Stuff for Learning Japanese

[~SnowAngel~]

*I found a japanesepod101 2005-2011 resource 27G. The mediafire links seem fine.
* I'm adding new text to the body, then I'll organize and possibly revise again.
* I've added some packs at the bottom. I'll talk more about it later and add mirrors~

okay soooo I've looked at my stuff, and there's so many gigs worth of stuff~
I might put a list what I have here. What I plan on doing is organizing it based on level and what it teaches. (kanji, grammer, etc.)
I'll put some amazon links up for each thing I have so you can get an idea if it's worth trying~
ummmmm I might not have the freetime to do this until later this week. If you want something special soon, just ask~


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*This thread is about learning Japanese from 0 to an intermediate/advanced level for free~ everything I'm offering here is mostly scanned books and electronic resources. The only thing keeping you from learning is what you do with yourself~
I highly recommend watching the first video in the spoiler at the bottom. It helps you know what to expect when learning Japanese no matter what level you are.

I've been a self-study student for a long time~ There are plenty of videos and books that I'm going to talk about briefly, and a few comments I have about them. I'm also going to point out some things to consider when using some popular methods or books. My goal is to help people think about how they learn, not tell them how or what they should learn. I hope you'll be encouraged to search more about different ways to learn and practice Japanese.

The first video is by Tofugu. The video talks about how learning Japanese isn't "easy as pie" or wtv like most books, markets etc try to make you think. He says that it's hard work, even someone natively Japanese would agree. Tofugu is a Japanese man who has dozens of videos about how one should or shouldn't study Japanese. I recommend looking through his channel for some important insights about Japanese. He also has a website for learning Japanese things~ a good bit there is free, but he does offer paid-for lessons that you really don't have to buy.

The second video is about immersion. In my option, I'd say don't go crazy at first, you'll hurt yourself. I have my ipod touch set to Japanese. It's something I can be comfortable with, without "blocking out" the language as clutter. (Steve talks about this in one of the video links, I think it's "burnout.") This is something that you'll want to do once you have practice a few kanji to remember what something looks like, what it does, etc.

Most of the youtube links you'll find is by LignoSteve. Steve is a language professor that knows several languages and can tell you far more than an amateur youtuber. He beats around the bush a bit, but you'll like some of the main points he makes. If you watch his videos, you'll understand more about what I'm going to say below. He also talks about his "golden trinity" of learning which I recommend watching.

Remembering The Kanji (RTK)

Videos aside, Let me mention some things about text books, and a review I saw about "Rembering the Kanji." I couldn't find the comment again, but there was someone on amazon that made some clear points about the shortcomings of this book and kanji.koohii.com. This person said that he went through this book twice doing exactly as Heisig instructed, but could not remember most of the kanji. His main point for Heisig was how Heisig basically distorted a kanji's meaning, since a single kanji can have multiple meanings/readings. I can testify to this: The kanji that I did not learn with its reading, I forgot no matter how many times I reviewed and practice writing it. There are Native Japanese people who correct Heisig's meanings of the kanji via kanji.koohii.com While this method is good for the first 100 kanji you need to learn, you should probably use other methods once you've gotten the idea of how kanji work. The biggest downfall for this book is a lack of experience/practice using the kanji. While you could make words with the kanji, you may end up saying it means something different than the true meaning.

koohii
Even though koohii is useful, it can be a bad thing. Most people are making stories than infer the incorrect meaning for a kanji, and sometimes the wrong reading. There are professional native speakers on the forums who can tell you about this. I've seen threads before about how Heisig "swapped" similar meanings so that he could use his study method. Granted, it's a good way to learn writing kanji, but not the best way. They suggested that it's best to learn the vocabulary from a more reliable source, and then use RTK. The Japanese have compared Heisig's meanings with ones they actually teach in school, books, etc.

As Steve pointed out, it's a balance of reading and listening to get a good foundation, but with a little writing and speaking. Heisig does not include these elements which would enhance remembering and using what you've learned.


For a more visual way to remember kanji, I suggest looking through "Basic Kanji Book Vol. 1" (kanji from pics)
It includes an interesting way to see Kanji being made from pictures. It's a good start, but it's worthless unless you practice each lesson often. I recommend that you sentence mine with each lesson of kanji for a week. Then at the end of a month, give yourself a test of all the lessons cumulatively.





