I was determined to learn a language that most of my fellow North Americans either have no interest in or find it too challenging. Japanese not only sounds significantly different from English but the Japanese letters (Hiragana), that represent the sounds that make up the Japanese language and is central to the Japanese writing system, are very different. Because of this, I was even hesitant to learn basic Japanese but I put my fears aside and proceeded to find the best way to learn Japanese. After weeks of researching the Internet and networking by word of mouth, I found an amazing course that teaches you to speak Japanese online. So, here’s a brief overview of this course to help you in your goal to learn Japanese easily.
First, there is a 31-lesson Interactive Audio Course that covers everything that you need to know to learn Japanese quickly and to become part of a Japanese community.
Second, their software: the vocabulary software is a word building game designed to help you learn about 1000 Japanese words and to cover 20 different topics. You can also use this game indefinitely because it allows you to add your own images. The audio software will help you overcome the most difficult aspect of learning Japanese and that is the comprehension. The Hiragana Software learning game helps you to easily recognize and memorize the Hiragana character set used in the Japanese writing and pronunciation system.
Third, there are the Grammar Newsletter Series that provides you with 31 illustrated Grammar Lessons and examples. These are invaluable cultural informational tools with explanations of written Japanese and of popular Japanese grammar. The visual tools of this series are unique to this product and their value is priceless as a learning resource.
Finally, there is also access to a Learner’s Forum and Support system that is staffed with fellow students, natives and Japanese teachers. This provides you with extra free resources to further assist you on your quest to learn to speak fluent Japanese.
I am pleased to say that I am able to watch Miyazaki’s movies in their original Japanese and I look forward to visiting Japan one day. Thank you, Hayao Miyazaki for opening up the door for me to experience, acknowledge and respect the Japanese culture.
By: Paul Brown
About the Author:
Paul Brown is a marketing consultant and life-long learner with a passion for languages.
Filed under Languages by on Jan 25th, 2010. 
Gothic ****** gets its name from the dark and scary aspect of the Gothic, but from the detailed and distinct style of dark elegance and Gothic style. Gothic ****** shares the Lolita’s quest for innocence and elegance. It is said that the ****** and Gothic ****** cultures of Japanese enjoy a tight-knit community that is a nurturing place for otherwise-misfit kids to enjoy. It is a place where nostalgia for a simpler time is embraced and played upon.
Japanese Street Fashion is the best and most flamboyant outfits. Gothic ****** is a street fashion among Japanese teenagers and young women, some men participate in this fashion as well. It is emphasizes Victorian-style and Edwardian fashion girl’s clothing and aims to imitate the look of Victorian porcelain dolls.The important elements for Victorian style or Victorian porcelain dolls are puff sleeves, low neckline, bell shape, crinoline and corset with lot of laces decorations.
Gothic Lolita, as a more specific subset of ****** fashion, has a great deal in common with ****** style, in particular the nostalgic drive. One ****** writes,
” Personally, I like the Gothic ****** fashion because it’s complicated and elegant and a return to an older time…”
However, Wikipedia mentioned that Gothic ****** are often ‘Band-Gals’, obsessive followers of one or more rock bands.
Many Japanese teens are not followers of a trend dictated from the top of the fashion food chain but are the creators of trends (and often their own clothing as well) that are then taken up by the fashion industry.
Gothic ****** was and popularized by the imagery of some Visual Kei (or “visual rock”) bands. Malice Mizer (pronounced Marisu Miseru) is a Visual Kei band (disband now), former leader and guitarist of Malice Mizer, Mana, is commonly given credit for starting the Gothic ****** style. In 1999, he founded his own fashion label, Moi-même-Moitié, for which he coined the terms Elegant Gothic ****** (EGL) and Elegant Gothic Aristocrat (EGA). Mana, a male, regularly appears in the Gothic & ****** Bible, modeling his own Victorian-inspired designs with heavy Gothic makeup and big hair.
The popularity of Gothic ****** as a very distinct style and community peaked around 2004 and 2005 in Tokyo. Its popularity outside Tokyo is slowly rising or at its peak in many areas, and the related maid cafe phenomenon still slowly growing.
The responsive of Japanese to the acceptance of Gothic ****** not only the reflection of Japanese super high fashion sense and perseverance in fashion, but tell us something also of the Japanese society and Japanese culture, why the Gothic ****** can be a vogue in Japanese Street Fashion.
Japanese are fashion-conscious people, especially teens and young adults. Fashion is highly embedded in Japanese society, with trends and new styles clearly visible throughout the country. Culture, tradition, and, of course, income, play a huge
role in determining the way in which people dress as well as the reasons behind it and Japanese possessing disposable incomes, it’s no wonder that so many are willing and able to immerse themselves into the fashion world.
