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How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan

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Re: How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan

#11
I'm currently learning Japanese and what I've found is most apps designed around helping you learn focus around memorization of words out of context, and often the definitions provided are wrong, or the words antiquated.

I haven't found an app that revolves around reading words in the context of example sentences, or a narrative. I find this to be the best way to learn a language.

Re: How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan

#12

I'm currently learning Japanese and what I've found is most apps designed around helping you learn focus around memorization of words out of context, and often the definitions provided are wrong, or the words antiquated. I haven't found an app that revolves around reading words in the context of example sentences, or a narrative. I find this to be the best way to learn a language.

Check out LingQ. It's pretty much exactly what you've described wanting.

Re: How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan

#13

And what is the real value of learning japanese? (apart from being an english teacher in japan) sure is fine as a hoby, but for a professional, I believe the japanese are the ones that should learn english, and don't take me wrong, my native tong is spanish and english my second one, but I see english as the universal language to learn.

"what is the real value of learning japanese? (apart from being an english teacher in japan) sure is fine as a hoby, but for a professional, I believe the japanese are the ones that should learn english,"

Are you interested in Japanese culture, history, literature, religion, or people?

Do you or your company want to do business in Japan, with Japanese companies, or Japanese people?

Do you have friends, family, or a significant other who's Japanese? Do you want to make new Japanese friends or contacts?

Are you interested in what the Japanese have to say, and want to read or hear it in their own language?

Have you ever wanted to visit Japan and feel less like a tourist and more like a native, to be able to better know what's going on around you, read the signs, maybe have some ability to find your own way?

Well, if you're not interested in any of these things, perhaps you'll forgive or at least understand some others if they actually are interested and find these things valuable.

Re: How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan

#14

I'm currently learning Japanese and what I've found is most apps designed around helping you learn focus around memorization of words out of context, and often the definitions provided are wrong, or the words antiquated. I haven't found an app that revolves around reading words in the context of example sentences, or a narrative. I find this to be the best way to learn a language.

I'd be also interested to hear. Btw. the interviewer of the linked site has an app that helps with reading.

Re: How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan

#16

And what is the real value of learning japanese? (apart from being an english teacher in japan) sure is fine as a hoby, but for a professional, I believe the japanese are the ones that should learn english, and don't take me wrong, my native tong is spanish and english my second one, but I see english as the universal language to learn.

Why do you only post terrible comments here?

Re: How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan

#17

And what is the real value of learning japanese? (apart from being an english teacher in japan) sure is fine as a hoby, but for a professional, I believe the japanese are the ones that should learn english, and don't take me wrong, my native tong is spanish and english my second one, but I see english as the universal language to learn.

As a person who has spent a couple of years in college with Japanese, leisure time, and time in Japan -- I can tell you that it's one of the richest cultures I've come into contact with to date. Mind you, that's completely subjective.

One of the things that exists in their culture that doesn't exist in the US is the notion of "oneness." If you get on the train in the morning and observe people going to their jobs, you'll notice that there's almost a "uniform" - very similar suit, haircut, and overall style. In America, individuality has become a disease that has lead to everyone feeling the need to be special and different. I'd argue that this 'disease' is the plague of our politics and economy, as companies nor politicians typically think about society's greater good ( save a handful who are now trying to align business with humanitarian efforts ).

Also, embedded in the language is respect. You use different words and sentence structures to address your friends vs. your boss.

So, what is the value? Probably experiencing life in a different way, and gaining more perspective.

Re: How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan

#18

I'm currently learning Japanese and what I've found is most apps designed around helping you learn focus around memorization of words out of context, and often the definitions provided are wrong, or the words antiquated. I haven't found an app that revolves around reading words in the context of example sentences, or a narrative. I find this to be the best way to learn a language.

I totally agree with you on context. Something that has worked for me is to add the Core10k(http://rtkwiki.koohii.com/wiki/Core_10k and the Core6k decks to Anki and then when I bump into a new word I want to learn, I search for it on these decks and move the corresponding cards to my main study deck. These decks have the words in the context of one whole sentence including audio and images. Also, I only add words to my main study deck that I have seen in a real Japanese text.

That is not enough though and that problem you are describing is the reason I am developing Koipun Reader(https://www.koipun.com/reader/). My goal for Koipun Reader is to help intermediate level learners go through any arbitrary Japanese text and give them the ability to save words they want to learn, so that they can review them later within the same context of the text they read. I only have preview version of the app right now, but I will release an MVP in a month.

Edit: fix typo

Re: How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan

#19

And what is the real value of learning japanese? (apart from being an english teacher in japan) sure is fine as a hoby, but for a professional, I believe the japanese are the ones that should learn english, and don't take me wrong, my native tong is spanish and english my second one, but I see english as the universal language to learn.

Japan is the #3 economy in the world, the #2 cultural exporter after Hollywood thanks to cartoons and video games and most Japanese people don't learn English very well. In fact, Japanese interest in learning English peaked nearly 20 years ago.

Re: How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan

#20

The easiest way to learn Japanese, at least spoken Japanese, is to find a Japanese boyfriend or girlfriend. And to live away from other gaijin.

I've been warned that the Japanese consider this the way to learn English and if you investigate your "girl friend" you will eventually discover the real boyfriend that she treats like a boyfriend when not with you.

YMMV.

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