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.
How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan
11–20 of 33 posts
Re: How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan
#12I'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
#13And 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.
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
#14I'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
#15Re: How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan
#16And 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.
Re: How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan
#17And 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.
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
#18I'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.
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
#19And 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.
Re: How I learned Japanese: Interview about habits and learning Japanese in Japan
#20The easiest way to learn Japanese, at least spoken Japanese, is to find a Japanese boyfriend or girlfriend. And to live away from other gaijin.
YMMV.