What follows is an analysis of different categories of the Gothic ****** style presented by Japanese with using various apparel and accessories and the responsive, acceptance of Japanese about Gothic ****** style and why?
The term used for a young lady or man that dresses in clothes reminiscent of Victorian dolls. Frills, lace, dresses, skirts, petticoats, and head-dresses are all very common with ****** fashion. Accessories most ****** carry around are teddy bears and parasols. Make-up is used sparingly, save for some cases in the Gothic ****** look, and the idea is to look innocent and cute so skin isn’t flaunted or shown unless it has to be. ****** aim is to look like Victorian dolls. Full outfits can be bought secondhand or from stores that are strictly meant to sell ****** outfits. Some ****** prefers to make their own clothes. Hand sewn garments are combined with a mix of items from trendy city store.
Gothic ****** Fashion had form a vogue in Japanese Street Fashion but why? Their choice of style is more than just a fashion statement; it is also a way of their life. This could reminiscent of Japanese society and Japanese culture.
Japanese street fashion is a fashion which far more elaborates from other country’s fashion. The emphasis on uniqueness leads a lot of ****** creates their own outfit.
Japanese street fashion is a rebellion against the conventions of a consumer based culture. There are very distinct styles can be found in Japanese street fashion, ranging from absolutely ridiculous to not-so-out-of-the-ordinary. But, their rebellion is being recycled back into the system which means these street fashion kids radical fashion has become the inspiration for local designers.
It is a chance for these ****** to embrace the hyper-celebrity culture of Japan and integrate it top-down into their own lives. Some ****** are inclined to dress up like their favorite celebrities, for example, Mana, again. Other go with their own variation of anime character, less like a direct imitation and more like an integration of anime style into their own wardrobes, for example, some ****** will dress up themselves like the character in Alice in Wonderland.
The Gothic ****** look is an amazing contrast of innocence and sexuality. The child-like physical look of young Japanese women contributes to this alluring illusion. As we all know, the Japanese have some of the most interesting ******** and sexual habits of any culture on Earth. Female youth have long been exciting to older Japanese males and the innocence of looking like a child may appeal to these women because of the powerful sexual allure but also because it presents a way for them to escape growing up at least for the moments they are dressed in the Gothic ****** style.
Nostalgia is a strong impulse during periods when the contemporary world is frightening or uncertain. In fact, Japanese people don’t want to be growing up so quickly. Japanese culture places a high value upon extremely youthful appearance and behavior than any Western, and some adult women buy large amounts of products, such as Hello Kitty goods, that are typically marketed only to children in the West. Gothic ****** fashion is perhaps a more visible extension of this phenomenon. ****** don’t just dress the part, they act the part, too. Hunched shoulders and pigeon toes, their body language is distinctly and purposely childish. It is a form of escapism, a way for them to spend time away from the high pressure Japanese society. Japanese peoples would like to stay young mentally and socially.
Unique and Distinctive is the best word used to describe the Japanese. They are self-admiration and they are very dare to trying something that is bizarre. But there is nothing wrong with it. They style aids in making the social lives of these Japanese more light-hearted and sweet, and it gives them a chance to express themselves very creatively. Trying to look young and elegant all at once is a purely Japanese phenomenon. Possibly this Gothic ****** fashion look holds the allure for them as does the ‘Romantic Gothic’, Victorian or Renaissance, style in the West. That allure of a more cordial and better dressed time in history. Or perhaps these young Japanese are just following a trend to be a part of the conformity of a bigger crowd.
Fashion today is not only about clothes but it is also reflects on one’s self-esteem, self-definition, self-image, self-personality and one’s culture or society. It is to present owns creativity, idea and identity of someone.
By: Tsutsu Rin
About the Author:
Filed under Art by on Jan 25th, 2010.
The first thing you need to do before you start learning Japanese or any other language, is to determine the reason why you need to learn the language. While your motive may not be so important in beginning the study of other languages, it’s a critical factor in determining how to learn Japanese. Why? Well, if you’re just going over to Japan for a very short time and will be spending most of your time with people who know English, all you probably need is a brief introductory course that teaches you a few essential phrases like hello, excuse me, I’m sorry, and the like. However if you need to speak and understand conversational Japanese from basic to intermediate level, then you need to learn more than just a few basic Japanese phrases.
If you fit into that category, you may want to try either a formal Japanese course at a school, college, or university. You may also find it more cost effective and easier to learn Japanese with audio-based language learning programs, software games or watching Japanese movies. Regardless of your choice of how to learn Japanese, make sure you select an audio-based method. You need to hear the language spoken by a native speaker. Books alone will not do. A good Japanese audio-based program is an example of an extremely natural learning method. It attempts to replicate the way Japanese children actually learn their language in the first place.
