Where to start?

[hobbs]

Ok.. i really wanna learn japanese because
1- its just plainly a cool language to know
2- i love japanese culture
3- would help in playing japanese games or watching japanese anime
4- i wanna learn another language. hehe

im currently 16, so im still young enough to learn a new language quite fast (they say the younger you are the easier it is to learn a new language)

i have a japanese - english dictionary, with english to japanese words (in japanese text). so im guessing that will help.
but where to start? hehe. i wanna learn! :D

Also is there any programs i can get for my computer to help?

[orka]

I would highly recommend you to take some classes (if offered in your school or elsewhere). Many people try to pick it up on their own by watching Japanese moveis, reading books, etc. -- which works to certain extent. But if you want to learn grammar structures and mechanics the proper way, I would definitely recommend you to enroll in a class and learn under somebody with good understanding of the Japanese language.

[poncho]

Class is good. And don't fall for the myth that it's harder to learn languages as you get older; that's absolutely, totally wrong. It's backwards, in fact; adults are better equipped for learning languages than children, since they can understand them at a more abstract level. The problem is bashfulness -- adults hesitate to put themselves in situations where they must speak a new language for fear of looking like an idiot, while children always look like idiots anyway, so they just go ahead and do it. :p

[hobbs]

.. there are no classes in my school for such a thing, nor in anywhere where i live.
i watch tons of japanese movies, with japanese audio, and subs.. it dosnt seem to help.. ^^"..

[655321]

movies would be too advanced, get started with one of those 'Learn Japanese' types of books preferably one that comes with CD, there were quite a few on Amazon.com.

for your PC, JWP Japanese word processor. I've been using it for many years, its FREE.

http://www.cyberis.net/~nicholso/jwp/
http://www.udel.edu/fllt/mediactr/doc_jwp.html

[Shunko]

Hmmm...how about "tango"s for a start? Also, I think short words like greetings are pretty good for a beginner...

[tranquil00]

You still have a long way to go. I think that there are a lot of media on internet that can help you to learn this language even from the beginning ( Please see the link below ).

http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/japanese.html

If you are sure that you can plan and control yourself, you can study it by yourself. If you are not sure about that, please let someone plan and help you, I mean, you should enroll in some class.

[hobbs]

like i said earlier, class's are not possible where i am.

thanks for all ya help all! :D

[maohayato]

you can always wait a few years and go to university to take a course in japanese. But I guess you aren't considering to wait.

[egtirello]

since you can't get a formal class.: you can find some books & utils here in the tools section, I recomend you the pilmseur Japanese course(90 lessons in 3 levels) , is very good to start a learning program in order ( you can dl from here I think, not sure) there is the roseta stone too, but I've not tried that one so I can't give you details, If you really are interested my recomendation is gather all the material you can in the net( books, courses, etc.) and study follow an order, dont try to translate a movie or an anime after two lessons, this take a while, gambatte ne

[ghost333]

since you can't get a formal class.: you can find some books & utils here in the tools section, I recomend you the pilmseur Japanese course(90 lessons in 3 levels) , is very good to start a learning program in order ( you can dl from here I think, not sure) there is the roseta stone too, but I've not tried that one so I can't give you details, If you really are interested my recomendation is gather all the material you can in the net( books, courses, etc.) and study follow an order, dont try to translate a movie or an anime after two lessons, this take a while, gambatte ne

i want to learn too japanize and a class is not possible where i am
about this program can you be a litlte more specific (where to find ,name?)
thx anyway

[drkazndragon]

i found this website helpful to some extent http://www.learn-japanese.info/

[breaks]

:( I'm in the same place.

It is very frustrating and annoying to learn the language without anybody to speak to.

From my experience (I'm you in a year :) ) I suggest you search amazon.com and read reviews on one book that you can start to learn from. I have "Colloquial Japanese" by Noboru Inamoto. And I think you should get some of those audio tapes (for pronounciation,) but since you watch anime and japanese this-and-that your pronounciation should be good. This should be obvious, but pace yourself. Do something each day, but don't burn yourself out.

:( A Japanese language class costs so much. And my stupid college doesn't even have Japanese.

[Shintarou]

Konnichiwa. Hajimemashite! Boku no "Nick" namae wa Shintarou desu. Doozo yoroshiku. Boku wa mada nihongo wo benkyou suru. Nihongo ga daisuki da. Boku wa jyuunana desu. Nihongo de hanashitai?

Anyways, im also learning japanese, and im kind of stuck on it. I dont know at what point I should start, like in what order should I memorize things. If you know of any free lesson based online sources, or heck, if you know japanese and can impart your knowledge on another, please do so XD

[noxy]

hm, the best way i found to learn any language (including japanese) is to get a girlfriend :p
no, seriously just get a japanese girlfriend and u'll learn 10 times faster. of course u still need to get some courses one way or another but it helps A LOT and u'll always be happy to practice the language. in the same way u wont fear speaking as it s ur girlfriend ^_^
btw : yes, i love japanese girls, japan and yes she is japanese

[mudmaniac]

お宅の場合はどう？

mostly its just practice. and truly a girlfriend would be good practice. if you can get one.

[howzitboy]

there are computer programs that teach it too. i saw some at compusa. that might work nicely too.

[painsama]

Recently I found this japanese grammar website:

http://www.guidetojapanese.org/

Nice website though.

[D3v1Lx]

how bout learning it while ur watching j-anime?? have ur japanese - english dictionary beside u and use it when u need it.... my friend learn japanese quickly from it....