For Japanese vocabulary, There is a special deck for Anki called "Japanese corePLUS" It uses words, sentences, sounds and detailed explanations from a professional teaching program: http://iknow.jp/ This website use to be free, but has turned into a paid for service. This deck was taken from the freely given professional translations. There is audio that can be obtained in the description of the deck. There are over 25,700 words in the deck, which is the most of all the Japanese content in Anki. There are also pictures, but I couldn't get them to work :f

The biggest disadvantage of Anki is that you can't use the new words or sentences outside of their context easily. For example: 今(ima) is not pronounced the same in 今朝 (kesa), even thought they present it as "ima."
They do use both words like that, but unless that's been explained to you (Via sentence mining) then you'll have no idea that you've just learned conflicting information, or an exception.


The only way to practice using context efficiently is through exposure via talking to the Japanese online. Not having a microphone or webcam can be a problem for this, but it's not impossible. You need at least some kind of output to see how you're understanding the language. There's websites where natives will correct what you write, and you'll correct their sentences. Even though I can type Japanese sentences and know what kanji I'm using, I can't read or speak when presented with the same thing sometimes. But at best, I can recognize the kanji until I know it. Interaction with Japanese people can remind me why I'm learning Japanese.

Whether or not you're serious about learning Japanese, you can still get native audio to practice listening. Anime can be helpful, but you should also consider some podcasts. There's a podcast within a link called "Japanesepod101" Personally, I think they are horrible at teaching written Japanese, but they are pretty good with most explanations. But again, you can't simply rely only on audio, you have to practice what you hear. Speak and sing~


So what I'm getting at is that you need a variety of sources to actually learn something. If all you're doing is "memorizing for a test", you'll forget quickly. To help add understanding with the variety, I recommend Sentence mining. (there's 2 links to explain that). I'm not going to be extreme on sentence mining, since you do need to actually enjoy what you're doing or have an interest.
Trying to read Japanese from books is also helpful~ Even if you don't understand what you're reading, it can help motivate you if you find a word that you've learned. The excitement you feel when that happens is worth your time~


Sentence mining has given me some thoughts about how I recall words and pictures. The main idea is how you get a large context for a full picture. I would use this to learn kanji readings. I heard from a Japanese friend of mine that he didn't learn kanji readings by memorizing them, he learned them from the word/context itself. He said that people in Japan can sometimes only remember a kanji reading when they see how it's used. Instead of reading each kanji one at a time, they see it as a whole word. It's almost like how we have vocabulary and know it's meaning by how it's pronounced. for example: "The road winds with the wind." There's two words spelled the same, but pronounced differently. Kanji is similar, we only know how to say a word when we see how it's used.

So when learning new words, pick a kanji and practice how it's used with more words. You'll remember the kanji more than the readings, but that's one step further than just forgetting the kanji. (lol. "Forgetting the Kanji. :D)
Use sounds, sentences, pictures, stories, everything with the kanji.

Another important thing for learning Japanese is to have some clear short-term goals. If I just decide to learn 2,000 words in a year, I'll eventually get bored or forget most of them. Even if I go through my 25k deck everyday, I'll eventually forget them unless I'm in front of that deck. My brain has been trained to know Japanese at my computer more than anywhere else. That's something you should teach yourself not to do.
The best way around this is to find things to identify. Anime is a great way to just have the "aha!" moment, but only if you're actually attentively listening to the Japanese. The way I like to use the most, is learn something in Japanese, and then making sentences with that. It can be particles, kanji, sounds, a pun, anything. As long as I practice it a few times and review what I did wrong later. You want enough information to work with while enjoying what you do.





The last thing I want to talk about for now, is intermediate level Japanese. Even if you're a beginner, you should lightly learn some intermediate level things to keep you interested. The worst thing you can do while learning Japanese is get very comfortable. If you're at the point to where you can understand 80% of something, you should move up. If you're afraid you'll miss something, don't worry. You'll get to the point where you can learn a Japanese word through a Japanese explanation~ It sounds difficult, but it's a gold mine once you've entered.

The way to learn Japanese through Japanese is to have at least one focused goal. For example, one of my big goals is to know what my computer says when I set it to Japanese. The smaller ones would be the menu, file names, errors, etc. You don't need an ocean to make a pond, since Specialty is almost like that. You don't have to be a musician to be a doctor or teacher. In that sense, some words you won't have to learn to know others.