How does this work? Small children will first learn how their home tongue sounds like when their parents speak to them. They learn through careful listening. As this takes place, the children are picking up vocabulary words they’ll be able to use themselves as they learn to talk. Have you ever noticed that if you ask a toddler to “bring me the ball,” he will comply long before he’s able to form the words himself? He’s acquired a passive vocabulary, but not yet an active one. You’ll find, as you find out how to learn Japanese, that you’ll follow the same progression recognizing words first, then understanding them, and finally being able to use them correctly.
What about writing? You may ask. How am I going to learn to read all those inexplicable symbols? Well, it’s up to you to decide whether you need to learn them or not. If you are just planning to visit Japan for a short holiday, then you possibly may not need to learn to read Japanese to begin with. However if you want to become fluent in Japanese then it is a good idea to learn to read the Japanese language as well. If you decide that for you, reading is an essential step in how to learn Japanese, study the kanas, hiragana and katakana, two basic components of the very complex Japanese writing system. And make flash cards!
Speaking the Japanese language is its most important aspect, and not reading and writing as most people would like us to believe. You will have a huge advantage over other people traveling to Japan who do not speak the language, if you can manage to learn conversational Japanese even if it is just at a beginner level. So regardless of your decision on how to learn Japanese, concentrate on learning to speak it well, and enjoy your immersion in another culture!
By: Gerrit Du Plessis
About the Author:
Gerrit created the popular http://www.listenhear.info/
Discover more secret ways to learn Japanese fast? Visit his Rocket Languages Japanese site and grab your 6 day Free Japanese language lessons now.
Filed under Education by on Jan 25th, 2010.
I was determined to learn a language that most of my fellow North Americans either have no interest in or find it too challenging. Japanese not only sounds significantly different from English but the Japanese letters (Hiragana), that represent the sounds that make up the Japanese language and is central to the Japanese writing system, are very different. Because of this, I was even hesitant to learn basic Japanese but I put my fears aside and proceeded to find the best way to learn Japanese. After weeks of researching the Internet and networking by word of mouth, I found an amazing course that teaches you to speak Japanese online. So, here’s a brief overview of this course to help you in your goal to learn Japanese easily.
First, there is a 31-lesson Interactive Audio Course that covers everything that you need to know to learn Japanese quickly and to become part of a Japanese community.
Second, their software: the vocabulary software is a word building game designed to help you learn about 1000 Japanese words and to cover 20 different topics. You can also use this game indefinitely because it allows you to add your own images. The audio software will help you overcome the most difficult aspect of learning Japanese and that is the comprehension. The Hiragana Software learning game helps you to easily recognize and memorize the Hiragana character set used in the Japanese writing and pronunciation system.
Third, there are the Grammar Newsletter Series that provides you with 31 illustrated Grammar Lessons and examples. These are invaluable cultural informational tools with explanations of written Japanese and of popular Japanese grammar. The visual tools of this series are unique to this product and their value is priceless as a learning resource.
Finally, there is also access to a Learner’s Forum and Support system that is staffed with fellow students, natives and Japanese teachers. This provides you with extra free resources to further assist you on your quest to learn to speak fluent Japanese.
I am pleased to say that I am able to watch Miyazaki’s movies in their original Japanese and I look forward to visiting Japan one day. Thank you, Hayao Miyazaki for opening up the door for me to experience, acknowledge and respect the Japanese culture.
By: Paul Brown
About the Author:
Paul Brown is a marketing consultant and life-long learner with a passion for languages.
Filed under Languages by on Jan 25th, 2010.
Gothic ****** gets its name from the dark and scary aspect of the Gothic, but from the detailed and distinct style of dark elegance and Gothic style. Gothic ****** shares the Lolita’s quest for innocence and elegance. It is said that the ****** and Gothic ****** cultures of Japanese enjoy a tight-knit community that is a nurturing place for otherwise-misfit kids to enjoy. It is a place where nostalgia for a simpler time is embraced and played upon.
Japanese Street Fashion is the best and most flamboyant outfits. Gothic ****** is a street fashion among Japanese teenagers and young women, some men participate in this fashion as well. It is emphasizes Victorian-style and Edwardian fashion girl’s clothing and aims to imitate the look of Victorian porcelain dolls.The important elements for Victorian style or Victorian porcelain dolls are puff sleeves, low neckline, bell shape, crinoline and corset with lot of laces decorations.
Gothic Lolita, as a more specific subset of ****** fashion, has a great deal in common with ****** style, in particular the nostalgic drive. One ****** writes,
” Personally, I like the Gothic ****** fashion because it’s complicated and elegant and a return to an older time…”
However, Wikipedia mentioned that Gothic ****** are often ‘Band-Gals’, obsessive followers of one or more rock bands.
Many Japanese teens are not followers of a trend dictated from the top of the fashion food chain but are the creators of trends (and often their own clothing as well) that are then taken up by the fashion industry.
Gothic ****** was and popularized by the imagery of some Visual Kei (or “visual rock”) bands. Malice Mizer (pronounced Marisu Miseru) is a Visual Kei band (disband now), former leader and guitarist of Malice Mizer, Mana, is commonly given credit for starting the Gothic ****** style. In 1999, he founded his own fashion label, Moi-même-Moitié, for which he coined the terms Elegant Gothic ****** (EGL) and Elegant Gothic Aristocrat (EGA). Mana, a male, regularly appears in the Gothic & ****** Bible, modeling his own Victorian-inspired designs with heavy Gothic makeup and big hair.
The popularity of Gothic ****** as a very distinct style and community peaked around 2004 and 2005 in Tokyo. Its popularity outside Tokyo is slowly rising or at its peak in many areas, and the related maid cafe phenomenon still slowly growing.
The responsive of Japanese to the acceptance of Gothic ****** not only the reflection of Japanese super high fashion sense and perseverance in fashion, but tell us something also of the Japanese society and Japanese culture, why the Gothic ****** can be a vogue in Japanese Street Fashion.
Japanese are fashion-conscious people, especially teens and young adults. Fashion is highly embedded in Japanese society, with trends and new styles clearly visible throughout the country. Culture, tradition, and, of course, income, play a huge
role in determining the way in which people dress as well as the reasons behind it and Japanese possessing disposable incomes, it’s no wonder that so many are willing and able to immerse themselves into the fashion world.
What follows is an analysis of different categories of the Gothic ****** style presented by Japanese with using various apparel and accessories and the responsive, acceptance of Japanese about Gothic ****** style and why?
The term used for a young lady or man that dresses in clothes reminiscent of Victorian dolls. Frills, lace, dresses, skirts, petticoats, and head-dresses are all very common with ****** fashion. Accessories most ****** carry around are teddy bears and parasols. Make-up is used sparingly, save for some cases in the Gothic ****** look, and the idea is to look innocent and cute so skin isn’t flaunted or shown unless it has to be. ****** aim is to look like Victorian dolls. Full outfits can be bought secondhand or from stores that are strictly meant to sell ****** outfits. Some ****** prefers to make their own clothes. Hand sewn garments are combined with a mix of items from trendy city store.
Gothic ****** Fashion had form a vogue in Japanese Street Fashion but why? Their choice of style is more than just a fashion statement; it is also a way of their life. This could reminiscent of Japanese society and Japanese culture.
Japanese street fashion is a fashion which far more elaborates from other country’s fashion. The emphasis on uniqueness leads a lot of ****** creates their own outfit.
Japanese street fashion is a rebellion against the conventions of a consumer based culture. There are very distinct styles can be found in Japanese street fashion, ranging from absolutely ridiculous to not-so-out-of-the-ordinary. But, their rebellion is being recycled back into the system which means these street fashion kids radical fashion has become the inspiration for local designers.
It is a chance for these ****** to embrace the hyper-celebrity culture of Japan and integrate it top-down into their own lives. Some ****** are inclined to dress up like their favorite celebrities, for example, Mana, again. Other go with their own variation of anime character, less like a direct imitation and more like an integration of anime style into their own wardrobes, for example, some ****** will dress up themselves like the character in Alice in Wonderland.
The Gothic ****** look is an amazing contrast of innocence and sexuality. The child-like physical look of young Japanese women contributes to this alluring illusion. As we all know, the Japanese have some of the most interesting ******** and sexual habits of any culture on Earth. Female youth have long been exciting to older Japanese males and the innocence of looking like a child may appeal to these women because of the powerful sexual allure but also because it presents a way for them to escape growing up at least for the moments they are dressed in the Gothic ****** style.
Nostalgia is a strong impulse during periods when the contemporary world is frightening or uncertain. In fact, Japanese people don’t want to be growing up so quickly. Japanese culture places a high value upon extremely youthful appearance and behavior than any Western, and some adult women buy large amounts of products, such as Hello Kitty goods, that are typically marketed only to children in the West. Gothic ****** fashion is perhaps a more visible extension of this phenomenon. ****** don’t just dress the part, they act the part, too. Hunched shoulders and pigeon toes, their body language is distinctly and purposely childish. It is a form of escapism, a way for them to spend time away from the high pressure Japanese society. Japanese peoples would like to stay young mentally and socially.
Unique and Distinctive is the best word used to describe the Japanese. They are self-admiration and they are very dare to trying something that is bizarre. But there is nothing wrong with it. They style aids in making the social lives of these Japanese more light-hearted and sweet, and it gives them a chance to express themselves very creatively. Trying to look young and elegant all at once is a purely Japanese phenomenon. Possibly this Gothic ****** fashion look holds the allure for them as does the ‘Romantic Gothic’, Victorian or Renaissance, style in the West. That allure of a more cordial and better dressed time in history. Or perhaps these young Japanese are just following a trend to be a part of the conformity of a bigger crowd.
Fashion today is not only about clothes but it is also reflects on one’s self-esteem, self-definition, self-image, self-personality and one’s culture or society. It is to present owns creativity, idea and identity of someone.
By: Tsutsu Rin
About the Author:
Filed under Art by on Jan 25th, 2010.
A unique aspect of the culture is that the people are extremely shy. People in Japan simply do not talk to strangers (and definitely not if they are foreigners trying to speak a Japanese). Eye contact and casual conversations are simply a no-no, making Japanese dating difficult most of the time.
You can’t simply go to a local bar and hope to meet someone. Similarly, business is also done through introductions. This can often pose problems for non-Japanese and Japanese singles to form relationships. However, all hope isn’t gone! Read about their cultural lifestyle and discover a few tips to surviving the Japanese dating site world and you’ll fit right in!
Japanese dating site is very different than dating in the United States. This is because the Japanese culture likes teenagers to group date or date with a chaperone. Though a teenage couple is allowed to go to the movies or dinner by themselves, the boy must usually meet the girl’s parents before going out.
In addition, unlike the US, where chaperones rarely go on teenager’s dates, it’s common in Japan. There are many delicious and nourishing Japanese foods that can be eaten while Japanese dating; for example the couple can try sushi or very fresh salmon at a Japanese restaurant.
Additionally, the couple can learn how to make sushi at a Japanese cuisine cooking class. Japanese cuisine also includes miso soup and rice balls. Miso soup is soup that has seaweed and tofu in it. Part of Japanese dating site activities could include eating some Japanese cuisine.
Teenage dating may involve drinking green tea, which is a very popular drink in Japan. In fact, Japanese dating could include eating green tea ice cream. Moreover, Japanese dating involves respecting the Japanese culture such as taking off one’s shoes before entering a Japanese home.
Getting involved in Japanese dating site might also include experiencing a Japanese tea ceremony. In fact, a particular type of Japanese tea ceremony is performed when a couple is falling in love.
The best way to get into the world of Japanese dating site is to make some friends who can get you invitations to go to parties or cultural events or join a specialized Japanese internet dating site. In accordance with the aforementioned fact, without a Japanese person to recommend you, your chances are pretty slim to none.
Additionally, the avoidance of humiliation and pride are important parts of life in Japan. For example, Japanese men are deathly afraid of rejection, thus they would rarely make an attempt to ask a lady out.
Joining Japanese dating site means knowing something about Japan and Japanese culture and customs, which I just shared with you. Remember that making an effort with their foods, morals, and traditions can go a long way in getting you a Japanese date.
Whenever you feel like this an impossible feat, consider that getting the hang of Japanese dating site is difficult in a conservative culture, so persevere, and don’t get discouraged!
By: Lisa Mcshane
About the Author:
Lisa McShane is a recognized authority on the subject of online dating including speed dating and alternative dating. Her website http://www.top-5-best-dating-sites.com, provide a wealth of FREE informative articles and resources on everything you’ll ever need to know about Japanese Dating Site.
Filed under Dating by on Jan 18th, 2010.
The use of tracked machinery on-site, during Japanese knotweed control, should be limited as much as possible until Japanese knotweed-infested areas have been cleared or cordoned off.
Irrespective of where the Japanese knotweed material is deposited pending Japanese knotweed removal, any site accepting Japanese knotweed contaminated soil or Japanese knotweed for treatment will require a waste management license and or a permit.
If site licensing conditions do not allow for burying or burning of Japanese knotweed contaminated soil on site, Japanese knotweed contaminated soil must be disposed of at an appropriately licensed waste management facility dealing with Japanese knotweed control.
Material containing any infestation of Japanese knotweed should be taken to a landfill site or other disposal site, licensed to receive Japanese knotweed and the landfill operator must be informed of the nature of the Japanese knotweed waste so that the Japanese knotweed can be disposed of appropriately within the site.
Japanese knotweed or any soil containing Japanese knotweed which is discarded is a controlled waste and should be accompanied by appropriate waste transfer documentation.
