Best way to learn a new language?

[Beev]

I have a client coming in from Japan in about a month. I know zero Japanese. What's the best way to learn it at a reasonable pace? I don't necessarily need to have it mastered when he comes, but if he ends up going with our company then I would be doing a lot of visits to Japan and it would help me a lot. Any help is appreciated.

 

[maximus maximus]

just learn a few greetings, like

hello
how are you?
goodbye

Most importantly, learn how to say OMGWTFBBQ in japanese.

Good luck man.

 

[Beev]

I'll have to order something like that if I go there.

"Yes I'd like the OMGWTFBBQ chicken, please"

 

[lokiju]

Rosetta Stone Software is supposed to be the best from what I've heard.

 

[gwlam12]

Get a language partner.

 

[rhino56]

ive found the fastest way to learn a new language is to just make one up. kin sow verdy honarable meek too

 

[Beev]

Originally posted by: gwlam12
Get a language partner.

How would I go about this? I don't even know where to look.

I'll look into that Rosetta Stone software and see how it goes.

 

[apologetic]

Originally posted by: Sraaz

Originally posted by: gwlam12
Get a language partner.

How would I go about this? I don't even know where to look.

I'll look into that Rosetta Stone software and see how it goes.

This is the best advice. Check out local colleges for tutors. I've even seen ads placed on craigslist for lanaguage tutors.

 

[DaWhim]

rosetta stone.

 

[jagec]

Go to a Japanese restaurant, and order the bukkake.

 

[Aztech]

I've seen recommendations for Pimsleur products in other foreign language threads...

 

[axelfox]

craigslist

 

[fire400]

simple, all you have to do is study.

books

software

people

-in addition to that, remember to use memory aids

-oh yeah, buy or borrow from the library, get the starter ed. books and move up the chain of healthy learning to more advance categories of the languate like words to sentence structuring to learning how to talk in more formal ways.

 

[Mill]

The absolute best is a language schools. Books, programs, etc will never give you exposure to native speakers.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: jagec
Go to a Japanese restaurant, and order the bukkake.

If you ordered bukkake in Japan you'll get udon (or soba depending on the region) noodles with just some stuff on in. It just means "thrown on".

My experience has been that Rosetta Stone will teach you some basic structures and a words, you may not necessarily learn the correct grammar at first. Pimsleur seems to focus more on phrases, like traditional language courses.

 

[Evander]

pimsleur cds or tapes are the best i've used, check your local libraries first as they are expensive to buy the complete sets (but they have a high resale value).

Also- the "instant immersion" cd's they sell at best buy for $5 are suprisingly really good. i bought the chinese one- cd1 is mostly vocab buildup and haven't used cd2 yet but it is supposed to get more complex.

My advice- get instant immersion cd first, if you complete that move on to pimsleur. if they don't have pimsleur at your local library, they have slimmed down "travel editions" that are cheap (maybe $20 - $30). If you like what these have to offer, I believe they gave you a discount on the full versions should you choose to upgrade to them.

For japanese textbooks, Japanese for Busy People and "Minna no Nihongo" are good starter series (Japanese for Busy People is easier to get into (less drills, less grammar, lesser reading skills needed), Minna no Nihongo is widely used in Japan as a text).

 

[sunase]

Make sure it involves audio. You'll never get their r/l sound right without it. Getting the changing pitch levels correct for each word is important as well. It is needed to distinguish between some words (hana could mean nose or flower, hashi can be bridge or chopsticks, etc.), but more importantly makes your speech easier to understand even when there aren't similar words. Also keep in mind that some Japanese people don't want to humor you by listening to bad Japanese.

 

[Reckoner]

Rosetta Stone = $$$$

 

[uberman]

Read it phonetically and your speaking japanese.
[http://store.doverpublications.com/0486208079.html]

Good reference for themes, even verbs.
[http://www.us.oup.com/us/catalog/genera...ictionaries/?view=usa&ci=9780194351904]

Rosetta Stone:
[http://www.rosettastone.com/en/individuals/languages/japanese]

Learning another language is a large undertaking. These will help. Products have been listed by more bang for the buck. Rosetta Stone is good, but not perfect. We all have different learning styles etc.

Main point is how serious are you and how much time do you want to spend.

The best way would be to work one on one with a college educated native speaker.

 

[Beev]

Wow, that Rosetta Stone set is quite pricey. I'll look into pretty much everything everyone recommended. Thanks a ton, guys.

 

[uberman]

Originally posted by: Sraaz
Wow, that Rosetta Stone set is quite pricey. I'll look into pretty much everything everyone recommended. Thanks a ton, guys.

You don't really need money. This is not something you throw money at. You need time, commitment, and motivation. I get by in several languages. I'm doing Russian now with Rosetta Stone, but lack the time. Take the cheaper options and you may use voip or similar to develop mastery by chatting with someone interested in learning Engish.

 

[bmacd]

I spy a torrent for Rosetta Stone

 

[chcarnage]

Maybe this is something for you.
http://www.japanesepod101.com

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: Aztech
I've seen recommendations for Pimsleur products in other foreign language threads...

Pimsleur's Conversational series rocks. I'm learning German now. That being said, it doesn't instruct on the written language or reading skills. Conversational only.
I surprised a few native German speakers already. They new enough that I was far from being fluent, but they were surprised on how much instruction I went through.
I'm only on CD 4 out of 8.
I heard GREAT things about Rosetta Stone, I just couldn't afford it at the time of purchase.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Pimsleur is pretty good. The 30-lesson series on Mandarin is pretty expensive. I think I got mine for like $200 on ebay. It's probably on a torrent by now.


I'm not sure how this thread got so far along without someone suggesting that you sit down and watching every Godzirra movie ever made.


BTW, I visted Japan a couple of years ago, stayed in Tokyo, took the high speed rail all the way down to Kagoshima, made my way back up to Tokyo, etc. It was a blast!

Pretty much no one speaks Engrish, but it wasn't too tough to get around and eat and stuff.