I hope this encourages you to explore more about what works for you and what doesn't. If you feel like something is preventing you from learning Japanese, search about that. Ask for support when you feel like giving up, and remember to take breaks~

resources

Spoiler

(bottom has download links)
*note* don't kill yourself watching all of these videos in one day. Only watch the ones you find helpful/interesting.

japanese resource youtube videos:

"The Secret to Learning Japanese! Amazing!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flBMpY7ZNX8&feature=relmfu

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日本語 Immersion - Why and How (Hikosaemon agrees)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BISS6efQoOo


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Juggling with Language Learning Theories : Krashen Hypotheses


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qj5CxkwxaE

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LingoSteve:

Limits to Krashen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyoraDhrfcc&feature=related


The most important thing in language learning


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJbEP9_efe0&feature=relmfu



Memory and language learning


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30eAPRR0vLg&feature=relmfu


Input based language learning, a powerful snowball.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ddNVFWdnZI&list=UUez-2shYlHQY3LfILBuDYqQ&index=10&feature=plcp


Can we learn 100 words a day?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwxVcevwIBw&feature=relmfu



Language learning burnout
(summary: explore the language via reading things you're interested in)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHxqkLFRhws&list=UUez-2shYlHQY3LfILBuDYqQ&index=5&feature=plcp


How not to forget languages you have learned.
(skip to 2:20)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4th_VK8rJs&feature=relmfu


Most Chinese immigrants don't improve their English after 7 years. Why?

(first 3 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW-WeO82OaI&feature=relmfu







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sentence mining
http://www.xamuel.com/sentence-mining/

juggling with language learning theories.
http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10125/6129


University level/material instructions free.
http://www.nihongoresources.com/language/lessons.html


Pearltrees (firefox or GC) -a GUI online bookmarks plugin

My Japanese resources in pearltrees: http://www.pearltrees.com/s/collect...3731&N-f=1_1853983&N-s=1_1853983&N-p=13230403


-Chat online with Japanese people
http://www.language-exchanges.org/content/welcome

http://lang-8.com/

-A free flashcard program (download "Japanese corePLUS. visit the links in its description and add the sound)
http://ankisrs.net/


Plugin for mouse-over readings and meaning for Japanese text. (also uses Heisig cards as an option)

http://www.polarcloud.com/rikaichan/

pw for incoming archives:

~!@angelsound2

You need to use Truecrypt to open these files, then you unzip what's inside.

pack1:
grammar:http://www.mediafire.com/?6a89m5x4444bxn5
Kanji from pictures: http://www.mediafire.com/?y6tq52ck50nb0c0
Remembering the kanji: http://www.mediafire.com/?jjthhkix0nivcbu

open djv windows: http://www.mediafire.com/?cunye5455z1x5q2
open djv mac: http://www.mediafire.com/?7s4q8oq8cucv3tq
Kanji penguin game~ http://www.mediafire.com/?95fa0t1ff2190sf

http://vnsharing.net/forum/showthread.php?t=482167

 

[nawi]

Re: Bountiful Sources/knowledge for Learning Japanese

hmm...looks like you're good with japanese...are you a native japanese ushio?

 

[~SnowAngel~]

Re: Bountiful Sources/knowledge for Learning Japanese

hmm...looks like you're good with japanese...are you a native japanese ushio?

I wish XD~~~~~

 

[Chantelize]

Re: Bountiful Sources/knowledge for Learning Japanese

Im still trying to learn japanesse and have tried different methods:

1) My Japannese Coach (nds) - Explains the grammar pretty well but you can't skip the lessons unless you emulate the game and use a downloaded save state.
2) Rosseta Stone - Worst software ever, they just throw you there to reapeat sentences over and over again without knowing what the majority of the words mean.
3)Rembering the Kanji by Heisig - so so, some of the explanations actually make you remember the kanji but others make no sense at all.

 

[~SnowAngel~]

Re: Bountiful Sources/knowledge for Learning Japanese

Those can all be considered like a flash-card way. They are simply the instructions to do something. (besides RS).
Reading a manual is completely different from gaining experience doing the job. In the same way, you have to practice using kanji in creative ways, whether it's correct or not. One good way is to make sentences with words and parts that you've learned. You can use one of the online places where Japanese people correct what you write.

The bottom line is, you can't stick with one way, and you can't expect it to get easy until you learn a few hundred. In a way, it's like playing a music score. You can't keep playing different ones and expect yourself to be perfect the next time you play. Also, you can't keep playing the same one and automatically become good at the next new one. It takes a whole experience with several.

I'll probably make this thread more specific and into different sections. I may even suggest some ways to keep learning. Since for me, motivation is what keeps me learning. If I don't have that, I won't learn X_X

So my suggestion is:
1. Pick a kanji or kanji word.
2. learn to use that in several sentences. (meaning, reading, writing, etc.)
3. Learn to use it with the next kanji word sentence. (keep one, drop one. Keep that process for as long as you can)
4. Try to speak using those sentences and new ones. (if you don't do this, you will suddenly not know what the word means when you encounter it).