Japanese Knotweed is classed as a controlled waste and the duty of care with respect to Japanese knotweed waste will have to be complied with. You must ensure all Japanese knotweed removal off site is accompanied with a completed transfer note relating to Japanese knotweed removal and carried by a person authorized in Japanese knotweed removal, such as a waste carrier. Any disposal site for the Japanese knotweed waste would have to hold a waste management licence for Japanese knotweed removal.
Hauliers should not accept Japanese Knotweed infested waste unless they can guarantee Japanese knotweed’s appropriate legal disposal. If you are aware of waste producers who are failing to inform their hauliers of the presence of Japanese knotweed, or of hauliers who are knowingly disposing of Japanese knotweed infested material in an inappropriate manner, you should inform your local Environment Agency office.
Hauliers must also ensure that during the removal of Japanese knotweed material to a Japanese knotweed waste management site, vehicles do not carry Japanese knotweed-containing soils on the wheels or bodies and that the vehicle is suitably covered or enclosed to prevent escape from Japanese knotweed waster during transport. For small quantities of Japanese knotweed material, this may include sealing the Japanese knotweed material in black bags.
By: Paul
About the Author:
The author works for an environmental agency specialised in Japanese Knotweed Removal and Japanese Knotweed Eradication in the UK. A great way for Japanese Knotweed Control.
Filed under Gardening by on Jan 18th, 2010.
By: Nilremn
About the Author:
Filed under 117 by on Jan 18th, 2010. 5 Comments.
** You may be about to travel to a Japanese speaking country
** You have an opportunity to occupationally train some colleagues who only speak Japanese
** You want basic Japanese for business reasons and want to become more valuable at your job by being bilingual
** You are a fan of Japanese animation films, video games, manga comics and want to want to enjoy them more fully without relying on subtitles
** You would like to read books, magazines, and web sites written in Japanese
** Enable you write to and email Japanese speaking people
** Feel more confident and comfortable around Japanese speaking people
** Allow you to get hired by a multi-national business firm and possibly even work and live in Japan
** Japanese fluency definitely stands out on a college/university application, resume or curriculum vitae
** Just enjoy the possibility of making tons of new Japanese friends
Besides that, it would be pretty impressive to be able to tell your family, friends, and members of the opposite *** that you “speak Japanese”.
Your goal should be to learn to read, speak, and understand modern Japanese. Obviously this can’t be done from just a book. One of the better proven ways of doing this with less effort is utilizing “picture learning”. This method appears to better lock the language into your brain. Some computerized courses feature this approach to build vocabulary in terms of understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Japanese. This system makes the whole process more fun and can have the student mastering hundreds of words in a matter of days. Make sure that whatever course you take covers both the Hiragana and Katakana Japanese alphabets. The better courses utilized a “game” type approach to reduce boredom, stimulate interest and improve speed of results.
Once you gain the competence in Japanese, you will open up many personal and business related opportunities. For example, the U.S.A. does more business with Japan than any other country. You will be a valuable employee if you speak the language of the customer. Japanese is among the top 10 languages on Earth and spoken by over 130 million people. “Speaks Japanese” looks great on a resume or curriculum vitae, no matter what your line of work.
In Japan especially, language has been grooved by culture. So as you study Japanese you also discover and learn more about their wonderful culture. Stepping outside your own culture and language will give you a fresh, new perspective. In addition, Japan has lots of great music that can be appreciated so much more because you can now understand it.Let’s start by giving a good number of reasons why learning Japanese might be of interest to you.
** You may be about to travel to a Japanese speaking country
** You have an opportunity to occupationally train some colleagues who only speak Japanese
** You want basic Japanese for business reasons and want to become more valuable at your job by being bilingual
** You are a fan of Japanese animation films, video games, manga comics and want to want to enjoy them more fully without relying on subtitles
** You would like to read books, magazines, and web sites written in Japanese
** Enable you write to and email Japanese speaking people
** Feel more confident and comfortable around Japanese speaking people
** Allow you to get hired by a multi-national business firm and possibly even work and live in Japan
** Japanese fluency definitely stands out on a college/university application, resume or curriculum vitae
** Just enjoy the possibility of making tons of new Japanese friends
Besides that, it would be pretty impressive to be able to tell your family, friends, and members of the opposite *** that you “speak Japanese”.
Your goal should be to learn to read, speak, and understand modern Japanese. Obviously this can’t be done from just a book. One of the better proven ways of doing this with less effort is utilizing “picture learning”. This method appears to better lock the language into your brain. Some computerized courses feature this approach to build vocabulary in terms of understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Japanese. This system makes the whole process more fun and can have the student mastering hundreds of words in a matter of days. Make sure that whatever course you take covers both the Hiragana and Katakana Japanese alphabets. The better courses utilized a “game” type approach to reduce boredom, stimulate interest and improve speed of results.
