Learning Assistance

Greetings (I should find a Japanese word that fits all times well XD) I have been studying Japanese on my own for several years. I was gifted this program late January 2010 to help further my learning. I have been working really hard to repeat the lessons making sure I understand the words I am hearing. I have downloaded them so I can take them with me when I can't get online. I have printed out copies of the lessons to help me when I need to double check. I am using several other sites and sources such as JPop music, Anime, reading, childrens songs and cartoons in Japanese only. I have tried several games that are in Japanese including the MegaJapanese game. I have even been trying to use my new vocabulary even if I just say it to myself. However, I am still not able to hear a sentence without feeling extremely overwhelmed. I still feel as if the language is completely 'alien' or foreign to me. As for reading I have gotten quite accustomed to the Hirigana (I imagine pictures that match the sounds they make) and managed to learn them all that way in a couple of days. I haven't been able to do that with the Katakana just yet and I am learning a few Kanji here and there. ( I have Anki SLS to assist in these and it helps ) I am looking for children books, songs, games, and stories because I have found that these silly things actually stick in my head better (I use things similar to what is found on genkijapan.net). ***Is there anything that others have been working on that may assist me when I listen to music or anime or other conversational clips?*** Also, when reading I am having troubles defining words from particles or when words start and stop. I am still seeing them as characters and I have to read them extremely slowly out loud before I can begin to make words. ***Will this become less as I continue reading?*** Not being able to see my own progress becomes a bit discouraging at times. So any help in techniques that others are using would be helpful. I know everyone works and learns differently. ^^

Sheepeh-san, Konnichiwa, and thank you for your post. First of all, I'd like to encourage you that you are making progress each day at a time. You may not feel like you are, but surely you are if you're doing all the things you've listed!! I must say that even though Japanese is my native language, it can be quite tricky to explain the language. It seems that you are doing all that you could possible do to improve your Japanese - and that's great! Subarashii! :P It is always a great help if you can speak to a Japanese person - is there someone you may know? By speaking what you have learned and listening to what they say - with a real person in real time - it is certain that your understanding will improve. However, I know that sometimes this is impossible, depending on where you live, and what you do (no time). A great way (which you have already found) to learn Japanese is through MANGA (cartoons). Japanese Manga contain short and witty lines that you would hear in any street of Japan. In terms of learning how to read and write Katakana - post a Katakana table in your toilet!! So that every time you go, you'll be staring at them!! (I often find Japanese learners doing this... and funny enough, it has helped them.) I'll let you know as soon as I come across a source that may help you in your studies. Gambatte! You can do it! - Sayaka :P

[quo]*Quote from * Sayaka In terms of learning how to read and write Katakana - post a Katakana table in your toilet!! So that every time you go, you'll be staring at them!! (I often find Japanese learners doing this... and funny enough, it has helped them.)[/quo] I have never heard of that before, but at the same time would be a good idea... Sadly though I've already mastered hiragana and katakana so I don't really need study them as much as I used to. I still make sure to maintain that mastery since I'm not surrounded by it everyday though. The method I used was the same that I used for hiragana just write it out in kana chart form (as in the columns of A I U E O and the rows of A KA SA TA NA HA MA YA RA WA). A site you may want to check out is readthekanji.com Hiragana, Katakana, and JLPT4 Kanji are free to be used through this program but once you get serious there are some monthly fees attached. I use it to brush up on katakana whenever I need to. It's a great program as it's quite literally scientifically designed flash cards that are aimed at providing the most efficient way to learn something.

Thank you Sayaka and Derek I will try your suggestions. I have the Hirigana well memorized but even though I know こんいちは　is ko-n-ni-chi-wa I still just see symbols. The word itself is still taking a while to understand. More so when reading long strings of Hirigana and Katakana. Having a difficult time taking words from particles. However, I can recognize です　OR 　ですよ　OR 　ですね When I try translating a song myself that I also has English Translations I am similar but a lot of the time miss the meanings completely. But this could be because I saw the romaji instead of the Kanji-Hirigana to translate with. like how leg and feet are same in romaji but different in Kanji. I will keep trying. (^_^)b

Sheepeh-san, It sounds like you have a fairly good grasp of Hiragana - the next step would be to match the Hiragana characters with vocabulary that you know - Start with 2 Hiragana words, such as: いぬ　inu (dog) すし sushi (sushi) いえ　ie (house) And then move on to 3 Hiragana words, such as: にほん　nihon (Japan) でんわ　denwa (telephone) And so on... Say out the words as you write them in Hiragana. -Sayaka :P

Ah ありがとお Sayaka heh XD (don't mind my attempt) I will start working on that as well ^^ I have also started using the website suggested by Derek. I will continue to learn !

がんばってください！ You can do it! -Sayaka :P