j_evemstar

There are websites online to help you practice conversation. I forgot the name, but here is a Java site hosted by Rosetta stone where you can opt to chat/call with a person fluent in Japanese (of course there are also other languages). Hope this helps.

Haha this is very convincing and I hear this from other of my friends as well! Kidding aside, I just feel good whenever I can read characters. I chose this over Korean, Chinese, etc because also of my passion with Japanese food.

You will eventually get the hang of those as you spend more time studying Japanese. broknkyboard's suggestion is also correct, but it will not be quick and will take you years :-)

Of course, but it depends on the type of student you are. If you're interested more when you're in a group, then it's better if you enroll in a class. Otherwise, if you're comfortable with studying on your own and reviewing with the use of a computer, then this is suggested. Hope this helps.

Very, very often! In SMS, work chat client, even in emails! It's easier than actually typing a smiley since L is close to O hahahaha! Also, whenever I pretend to have interest in someone's story, I always use it too. Guilty as charged. I know others are too!

Definitely subbed. That way I can listen to actual pronunciation and discover slang! Sometimes though subtitles are not accurate, well anyway there are Japanese words without direct English translation.

When in business, Japanese use keigo. This is actually the aspect of Japanese language that I really find difficulty. Like English, the longer the sentences are, the politer they get (or maybe it's just me). In any case, yes honorifics become different as the ranks go higher.

My method was listening to a podcast. I listened to japanesepod101 and it kept me interested for about half a year then I shifted to studying in school so I can really practice speaking. Hope that helps.

Master pronunciation. English words have many mixtures of consonants, not really syllabic like Japanese. And like others, watch anime!

Oh yea, I also did this. It helped master pronunciation and also paid that my native tongue's pronunciation is similar to Japanese.

I get asked this question a lot of times. To keep it short, I love Japanese technology, specifically transportation. Also, my favorite is Japanese cuisine. Makes me proud of myself when I can read recipe instructions in Japanese.

I don't like Romaji, it's spelling is also difficult! However, if the purpose of studying is for survival purposes, like a week in Japan for business, then it's convenient.

I feel motivated because I treat studying the language as a hobby. I don't feel it's a burden every time I have to face the deck of cards to practice vocabulary. I'm still shy though in speaking straight, a little scared to avoid mistakes.

Admit this is a good reference material. Thanks for also including the stroke order! Actually nowadays I find it difficult to read characters all written in hiragana..

I self-studied Japanese for a year, this includes Hiragana. Perhaps that's the reason why my Japanese handwriting is bad. :bored: