I’ve been studying Japanese for the better part of a decade now. I enjoy it a lot and encourage a lot of people to do so, too. Learning Japanese has helped me understand the culture a lot more. Most Japanese people, especially the non-English speakers, tend to share more about their customs and traditions when they see someone is showing enough interest in their language.
A lot of people ask me how I study Japanese. Some think I was an exchange student, but this isn’t true. I also have never enrolled in a Japanese language school here in Japan. Unbelievable as it may sound, I’ve always studied by myself at home, with my Japanese books. No one at work knew I spoke, read, wrote or understood Japanese for a really long time, except the secretaries who I often chatted with. I didn’t speak with them to improve my language skills, however. I watched anime and copied female characters’ intonations. I don’t claim to speak like a native, but a lot of people have started to doubt that I am a foreigner. Studying Japanese may seem daunting in the beginning, with all the grammar patterns, mnemonic words and the 2000 or so basic kanji, but then if I was able to do it, I’m sure a lot of you out there can, too!
For people interested in the language, there are links on my page and occasionally I will put out lesson blogs in Japanese. To view the characters properly, however, you will need to set your browser to Unicode UTF-8 which can be found in the View menu, under Character Encoding.
If you really were able to study 2000 kanjis on your ownand remember them, then you deserve my respect. I studied Japanese in a school here in Italy for 3 years and I can barely hold on to my 150-200 really basic symbols now that my course is over. I never went to Japan and I don’t have much occasion to practice Japanese too, that might count as an handicap I guess.
Can you tell more about your methods?
Hi Simaldeff! Thanks for you comment!
I can only correctly read and write maybe 1000 Kanji. But when you study about 600-700, you get used to radicals and stroke order counts that make it easier to look up Kanji you can’t read, in dictionaries.
I usually just use word cards to study Kanji and Japanese grammar, write them down, put down the meanings, sample sentences, then I review them when I’m on the train or while I’m waiting in line somewhere. It has been helpful for me. Of course, it’s different for everyone and I think one has to find a style that’s comfortable for them. If it works, just keep at it.
Living in Japan has helped a lot, of course. Even when I studied back home, I only got so far with conversation and listening. To help with my studies here in Japan, though, I hang out with Japanese people. Then I watch TV, read anything I can in Japanese, do Japanese martial arts, etc. There are also online Japanese schools that are great. They’re affordable and they have excellent services.
Good luck!
I did a summary of the kanjis I studied but I only put meaning and some word made with that symbols.
As dumb as it may seem now I didn’t think about placing sentences or anything else (like derivate symbols with radicals and so on)…
That might be really useful. It’s true you remember a symbol once you’ve used it few time too.
I don’t really have the money for anything right now (have to save to come to japan and pass some entrance exams in Spring/Summer) so online schools are not an option. I’ll ask some Japanese friends to help me out.
Did you come in Japanto study in a Japanese Language Institute or in normal university? Or did you come for work?
Putting the Kanji in sentences has helped me a lot, also, if I see a sign or something with a familiar Kanji or something, I look it up and note the usage down on my Kanji card. I’ve only done this a couple of times or so but it’s been useful.
There are a lot of free resources online. Check my sidebar for some of them. I’ve always studied by myself and I’ve found that if you’re motivated enough, you don’t really need to be going to schools unless you’ve reached a point where you really need help. But if it’s Kanji, self-study is the best, I think.
I came here for work, but mostly because I was really interested in the culture and language.
Hello,
Originally I am from Bulgaria, now I study in the US. Ironically when I came here, I realized how enchanted I am by Japan. I just begun studying Japanese by myself, and was not sure if that is possible – to learn a language, different from any of the ones I now, only by myself. However, after reading your posts I feel sure and motivated. Thank you for that and for the resources that you post =) Arigato Gozaimasu !!
PS> hehe I also watch a lot of anime… actually, sometimes I feel very close to responding to someone in Japanese with a line I’ve heard in anime series ..not that I would be sure what exactly am I saying ..^_^
Thank you for visiting and commenting Victoria D!
It’s a bit difficult at first, but once you establish a study routine, it gets easier! I’m glad you’re feeling motivated! Good luck!
I’ve tried using things I heard in anime, too, not always with good results, however… Anime language is sometimes too informal… 🙂
Hi Marie,
Another great post!!!
I think I can manage to study on how to speak in japanese. My only concern is how to start reading and writing japanese as I’m sometimes lazy to read or write and preferred just to watch japanese Anime…
But if time permit and the budget fit, i’ll try to use the method your using so that someday I could become just like you who are really motivated and eager to learn this language.
Really inspiring blogs. Domo Arigato Marie Sempai!
Hi again, Edward!
Reading and writing can be hard in the beginning, but it’s part of the challenge of learning a new language. I enjoy watching Anime, too, it seems to reinforce all the things I learned from textbooks and teachers and stuff.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask! Thanks again for visiting!
But, isn’t the Japanese in Anime different from normal Japanese?
Like the pronoun わが
Japanese is not easy!! especially Kanjji! Im glad that i have made an effort to learn about 100 kanji but because its hard i kinda get lazy! but i will work hard! がんばれます!
actually watching japanese anime,dramas and tv shows have helped me a lot!
i envy you!~ i wish i fluent just like you!