Learn to speak Japanese

...I had a friend, Natsuko, who was a Japanese exchange student. She taught me a few words and phrases. I’ve also read a few books by Japanese authors, such as the Tomoe Gozen Japanese fantasy trilogy. It’s a beautiful language, and many of the customs are attractive as well, though I disagree with much of the culture. I also seem to have a talent for Japanese pronunciation, as I had a woman once tell me I’d said her name perfectly in a voicemail.

I’m looking forward to learning more of the language, and maybe one day to learning the written language as well.

As with Korean, I signed on for the beginner’s course on Livemocha but haven’t done much with it yet :/

I like the language and i already know a little bit such as counting to ten and thats about it. plus id like to spend some years over there

I’ve always liked mangas and animes, really, and a couple of years ago I started to wonder about Japan in general, so I ended up liking japanese more than enything else. And I started learning it on my own, so i do know something, like the Hiragana alphabet and common sentences. I had to stop because then I entered highschool and I never had, and have, time for this. But I never stopped enjoying the lenguage and I still wanna learn it, so I’ll try my best

I’m 15 and I don’t study japanese, so it will probably take more than 3 years to accomplish this, but I’ll try my best. I’m currently studying it by myself, but I intend to find a real teacher and study seriously. For now I can only write in Hiragana, and I know some standard things but I really really wanna learn more.

I have made improvements, but I still have a long way to go. Lately I find myself wanting to study Kanji more than my general language texts.
One reason could possibly be because the text makes it much more interesting. My general language text was written in the 60s and it’s incredibly boring. I also have to memorize a lot of vocabulary that I will never actually have to use. The Kanji one (Kanji in Mangaland) is fun, more up to date, and each unit ends with a Manga strip. I just ordered Japanese in Mangaland 1 and 2 in hopes that they will be just as interesting.

A friend of mine gave me some Rosetta Stone to help me master Japanese, but I have to study for my ACT Test now and feel a little guilty when I study my Japanese just for fun. Because I have SO much I have to improve before taking my ACT…

And today this Japanese looking couple came into the store and I just wanted to start talking with them and ask if they were Japanese, but how the hell are you supposed to ask someone that with out offending them? IDK!

I have always wanted to speak a second language. I would love to work in japan and learn more about the culture and attitudes of japanese people. I am looking into the linguaphone route of learning and then just surrounding myself with everything japanese for a few months i.e films, food, music etc. Going to be hard and maybe get a few funny looks but it will be worth it . lol
If anyone else as this goal get in touch.

Steve

Japanese is actually one of the easiest to learn. English is one of the most challenging ones. Anyone wanna be study buddies? I’m on my second semester of beginner Japanese. Vera.naz22@gmail.com is my email address if anyone is interested in being penpal/study buddies. :)

I dropped Japanese at school in favour of Art. I can swap back, but I’m kind of hoping that I can find a way to learn Japanese out of school.