Once you gain the competence in Japanese, you will open up many personal and business related opportunities. For example, the U.S.A. does more business with Japan than any other country. You will be a valuable employee if you speak the language of the customer. Japanese is among the top 10 languages on Earth and spoken by over 130 million people. “Speaks Japanese” looks great on a resume or curriculum vitae, no matter what your line of work.
In Japan especially, language has been grooved by culture. So as you study Japanese you also discover and learn more about their wonderful culture. Stepping outside your own culture and language will give you a fresh, new perspective. In addition, Japan has lots of great music that can be appreciated so much more because you can now understand it.
For more information on learning japanese then just simply visit our site learn japanese.
By: Nick Clipton
About the Author:
hi i m nick from dehradun
Filed under Languages by on Jan 18th, 2010.
Some claim that a person can learn Japanese overnight merely by poring over a ‘How-to-Learn’ book. Though it is not quite that easy, one can quickly master enough Japanese to have an enjoyable time visiting Japan as a tourist.
From Where?
Even more complicated than the Japanese language itself are various ideas regarding its origin. Two decades ago, Leptcha, a language spoken in a valley of the Himalaya mountains, was found to be closely related to Japanese. Others claim that Japanese bears greater affinity to Korean than to any other language.
What is the relationship between Japanese and Chinese? Due to the use of Chinese ideographic script, which we call “Kanji,” Japanese is often thought to have close connections with Chinese. But the differences are considerable. Chinese is a “monosyllabic” language, containing words of only one syllable. Japanese, however, is “polysyllabic,” having numerous words of two or more syllables. In Chinese, word meaning is conveyed by pitch and word order, while in Japanese the meaning is conveyed by the words themselves and by the word endings.
Nearly 2,500 years ago, the Japanese language had, basically, the same grammar as that used today. But by the end of the ninth and tenth centuries, changes began taking place. This made it necessary to know one set of words for reading and another set for speaking. The result was that until the end of World War II, one had to know 3,000 to 5,000 Chinese characters and two sets of syllabaries of 50 characters each in order to read any weighty material.
Since 1945, however, the essential Kanji have been somewhat simplified and reduced to a little less than 2,000. The language also has adopted many English words. Nowadays, besides these Kanji characters, schoolchildren are taught two sets of romanization. This requires hours of work at memorizing as well as writing practice until, by the end of grammar school, children have learned 881 Kanji, and, by the end of high school, 1,850. Reading college textbooks, however, requires knowledge of about 3,000 Kanji.
Let’s Say Something in Japanese
Perhaps you are anxious to test your ability at speaking Japanese. The pronunciation is easy enough, as there are, basically, only 50 different sounds possible. What presents the biggest problem is grammar. But for now, we’ll stick to simpler matters.
To begin with, there are five vowel sounds, all pronounced as in Italian: A as in far, I as e in me, E as in nest, O as in old, U as in push, when the U is a short vowel; when long, the U is as oo in soon. It is very important to learn the short and the long vowel sounds. A rather frequent mistake made by missionaries is confusing so shi ki (organization) with sM shi ki (funeral). Not a few audiences have been shocked at hearing about God’s great heavenly funeral, rather than God’s great heavenly organization. Another easy mistake is that of calling a young girl shM jM (orangutan) rather than shM jo (young girl). Clearly, both the learner of Japanese and the listener are benefited by having a sense of humor.
Often the same vowel, or phonetic sound, is used consecutively, as in a ta ma (head), ko ko ro (heart), or to ko ro (place). Sometimes a phonetic sound is lost through contraction when saying certain words. For instance, when pronouncing kM fu ku (happy), one drops the middle u and slurs the f and k together. This results in the pronunciation kM f’ku. Practice saying it several times and you will see how easily the Japanese rolls off your tongue! Another basic word is the pronoun “I,” which in Japanese is wa ta ku shi. It is pronounced correctly wa ta k’shi, with the loss of a u and the slurring of the k into the shi sound. In recent years “I” has been still further abbreviated to become wa ta shi.
Consonants can be tricky too. For example, the single-consonant “k” in the word kM ka gives us “school song,” while the double consonant in the word kok ka makes it “national anthem.”
Are there any rules as to which syllable should receive accent? Authorities differ, but some agree that it is better not to accent any syllable than to accent the wrong one. For example, the city of Numazu is pronounced nu ma zu, with equal emphasis on each syllable.
