I like Japan. I like those unique inner-city fashions. I like the inner-city vibe altogether. I like anime.
What am I? (an orange? NO, try again)
I really want to learn the language, but the language is confusing to learn. I think that there are multiple character sets, or alphabets, or something along those multiple lines that keeps me from starting (to learn the language). This is why I want to talk about Japon.
What am I? (a tree? NO, try again)
Okay, so lets say that you have an individual who likes Jopan, where should he start to learn the language? Honestly it's so that I can read Japanese websites (concerned with anime).
Are you a pomegranate?
First, read this:
http://pepper.idge.net/japanese/
Then, poke around here:
www.thejapanesepage.com
Have fun!
>>http://pepper.idge.net/japanese/
That was hilarious!
Since I do not feel like reiterating, I'll simply show you the response I gave to another user to further educate you on Japan.
In Japanese society, foreigners are commonly made fun of, rejected, and overall treated in a highly different manner than another Japanese. Japanese people also do not watch a lot of anime at all, nor do they typically read much manga, and "otakus" are commonly rejected and criticized as well.
While I can not speak for everyone, I must say that, as someone who is pursuing Japanese and Asian studies as a major, "otakus" frequently get in the way and are an overall nuisance. Even so, I do not mind them, and have befriended many of them. But when it comes time to get down to business, I'd rather not have that constant fly buzzing around my ear, or bumps in the table as I'm trying to write (speaking figuratively, of course).
I have been studying Japanese for over seven years now. I first started studying by myself, before I moved and took it in school, skipping past the first level. I am now in Japanese III Honors, and taking AP Japanese next year (skipping Japanese IV).
Working at a comic store, there is an infinitesimal door available for you to be able to go to Akiba. Not only would you have to learn the language to get anywhere economically there, but you'd also have to adjust and adapt, which isn't as easy as it sounds. At all.
Furthermore, Japan is an expensive place to live. Expensive. There is also a high demand for housing, as well as the different houses. Since Japan has a government like Britain, it is divided into classes. This is why the rich people normally have big houses, and the average businessman (even if he may be considered highly successful) has an apartment or condominium.
To give you a short walkthrough, you would have to learn the language and culture, starting from before or at the time you start high school. Then you would have to take part in several or many activities which show your eagerness to learn and take part in Japanese and its studies. You would need to keep your GPA up, find a nice college, get accepted, shine more than the other students there, take the college courses (obviously), major in something related to Japanese such as Asian Studies, as well as Japanese in Graduate school. You should also study abroad sometime during college. Then, after all of that, you would have to find a way of getting the money for a ticket to Japan, living expenses, transportation, etc. as well as getting to know the area immediately, seeing as how you'll need a place to live.
While you may think that just because you have a strong will towards going to Japan, there are many obstacles that stand in your way, and most of them depend on time, and then academics and money. Furthermore, a great amount of logic and common sense is needed, as well as flexibility.
Even though you want to go to Japan, there are far too many things that you won't expect. You obviously haven't even begun to scratch the surface of even the slightest knowledge of what Japan actually is yet, and, even if you do manage to make it there, the chances of you leading a better life both depend on your past actions (college, etc.) and availability. Japan is very busy, very busy. Most businessmen work so much, they basically commute home.
Therefore, if you truly want to live in Akiba, you better hope you have family ties there. Especially considering your attitude towards learning the language. When you take on this objective, there is no room nor time for being pompous.
You haven't really answered his question =S
>>Okay, so lets say that you have an individual who likes Jopan, where should he start to learn the language? Honestly it's so that I can read Japanese websites (concerned with anime).
If he wants to be able to read Japanese websites, and is motivated to study the language, he could probably pick up a fairly good working knowledge in 2 years of self study, possibly less. He might even be able to pick up enough listening skills to watch raw anime in that time.
You don't need graduate school Japanese to read http://www.ichigomashimaro.com/
As for where to start, >>3 is a good place.
>nor do they typically read much manga
wrong.
don't people read manga like people read the newpaper funnies in america?
>>4
That page completely obliterated my small, hardly-even-there desire to learn Japanese.
