Best ways to learn Japanese?

[Tkmi]

Listening while sleeping? Lol reminds me of Dexter's Omelette du fromage.

[DannyBoy]

Originally Posted by Artillis

Actually psychologists have proven that the learning method of listening to something while sleeping does not work. It's a pipe dream, literally. And no I'm not pulling that out of my butt, it was discussed in part of the learning section in my physiology class I took last semester. I could probably dig it up from my psychology text book which I still have, but I'm lazy.

At any rate the quickest way to learn would probably know a little bit and have someone else that knows the language well and is willing too talk to / teach you on a daily basis. Repetition and constant usage / exposure goes a long way.

Thinking about it I think it's amazing how babies learn to speak a language just by hearing it over time. I think the desire to want to be able to communicate and interact with their environment and be understood when they need something is a huge driving factor. Now if only we could do the same thing to all the illegal immigrants from Mexico who think the national language in the country they "invaded" is Spanish.

Aye. The brain doesn't take in new information while sleeping. The sleeping/learning link is to do with the brain making recent things it's learned automated/hardwired.

Learning things like we did as kids is impossible though. (rare cases aside)
The brain goes through physical changes as we age. A blank canvas can be turned into anything at first but after about 13 years in "sponge mode", the foundations are set in stone and the learning curve starts growing.
That's why someone can still sound foreign after speaking a language for 15 years. The speech centre was built on a different system all those years ago and it won't change unless you actually focus massive effort on it.

I speak 2 languages, English and Finnish, both in perfect native accents but only because I learned it at 7 years old.

[Gozmit]

Start when your young.

[XxZoeyxX]

Watch Animes
Go to Japan (if it's possible)
Learn japanese from Youtube

[devils]

get japanese citizenship. after that they will program the language right into your head with their technology

[Fireflyy]

Watch anime

[detka]

Originally Posted by DannyBoy

Move to japan.. You'll have no choice in the matter. You learn real quick when you have to.

I know many native english speakers who dont learn japanese, theres an american guy whos married with a japanese woman, living here for 15 years, he doesnt speak japanese at all =D

[blahjoeii]

Originally Posted by Artillis

Now if only we could do the same thing to all the illegal immigrants from Mexico who think the national language in the country they "invaded" is Spanish.

well thats rude lol

[blahjoeii]

move to japan ya

[Stone-Free]

Originally Posted by Artillis

Actually psychologists have proven that the learning method of listening to something while sleeping does not work. It's a pipe dream, literally. And no I'm not pulling that out of my butt, it was discussed in part of the learning section in my physiology class I took last semester. I could probably dig it up from my psychology text book which I still have, but I'm lazy.

At any rate the quickest way to learn would probably know a little bit and have someone else that knows the language well and is willing too talk to / teach you on a daily basis. Repetition and constant usage / exposure goes a long way.

Thinking about it I think it's amazing how babies learn to speak a language just by hearing it over time. I think the desire to want to be able to communicate and interact with their environment and be understood when they need something is a huge driving factor. Now if only we could do the same thing to all the illegal immigrants from Mexico who think the national language in the country they "invaded" is Spanish.

Great post. I just took psychology recently and I figure the cone of learning is very applicable. We remember 90% of what we do and say. So just as you said, repetition and consistent interacting is the best route to take.


Aside from that, I've been given a pimsleur cd, basic japanese and 30 minute lessons each. You're supposed to listen to it every day and surely enough I followed the instructions and had no problem with what I was taught and it has increased my ear in detecting the meaning behind things when watching anime.