Especially since the seventeenth century, Japanese has borrowed many words from European languages. For instance, the Portuguese word “pao” (bread) becomes pan in Japanese. The Dutch “blik” (tin) is bu ri ki. “Butter” in English becomes ba ta. Another English word, “strike,” expands to five syllables, with two different meanings. It is su to ra i ku in baseball jargon, but when some want better pay or working conditions, the word becomes su to ra i ki.
Other Things of Interest
One must realize that Japanese word order differs from that in most other languages. On a visit to Japan, you might say in English: “I would like to visit Mount Fuji.” In Japanese you would say, “Watak’shi wa Fuji San o hMmon shitai desu.” The literal word order is: “I Fuji Mount visit want.” In Japanese the verb always comes at the end of the sentence. As noted above, verb endings are also most important. To know whether an expression is in the present or the past tense, or whether it is a positive or negative response to a previous question or statement, one must listen to the very last syllable of a sentence.
An unusual feature of the Japanese language is its system of honorifics or keigo. All conversations must take into consideration three things: the speaker, the one spoken to and the person spoken about. Besides these, the speaker must consider the respective positions, ages, belongings, families, friends and social groups embraced by the conversation. These factors affect-to name just a few-vocabulary, suffixes, prefixes and verb endings used in conversation. The pronoun “you,” for example, is represented by many different Japanese words, according to the status of the person addressed. The polite way is often to use the person’s name instead, or to omit the “you” altogether. One making one’s residence in Japan should be determined to learn the various forms of address. The visitor on a temporary basis, however, will be forgiven blunders of this type. The Japanese, as a whole, are delighted to hear people make the effort to speak their difficult tongue.
Let’s Read Kanji
Even though you may not know the correct pronunciation of a Kanji character, you often can know its meaning. Do not be afraid of what may appear at first sight to be “chicken scratches” all up and down a page. Although opinions vary, there is a fairly easy way to learn to read Kanji. This system of writing has, basically, 300 “building blocks.” By combinations of these, all the thousands of Kanji are formed. Shall we try a few?
The character for ka wa (river) comes from the flowing river [Artwork-River Drawing] and looks like this [Artwork-River Drawing]. Now, if you squeeze that river [Artwork-River Drawing], what do you have but the character for water [Artwork-Japanese Characters], mi zu?
A traveler in Japan will find it helpful to know the characters for “entrance” and “exit” that are in train stations and other public places. First take a mouth [Artwork-Mouth Drawing], form it into [Artwork-Japanese Characters] and pronounce it ku chi. Now picture a small river running into a large river [Artwork-River Drawing], square it up [Artwork-Japanese Characters], and you have hai ru or iru, meaning “to enter.” Put the two together [Artwork-Japanese Characters], smooth out the pronunciation, and you have the word for entrance, i ri gu chi, or, literally, ‘enter mouth.’ To leave the station, you must know another character. So think of a flower growing out of the ground [Artwork-Flower Drawing]. Shape it up a bit [Artwork-Japanese Characters], and you have the character for de ru (to leave). Put [Artwork-Japanese Characters] with [Artwork-Japanese Characters] and you have [Artwork-Japanese Characters], meaning ‘coming out mouth,’ or exit, pronounced de guchi. That wasn’t nearly as hard as you expected, was it?
Many of the characters tell a story, as does the man [Artwork-Man Drawing] [Artwork-Japanese Characters], standing by a tree [Artwork-Tree Drawing], which becomes [Artwork-Japanese Characters]. The two together [Artwork-Japanese Characters] constitute the Kanji for vacation, pronounced ya su mi. How about a man leaning on a shovel [Artwork-Man Drawing], next to his horse [Artwork-Horse Drawing]? Put them together and you have e ki, or station [Artwork-Japanese Characters], as in “Tokyo Eki,” where you can catch the bullet train.
There are many, many more to learn, and while requiring effort, it is a thoroughly fascinating and entertaining study. Over the years the writing of Kanji is being progressively simplified. As the older and younger generations differ in their way of writing Kanji, often a letter received from a grandmother or grandfather will have to be read and “translated” by someone living nearby who is in the same age group as the writer of the letter.
Some Reasons for Learning Japanese
There are many reasons that may prompt persons to learn Japanese. With some individuals, it may be simply a hobby that helps to broaden their views of people from a different culture and environment. Others will want to learn Japanese for business reasons. Tourists will enjoy their visit to Japan all the more if they know some basic Japanese. But to gain a real working knowledge of Japanese, one would have to live in this country for some years.
If you wish to learn Japanese, you can visit our site learn japanese. Our word of advice is: “Ganbatte kudasai!,” that is, “Stick to it!”
By: Nick Clipton
About the Author:
hi i m nick from dehradun…
Filed under Languages by on Jan 18th, 2010.