currently unemployed and have been for a while, too. What I know about programming I've learned 100% via the internet and by just trying things out. That's also why much of my code actually sucks pretty badly, in the design and layout department. Hm, I have no idea if there's any way to study game design around here. I'm guessing there might be something in Frankfurt (well, just from the size of the city...), but it's probably a lost cause for the rest of the Rhine Main area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Netsrac Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Nope, only took that Japanese course there, once a week for three or so months a few years back. I was thinking of continuing that with the more advanced courses but cost is a limiting factor, as I'm currently unemployed and have been for a while, too. What I know about programming I've learned 100% via the internet and by just trying things out. That's also why much of my code actually sucks pretty badly, in the design and layout department. Man that sucks, especially since Japanese is a such a great language. Hm, I have no idea if there's any way to study game design around here. I'm guessing there might be something in Frankfurt (well, just from the size of the city...), but it's probably a lost cause for the rest of the Rhine Main area. Well if I don't find anything here, I might try out Canada...as long as they recognize the degrees here if not I would have to stay in North America to find a job O.o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armos Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 Oh, well, I've been doing that for years with different games, but my Japanese is quite limited still. I've got some basic grammar down, I can read hiragana, katakana and a few kanji (standalone, not compound words where they might change reading), I know a few phrases and a bit of general vocabulary, but that's pretty much the extend of my knowledge... Now as for learning... I gotta say, I don't know. I guess 75% of what I know I just picked up in passing over the years (watching anime with subs, try to play/translate Japanese video games), the rest of which came from a beginners language course at the local... uh... Volkshochschule? "Adult high school" according to how Wikipedia DE links to EN. I remember my first steps to learning katakana was simply memorizing a table from a German magazine (an early issue of Bravo Screenfun, in case ex. Netsrac is wondering ), and then trying to apply this knowledge ex. when playing Japanese GB, GBA and WonderSwan ROMs - I think especially the latter helped me there, because I was a really big Digimon fan back in the day, and there's like 10 games for the system, two of which I actually have originals of now as well as a SwanCrystal to play them on. Yeah, so, I really am not sure, I'm just rambling along here. To remember katakana and hiragana, to get a feel for how the language is written out, where one word ends and the next one starts, etc., try playing a game without too much text in Japanese - so don't take Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy 6. Maybe a fighting or puzzle game, trying to read and potentially understand the menus and menu descriptions and such. Especially the endings and beginnings of words were kinda difficult to grasp for me at first, as the Japanese language doesn't really have a set... thing you put in between words, like the "space" you put in many other languages. Whew, well, I hope this helps somehow. Don't have any concrete steps for you to take, but maybe this was still insightful in some way? Oh, also, don't get discouraged by that "for years" I said there in the beginning; if I had actually properly studied Japanese, I'm sure I'd be much further by this point. Again, I picked up most of what I know in passing. Heh, dont worry man your a big help. I'll relearn my Hirigana and I'll go to Katakana, and I'll try to play some of the Japanese Kingdom Hearts Final Mix series. See where I can go from there. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Fire Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 I hate the Japanese Kingdom Hearts font. So easy to mess up the words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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