General tips?

[haitch40]

I am currently learning Japanese through my uni despite not being in Japan yet so I would like some tips on how to improve.

[sharpinthefang]

Practice, Practice, Practice.

[Jiggit]

Practice, Practice, Practice.

Yeah I'm sure that he never thought of that.

[sharpinthefang]

Yeah I'm sure that he never thought of that.

He never asked for specific advice.

[Zolrak 22]

Form a study group, get a pen pal. Use www.lang-8.com, natives fix your sentences and you can usually get a language partner as well. There's a bunch of Japanese people willing to Skype there.

Use repetition software such as Aniki to memorize vocabulary.

Let's see what else... Depending on your skill level, you can probably read either children's books or news sites.

I remember there being a website for reading according to level, but can't quite remember its name.

[Ini]

make sure its japanese you are learning, too darn easy to spend 15 years on it only to discover you were learning korean by mistake.

[haitch40]

make sure its japanese you are learning, too darn easy to spend 15 years on it only to discover you were learning korean by mistake.

Well the guy who runs the lessons is a native so I damn hope he speaks Japanese.

[Antonath]

Well the guy who runs the lessons is a native so I damn hope he speaks Japanese.

[ALTInsiderFY]

Cut out English from your life as much as you can. Drown in Japanese. It will be tough at first but its honestly the fastest way. It still will take years though, no matter what some websites say. I pm'ed you a link to get you started. Good luuck. And seriously make sure your learning Japanese and not Korean, I've seen that create broken homes and orphaned seals.

[Gizmotech]

It'll take me you years but I know two people who got n1 level (with convo) after two years of study and practice here in Japan

[haitch40]

Cut out English from your life as much as you can. Drown in Japanese. It will be tough at first but its honestly the fastest way. It still will take years though, no matter what some websites say. I pm'ed you a link to get you started. Good luuck. And seriously make sure your learning Japanese and not Korean, I've seen that create broken homes and orphaned seals.

I can't cut out English yet. I live in England.

[ALTInsiderFY]

I know AROUND you is English but you can change that environment. Here's some quick ways:

Going outside of your house? Put on headphones with Japanese songs, podcasts, or movies playing. I had Battle Royale on my phone constantly for a long time.
Inside your house? Change your OS to Japanese, ALWAYS have a Japanese show/anime/movie on your computer/TV, put up a Kanji poster.
Are you a student? write as many of your notes in Japanese as you can, even if its just the headings or chapter title or whatever. In between classes, you didn't forget your headphones right?

It's all about how bad, and how fast you want to get used to Japanese. The more you do, the faster it is.

[haitch40]

I know AROUND you is English but you can change that environment. Here's some quick ways:

Going outside of your house? Put on headphones with Japanese songs, podcasts, or movies playing. I had Battle Royale on my phone constantly for a long time.
Inside your house? Change your OS to Japanese, ALWAYS have a Japanese show/anime/movie on your computer/TV, put up a Kanji poster.
Are you a student? write as many of your notes in Japanese as you can, even if its just the headings or chapter title or whatever. In between classes, you didn't forget your headphones right?

It's all about how bad, and how fast you want to get used to Japanese. The more you do, the faster it is.

Ok that sounds good.

Got the music down as I became a TMR fan over the summer.
Kanji I need to learn for my exam in January anyway.
I could try to write notes in Japanese but I doubt I can do much at this stage. I can't really write about political or international theory in a language I am still learning the basics of.
Same with OS. I do have the Japanese language installed so I sometimes type it but I think it will be hard to find my way around the computer at this stage. Maybe when I have studied a little more.

Yeah I'm sure that he never thought of that.

I didn't the first half of last year. I was lazy with my studying and went into an exam not even knowing half the kana. That taught me swiftly how much of an idiot I was for not studying.

[ALTInsiderFY]

As for the notes, just your name and subject is fine. Of course you can't write the tough stuff YET. You will one day though.
TMR is sweet, I like this song, not TMR but from the singer. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNE93dieQF4)
For the OS, that's fine to wait, but waiting till your ready for everything will make you never be ready so be careful.

Sounds like your on the way though. Have fun!

[Ini]

Having an anime constantly playing on your computer and listening to "TMR" is a great tip. You'll have plenty of time to study once everyone has started avoiding you like the plague.....

[ALTInsiderFY]

Lol. Fine. If AKB is what floats your boat AKB it is then.

[Jiggit]

There is no good Japanese music.

I would actually like someone to prove me wrong.

[ALTInsiderFY]

Well we all know what opinions are like, but some stand outs for me in various genres...

Rock: One OK Rock - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh9yZWeTmVM
Chill: - Dragon Ash - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmEQHjM8Ivo
Metal: Blood Stain Child - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjTXeJZM8wg
Epic: Chrono Cross - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ595N9NZVg
Feels - Ayumi Hamasaki - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ__n_uBwUQ

Maybe there is something there for you?

[Ini]

thanks grandma, have you got anything thats been cool in the last few years?

[ALTInsiderFY]

First I was asked to show some cool music. Now I'm asked for FRESH new music lol. Aight Ini, here's one for ya, brand spankin'.

Baby Metal - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKDFWi8eb0A



ok that was a joke.

How about this? Its a pretty good song, just ignore the video. They are wearing rapper clothes for no reason.
Rock
http://youtu.be/qtSj-n7Haow?list=PLC...pjM6Jkb4FeNN_r