Learning Japanese?

[Bliss]

Does anybody of a fast or easy way to learn how to read/write/speak Japanese?

 

[C Namikaze14]

Take Japanese classes. o-o

 

[Gutsy]

Dude easiest way is just to take the classes. there is no easier way.

 

[Train]

And you can test yourself by watching anime. : D

 

[UchihaBrat]

Taking classes is the easiest way if you don't live in Japan, you get to practice pronunciation as well as Kanji along with grammar.
What you want to do though, if you have the time and the money, is to go to Japan and take classes there, I think some organisations organize these kinds of exchange years.
This is for the best since you will basically be forced to speak Japanese.

 

[Sasunarufan13]

Like mentioned above, the best way to learn Japanese is to attend classes. Though I have to warn you that it won't be as easy as say learning German or French. I know that because I'm studying Japanese now at a university. You have to give up a lot of free time if you want to do well in your Japanese classes - unless you're very intelligent then it won't take much time learning all the vocabulary, grammar, hiragana, katakana and kanji LOL
And indeed a way to test your knowledge is watching anime or Japanese manga or magazines if you get your hands on them.
Anyway, good luck and have fun

 

[UchihaBrat]

Like mentioned above, the best way to learn Japanese is to attend classes. Though I have to warn you that it won't be as easy as say learning German or French. I know that because I'm studying Japanese now at a university. You have to give up a lot of free time if you want to do well in your Japanese classes - unless you're very intelligent then it won't take much time learning all the vocabulary, grammar, hiragana, katakana and kanji LOL
And indeed a way to test your knowledge is watching anime or Japanese manga or magazines if you get your hands on them.
Anyway, good luck and have fun

There's a catch in learning from watching/reading anime/manga. Unless combined with learning grammar and use of the language, one won't understand the difference between different forms etc., something which is quite important. On the other hand anime and manga has variety, lots of different examples, ways of speaking etc.!

 

[Sasunarufan13]

There's a catch in learning from watching/reading anime/manga. Unless combined with learning grammar and use of the language, one won't understand the difference between different forms etc., something which is quite important. On the other hand anime and manga has variety, lots of different examples, ways of speaking etc.!

That's why I said it's best to take classes. I use anime as a way to check how much I already understand. Of course if you're just learning it from anime, then it's going to be very difficult but if you use it as a tool to check your progress then it can be a great help.
But taking classes is really the best way to learn it.

 

[Bliss]

I don't have the time to go out and take classes. :/

 

[UchihaBrat]

That's why I said it's best to take classes. I use anime as a way to check how much I already understand. Of course if you're just learning it from anime, then it's going to be very difficult but if you use it as a tool to check your progress then it can be a great help.
But taking classes is really the best way to learn it.

Agreed, for checking it is good to a certain extent.
How do you go about learning Kanji? Is it all just practice, practice, practice?

I don't have the time to go out and take classes. :/

Then learn it when you have time, because it will take time.

 

[Sasunarufan13]

Agreed, for checking it is good to a certain extent.
How do you go about learning Kanji? Is it all just practice, practice, practice?

Then learn it when you have time, because it will take time.

Yeah, learning Kanji is all about practice. You have the ones you have to learn to write active so using them in the text (I think there are about 2000-2500 active kanji words that I need to learn how to draw) and then you have the passive kanji where you only need to know how to read and pronounce them. I have to admit that besides some parts of the grammar, kanji are the most difficult ones to learn but that's my opinion.
And well, if you don't make time for Japanese, then I wouldn't start on it because it takes up a lot of your free time if you want to study it seriously. It's not something you learn in just a year

 

[UchihaBrat]

Yeah, learning Kanji is all about practice. You have the ones you have to learn to write active so using them in the text (I think there are about 2000-2500 active kanji words that I need to learn how to draw) and then you have the passive kanji where you only need to know how to read and pronounce them. I have to admit that besides some parts of the grammar, kanji are the most difficult ones to learn but that's my opinion.
And well, if you don't make time for Japanese, then I wouldn't start on it because it takes up a lot of your free time if you want to study it seriously. It's not something you learn in just a year

Haaa~ It's as my teacher says then 'In Japan, when we learn Kanji; we practice, practice and practice" U_U Guess there's no helping it!
Hmm, yes, there are lots of Kanji to learn and my teach said once that when you know how to read a newspapers, then you can more or less say you know enough.. I have a long way to go..
Thank you for your long and detailed answer!

 

[Sasunarufan13]

My sensei said exactly the same thing She says that when you can read a newspaper, you can practically understand everything. Guess it's something every sensei says to their students LOL
No problem, I'm glad I could give you an answer ^^

 

[Train]

I don't have the time to go out and take classes. :/

Same here - so I've currently been learning through books from my library, certain websites, and also an app. Anime also expands my vocabulary, but as Uchihabrat says, learning completely through anime won't help when it comes to learning the different forms of speaking in Japanese.

Best thing are classes though. Much more thorough, proper, and much more faster.

Also - Some people learn Kanji after they learn basic grammar / how to speak and write (in Hiragan/katakana) IMO, you should learn Kanji as you go. Don't leave it till last, that's a ton of dull memorizing in one go.