Then I read the author's note. Argh fck u now I want to lrn2/japan again :'(
>>10
more, since it's good way to pass time commuting to/fro work.
Yeah, that article is annoying. Straight sarcasm just isn't that funny.
Everyone knows Nihon-go is the r0xXur5.
I guess compared to the otaku-hikkis who frequent 4chan, one could say that about anyone.
>>17
That site uses a lot of kanji. Which self-study doesn't really help a lot lot with. Because it's self-study, you, yourself, have to be almost the epitome of disciplined to learn at a decent pace. Because there is no real immediate motivation, it is extremely easy to slack off even the slightest bit, which gets in the way of learning more complex things such as kanji.
True, you do need a lot of discipline to teach yourself. However, I did say that "IF he is motivated" he could pick up a fairly good working knowledge of the language in 2 years. I think that's an entirely possible scenario. I don't think you have to be the EPITOME of disciplined, just motivated.
Kanji aren't much harder than any other aspect of the language, if you get over the fear of them. Using a system like Heiseg's would speed up your progress, IMO to the point where 2 years self-study would give you a solid grounding in a lot of the jouyou kanji.
>>19
The keyword there was "almost," which you obviously missed. I studied by myself for over two years and treated Japanese as a high priority, but it's still wasn't anything compared to learning in the classroom. I didn't say you can't learn kanji when learning independently, but I can say that you most likely won't learn much, unless you know how to teach as well.
The hell? Learning kanji only involves two things:
1) figuring out the radical system
2) lots of mindless drilling
It's of course helpful if you have someone to explain #1 to you, but any kanji dictionary will do that. And #2 is probably better done on your own than with a teacher.
>>21
And drilling is a lot easier if you have more motivation than you would if you were doing it alone, such as...I don't know...A test? Yeah.
I did learn kanji on my own, but it's still hard, and a lot harder for people who aren't very disciplined.
There is also some degree of knowledge on how to teach that is required, obviously.
Tests help, though, especially when they're actually being graded. It does vary by person, but if there is an option between a class and self-study, the class is almost always the better choice.
The fact remains that your rant in >>6 has nothing to do with the OP, who said nothing about living in Japan.
Regarding language-learning and kanji study, I think we both agree that you do need to be motivated, and disciplined. And obviously a class is much better than doing it on your own.
But doing it on your own isn't =that= hard. =3
hajimemashite. I hope you have a good time learning japanese. my dad is asian, he lived there and mostly the place is awesome. they love gaijin and english language.
>>24 and your mother? probably not. so you are an outcast.
>>23
There are still points in there that are relevant. I didn't post it as a direct response, but as a reiteration of something I had previously said to another individual regarding Japan, but he wanted to live there, and that's why the focus is directed in that directon.
Manga is pretty big in Japan. It's a multi-billion dollar global market. Some manga magazines sell several million copies each week.
Pickup Japanese for Everyone or the Genki books if you're really serious about learning Japanese. Also, get a few mangas that have furigana, like Death Note.
My dad lived in Japan as a youngling, my grandfather was proly anti Japanese, my grandfather came to the US to tell the americans how the japs were killing our people, funny how we're chinese but we're all into Japan, like my brother he's going to move to Japan.
I've been teaching myself Japanese for about a year, I can read kana and speak a little Japanese.
I used to want to live there because it seemed like a cool place, but to tell you the truth I wouldn't move there.
Well I want to be a doctor certified in the US then move to Japan. And I think I am NOT an Otaku because I have only seen 4 animes and I am not addicticted to them. I know how to speak Japanese (thanks to Genki I and II) the only problem for me would be relearning the medical terms in Japanese. Anything I should know about?
>>30 hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
This post is hilarious and I highly recommend that everyone read it
P.S Weeaboo
>>30
You should know that Japanese people would rather go to a Japanese doctor than an American doctor. Also, in Japan doctors/dentists etc. aren't ridiculously overpriced like they are in the U.S., so you probably won't be rolling in cash （´∀｀）
"レ淫同盟" means world peace in knowledge which a Japanese tourist needs.