if you're offered to learn two other languages instantly..

[QUOTE=" Video_Game_King "]

[QUOTE="Sajedene"]I was surprised at how many people want to learn Japanese. I learned it for my international business cert. Not so I can watch anime that "isnt out here".Vanadium2k8

Question: what the hell should I learn first: alphabet systems or words? I'm not sure where to start.

Start here: www.iknow.co.jp , sign up and go for the Hiragana and Katakana courses - of course the website is not enough, you have to drill those characters into your head, that means a lot of reading and lot of writing :P

It takes time, but shouldn't take longer than two weeks :)

I also recommend reading this site www.alljapaneseallthetime.com, (after reading the intruduction/about page, go to Table of Contents) use it like you would the bible, it's how I went from zero to be able to play Japanese video games without a dictionary within 8 months.

Wait, is this gonna cost money? Or is it just "pretend to read Terms of Use, type in fake personal info, get email, start learning" :P?

Wait, is this gonna cost money? Or is it just "pretend to read Terms of Use, type in fake personal info, get email, start learning" :P?

Video_Game_King

[QUOTE=" Video_Game_King "]

[QUOTE="Sajedene"]I was surprised at how many people want to learn Japanese. I learned it for my international business cert. Not so I can watch anime that "isnt out here".Vanadium2k8

Question: what the hell should I learn first: alphabet systems or words? I'm not sure where to start.

Start here: www.iknow.co.jp , sign up and go for the Hiragana and Katakana courses - of course the website is not enough, you have to drill those characters into your head, that means a lot of reading and lot of writing :P

It takes time, but shouldn't take longer than two weeks :)

I also recommend reading this site www.alljapaneseallthetime.com, (after reading the intruduction/about page, go to Table of Contents) use it like you would the bible, it's how I went from zero to be able to play Japanese video games without a dictionary within 8 months.

Are you learning japanese to SPEAK it or learning it read and write? If you had a good teacher you could learn them together but learning how to read and write japanese symbols isn't going to teach you squat in conversational japanese (Japanese people themselves litter their conversations with english words and slang -- so why is saying apperu wrong when they themselves do so?)Sajedene

Yea, isn't that katakana? Like in their videogamecommercials?

Oh, and I'm sure VGKing doesn't want to sound like your stereotypical American who can't have a proper accent :PVanadium2k8

Who said I was American? And I know how to pronounce certain Japanese words, and can infer as to the others. It's not like I'll read everything as if I was Sarah Palin. "Oh my, what's this? 'Ahk-umm-a'? Well, by golly, don't ya know?" :P

[QUOTE="Vanadium2k8"][QUOTE="Sajedene"] Are you learning japanese to SPEAK it or learning it read and write? If you had a good teacher you could learn them together but learning how to read and write japanese symbols isn't going to teach you squat in conversational japanese (Japanese people themselves litter their conversations with english words and slang -- so why is saying apperu wrong when they themselves do so?)Sajedene

Edit: Also, I don't have a "gaijin" view of Japan - I'm just learning Japanese just how I learnt English - and it's gotten me to where I want to be faster (8 months) than traditional classes would have taken (~10 years)

[QUOTE="Vanadium2k8"]Oh, and I'm sure VGKing doesn't want to sound like your stereotypical American who can't have a proper accent :PVideo_Game_King

Who said I was American? And I know how to pronounce certain Japanese words, and can infer as to the others. It's not like I'll read everything as if I was Sarah Palin. "Oh my, what's this? 'Ahk-umm-a'? Well, by golly, don't ya know?" :P

[QUOTE="Vanadium2k8"]Oh, and I'm sure VGKing doesn't want to sound like your stereotypical American who can't have a proper accent :PVideo_Game_King

Who said I was American? And I know how to pronounce certain Japanese words, and can infer as to the others. It's not like I'll read everything as if I was Sarah Palin. "Oh my, what's this? 'Ahk-umm-a'? Well, by golly, don't ya know?" :P

[QUOTE="Video_Game_King"]

[QUOTE="Vanadium2k8"]Oh, and I'm sure VGKing doesn't want to sound like your stereotypical American who can't have a proper accent :PGerrywithaG15

Who said I was American? And I know how to pronounce certain Japanese words, and can infer as to the others. It's not like I'll read everything as if I was Sarah Palin. "Oh my, what's this? 'Ahk-umm-a'? Well, by golly, don't ya know?" :P

The afterlife has the Internet, you know. Unfortunately, it hasn't answered any of my questions on learning Japanese :P.

[QUOTE="Video_Game_King"]

[QUOTE="Vanadium2k8"]Oh, and I'm sure VGKing doesn't want to sound like your stereotypical American who can't have a proper accent :PVanadium2k8

Who said I was American? And I know how to pronounce certain Japanese words, and can infer as to the others. It's not like I'll read everything as if I was Sarah Palin. "Oh my, what's this? 'Ahk-umm-a'? Well, by golly, don't ya know?" :P

I'm guessing the SH is just like in the title of Shin-Chan. Yes, I'm basing my understanding of the Japanese language on a juvenile Japanese cartoon shown on Adult Swim :P.

[QUOTE="Vanadium2k8"][QUOTE="Video_Game_King"]

Who said I was American? And I know how to pronounce certain Japanese words, and can infer as to the others. It's not like I'll read everything as if I was Sarah Palin. "Oh my, what's this? 'Ahk-umm-a'? Well, by golly, don't ya know?" :P

Video_Game_King

I'm guessing the SH is just like in the title of Shin-Chan. Yes, I'm basing my understanding of the Japanese language on a juvenile Japanese cartoon shown on Adult Swim :P.

French and Tagalog.greenprince

[QUOTE="greenprince"]French and Tagalog.Vandalvideo

Question: what the hell should I learn first: alphabet systems or words? I'm not sure where to start. Video_Game_King

You Japanophiles really annoy me! Why do so many people want to learn Japanese even though its only spoken in Japan, which is not a big place, as you know. How about learning a practical language instead of wanting to be able to understand lame cartoons. Weaboo'spushrhymes

My second choice is German, because I'd like to live there for a while too.

Mandarin and Hindi.

I already know English, Italian and French. Although Spanish would be useful.

German and Japanese.

btw a lot of Japanophiles in this thread :? it's a difficult language to learn yourself, though.clembo1990

German and Japanese.OrianaDorta

These two. I'm learning German now.