mewtwo Posted December 30, 2009 Anyone know of a good program to learn japanese from like books or cd something that does not require a computer? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old Man Contradiction Posted December 30, 2009 Michel Thomas' program. I'm doing the chinese program, it's an 8 hour foundation program which at the end of I'll be able to have conversation in mandarin. It's incredibly quick, and is so natural I don't even try to remember it, yet I do. In one week I should be able to say I can speak mandarin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Desert Eagle Posted December 30, 2009 lookup rosetta stone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old Man Contradiction Posted December 30, 2009 lookup rosetta stone. Â Rosetta Stone requires a computer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Smile Posted December 30, 2009 Pimsleur worked for me Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sloppy Zhang Posted December 30, 2009 (edited) I suggest you buy the textbook, workbook, and audio for Genki levels I and II. It is an excellent book that will teach you everything you need to know about grammar, both formally and informally (a big deal in Japanese), teach you a bunch of essential vocab, and all of the basic characters you need to know for introductory communication. Â I used that book for self study in high school, and it's also used by many universities, and if you just know everything in that book cover to cover, you'll know everything you'll need to know to get out and around in Japan, and even have some good conversations. (Genki I and II was all I knew when I did foreign exchange to Japan for 2 months, and I understood pretty much everything, and I knew enough to form a base for some harder classes, and by the time I got to university, I placed straight into the higher levels). Edited December 30, 2009 by Sloppy Zhang Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Iyoiyo Posted December 30, 2009 If at all possible I recommend taking a class. Barring that, though, you should be able to get far (if you have motivation) by teaching yourself. I hear rosetta stone is a respectable program, but the Yookoso textbooks are what I used (few complaints) and they also have some online support. You can supplement your learning by watching Japanese television and film. It will help you practice listening and get a feel for the cadence and tone of spoken Japanese. Â As for Old, if you're learning Mandarin in eight hours it's not because you have the correct program, it's because you're a rare genius. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
exorcist_1699 Posted December 30, 2009 (edited) Japanese's difficulties are not in speaking , pronunciation or grammar. All mentioned are simple . The difficulties of this language lie in Kanji , different pronunciations of kanji due to its historical links to the Chinese culture ; many kinds of "habitual" expressions that always are attached to the end of sentences; double negations as implicit and circumlocutory way of expressions, many unsystematic rules...etc. Â As all emphasizes /changes are put at the end of a sentence , totally different from English, learning Japanese is definitely a good way of sharpening a static mind. Edited December 30, 2009 by exorcist_1699 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thunder_Gooch Posted December 30, 2009 the Pimsleur course is the best on the market, it's over 100 cd's long you could download it and put it on an mp3 player. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites