I've been learning Japanese on and off for about 4 years, but only properly got into it this past year. I know there's a lot of people who'd like to learn for whatever reason, and with a completely different alphabetical system it does seem a bit daunting, but I thought I'd share my thoughts on learning a new language.

Getting Started

Firstthings first, you need to know why you're getting into this and how much time you're willing to commit. If "for poops and giggles" is on top of the list, you probably don't need as an intensive course as say someone who's emigrating within a few months. If you want to read manga, it's best to stick to learning kanji, whereas someone who'd like to just chat in Japanese would need to put some time into learning slang and idioms.

Right, essentials:

1. Learn hiragana and katakana

Even if you're focusing on speaking and listening, learning the basic Japanese alphabets can prove invaluable, especially as you advance. I learnt by using KanaTest, a free program on Ubuntu, and using Kana Flashcards.

2. Find your ideal method of learning

Some of the more lucky amongst us have the ability to look at a book once and remember it forever. Most others it takes more time, and different ways of inputting data show different results. Pretty pictures, sound bytes or even word play can make us learn better or worse. I personally prefer giving meaning and pictures when learning.

3. Get some material

With the internet and television as good as it is nowadays there's little reason to not start learning. Everything from Google to YouTube can give you some fantastic results. If you prefer having physical copies, there are plenty of books out too and a dictionary, even if it's a small one, is an essential.

I personally mostly use Smart.fm which is fantastic and you can easily sign up just using your Facebook or Twitter account. When you get more advanced, or if you just fancy trying your hand at it, using Anki and Remembering the Kanji is a great way of drilling kanji into your head.

Benkyoushimasu

Starting out can be difficult. In order to get the best learning experience it is best to learn hiragana (used for Japanese words) and katakana (used for foreign words) which will take time in itself. Sort of like an uphill climb, once you read a certain point in your reading the rest picks up momentum and you run with it.

There really is no fixed stage in which you shouldbe at after a certain amount of time. My own mother speaks fluent French and German, and enough Spanish to have a basic conversation, and she learnt to do so in a very short space of time. On the other hand, there are families in my area who only speak Punjabi/Polish/Hindi with little to no English and have been living here for 12-15 years. Don't force yourself to be ultra fluent in a month or you'll tire yourself out. Instead do what's fun and go at your own pace.

Try to aim for at least 10-30 mins a day, casually. If you're really into it, go for an hour.

A friend of mine, who ended up living in Japan for a year, did what's called immersion. Everything he did, he did it in Japanese. He watched Japanese shows, read Japanese news and listened to Japanese music. He immersed himself in the language and has come out almost fluent. I found a similar experience with French. Sat in a stuffy cIassroom repeating words the teacher said got me a D grade in French GCSE. I didn't enjoy it as a lesson and I didn't enjoy it as a language. However on holiday in France I found myself speaking it fairly well

Personally I've just changed little things - switched my PS3 and Windows 7 to Japanese language, put Smart.fm as my homepage, and count in Japanese (always fun to confuse cashiers with).

Hints and Tips

As I've said, make it fun. If you enjoy anime, watch anime and try to listen out for random words or sayings you know. Reading? Go onto Google News and change it to Japanese. I'm currently translating (very, very slowly) the first volume of Yotsuba& (known as Yotsubato). On Anki one of the first kanji it asks you to learn is for "fish guts"...which I barely use in English so why it's prioritised over "to look" I don't know. Learn what you need and more importantly what you want.

Don't get too caught up in learning pages and pages of words. Grammar is just as important.

Try to look at how you know your own language and apply the same logic to learning Japanese. You don't need to learn what an "indirect passive noun" is to know how to use it.

Quotes

"The best time to do something worthwhile is between yesterday and tomorrow."

"An ALT (assistant language tutor) in Osaka used to think he could get beef jerky from his local combini...until he learnt the kanji for 'horse meat'..."

"It's not the language. It's not you. It's your habitual behavior."