You'll want to have as much interaction practicing with a native Japanese person if you can. Speaking with them is the most valuable part.

 

[nanashi1]

Re: Bountiful Sources/knowledge for Learning Japanese

Since i'm this culture followed (about 15 year) (self-)study japanese: From animes in original j. lange, books and internet....

 

[SaikoMorino]

I started learning Japanese only recently. Took Japanese class but only familiar with hiragana and katakana as of the moment. Luckily I found the Genki work and text books along with the audio files. Just need more motivation for advance self-learning. The reason i took Jap was to force myself whenever I lose motivation. As for practice, I play Japanese PSP games to keep exposing myself.

 

[Keisuke Kurogami]

lol i learn jappanese from watch ANIME XD
but then i buy jappanese book and learn by myself ~
i still remembering Katakana and larn kanji XD
Kanji is sure hard

 

[umipo]

\
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Yay a japanese learning advice thread ~SnowAngel~ i loved your post!!



Forgive me if i repeat anything thats already been said
im a bit obsessed

So, When i first started learning japanese i used my japanese coach ds and genki textbooks!
Those 2 sources are amazing foundations to get you started HOWEVER
The most important thing i learned is if you dont live in japan you need to immerse yourself in japanese while you are studing or you wont get very far.
If you think about it, There is no way your way your brain will remember the information if you dont immerse yourself
And the more you immerse yourself, the faster and more you will remember!
But as ~snowangel~ said dont over do it

Oddly enough immersing, is actually the fun part!
Its a rare thing in life when something thats good for you is actually fun xD
You guys are all probably immersing youself in japanese already by playing japanese video games. Playing games it good because it will help you remember the kanji you learned! Also another good way is to read really easy manga with furigana and then gradually move up to harder manga as you get better, yup yup~

But what about speaking, and listening skills(my question mark key is broken!)
Watching anime will help you alittle but politeness is important in japan and anime characters usual speaks very impolitely
So make sure you keep that in mind while your watching awesome anime :D
Also why not watch japanese dramas or variety shows sometimes too,to help with pronunciation and stuff
If you start young enough you might turn out to have native or almost native pronouciation after a few years!!! I'm not even kidding!!

As for speaking practice, just find anyway you can speak japanese. Like skype!
If you are a bigginer in japanese and want to practice with a real japanese person i would use these sites to speak with japanese speakers who speak english so they can help you with you're japanese and vise versa
http://www.sharedtalk.com/
http://www.japan-guide.com/local/?aCAT=3

But if you think you know japanese well enough to speak with a japanese person who doesnt know any english at all:
http://skypech.com/


Ok im about to list a whole bunch of sources that can help you with listening, reading, and writing comprehension
I dont know if you guys are obsessed as me or not so you dont have to use them if you dont want to.
Most of them are just websites i use on a daily basis



First of all download rikaichan or rikaikun (depending on what browser you have) as you may be visiting some japanese websites while you immerse yourself in the language. And Rikaikun will save your life like it did mine lol xD

[Awesome Website]
http://www.anime-sharing.com


http://japaneseclass.jp/

[Mobage Town](how japanese teens have fun)
Mobile version http://mbga.jp
PC versionhttp://yahoo-mbga.jp/

I change my mind about typing a whole bunch of resources
Im tired, This website has ALOT of resources for'ya
http://nihongo-e-na.com/eng/

Ok bye!

 

[~SnowAngel~]

I think another important part in learning is being with other people learning~ Even if they don't know the language, they might keep you motivated by asking what you understand, or to say something in that language.
You'll want to avoid forced stuff though (like classrooms) because you learn better on your own interest~

One of the biggest problems for people learning is being busy. I've also been like that, where i just completely forget about learning Japanese. Still, I do have some input without thinking about it. (Japanese anime, some music, and kanji on my ipod~)
So in a way, I can't just avoid it XD

Some people need an order/schedule to learn, some just need to be random like me :P
I'd say to have a few goals for yourself (learning x number of words. Talking to japanese, etc.) Don't worry about being scheduled though, you need to learn because you enjoy it and want to. (not forcing yourself~)
If you can practice every day, great~ if it's just whenever, that's still okay XD

If you know anything in Japanese at all, you know that you've learned something forever and can improve. (some things in Japanese that you never forget~)
When you start forgetting stuff, it's time to get creative even if it's not correct at first. Use words that you know with a word or two that you don't know.

I'll probably talk more about kanji when I'm not in school~ since it's still kinda messy for me. :P