Studying Japanese Language/Literature/History

i'm glad you liked live mocha boutux. I actually had my account for about 2-3 months before I used it actively and I haven't been using it much in the last month. I just float between different resources (btw, making a list is a good suggestion). Sometimes I "get" things and other times they just don't sink in. This probably has to do with a ton of different factors, but I've found that by having a variety of Japanese sources, I am learning all the time (kinda like the AJATT link Lady posted). Just keep at it, regardless of what method (or combination of methods) you use.

that's pretty much what i'm doing Kawaiko, i have a short attention span sometimes lol so i find instead of just following one program like livemocha all the time, if i use a few different methods i get more out of them, i start to catch things in one that i learned in another and just seeing it in different contexts helps it sink in better.
but at the same time, if you don't often go back to the continuous lesson type programs like livemocha or rosetta, you start to forget stuff. i skipped some of the written tests in livemocha and went back to do a couple and i don't remember anything, i will have to go back and re-do some of the lessons. but with the irasshai videos he often re-visits things from previous lessons to help keep it fresh in your memory.
like the ajatt blog says, you have to review the same material over and over a certain number of times before it sinks in, and even then you need to go back and review it after you've learned it, but less frequently over time.
it's so true.. i was doing this hiragana quiz every night before logging off for bed, and after a few days i was getting none wrong. i skipped it for a couple days and then went away for the weekend, came back and did the quiz and got a bunch wrong, ones i was sure i knew. less than a week without reviewing them and it was almost like starting back at square one.

a list of resources is a good idea.

here's a little word of encouragement I found in a blog: http://ta133.wordpress.com/

wrote: if he could achieve this level of success for what he wanted to learn in such a short time then i can certainly be able to speak and understand japanese too right?

I totally agree. That's why I shared it. Stories like that motivate me. I don't feel like only a handful of exceptionally brilliant people can learn a foreign language after the age of 10 or whatever. Side note about kanji: i think knowing kanji makes learning the rest easier, but definitely do what's working for you :)

Rant/Question for people who speak a language that rolls their Rs:

Do you catch yourself accidentally rolling your Rs when you speak Japanese? It's a mistake that keeps slipping out since I first started learning the language. I know it's bad because all the "tough guys" are the only ones who roll their Rs in dramas. Has anyone else had this experience? ugh frustrating. *sigh/end of rant* it felt good to get that off my chest, lol.

yay u started the resource thread. i started to do it yesterday but then got distracted with smtng at work. i just found a whole lot of ipod apps for japanese learning. i'll post it to the thread. and i'll msg skye and rain to see if there is a way to keep the thread from getting buried as the forum grows.

question: what kinds of resources are you guys interested in? i try to post them if I can.

okay skye and rain was nice enough to stick the resource thread to the top of this section. from hence forth no worries about the thread getting buried. yatta!

sitirahimah wrote:
i think better understanding of verbs and conjugation might make it easier. for most things i find it easier to remember something if i know the whys and hows behind it. if i can learn the order that a sentence goes together i might remember more sentences, that sort of thing

same here. i've got kana down. it was the 1st thing i really taught myself in my note book. now i want to learn gramar and sentence structure. i'm like u. it works better if i understand the how and why. makes it easier to apply after. i need to go back to watching the irrassai videos. i stopped at video 9. i think streaming it is getting in the way. i should ask the uploader if he has a download link for the series.