kmb

I don't have a Mac computer but I do have an iPhone - if you do end up releasing it as an app please let me know, as I'd be interested!

It looks to me like you have no focus hence the motivation is not strong. First, why do you need to learn Nihonggo? Second, what are the secondary reasons for learning the language? If learning Nihonggo is just for added knowledge, your objective is weak hence the motivation is also weak. Just my thoughts, no offense.

No offense taken! I'm actually living in Japan right now, because my husband is here for work. So as a result I would like to learn it to a decent conversational level. It's hard when I have to go shopping for groceries, for instance, and I am stuck looking for something for a long time because I don't know how to explain to the staff what I am looking for. So that's my motivation. I want to feel comfortable in my surroundings by being competent at the language.

I think a lot of people find it easier to write rather than speak because writing can be less immediate. When we are speaking, if there are awkward pauses or things don't flow it can completely throw us off. Sitting and writing in a language gives our brain a chance to process stuff in a different way.

I also think that's why some people can listen to a language and understand it, but respond in their mother tongue. For instance, my grandparents were born in Italy but my mom was born abroad. My grandparents spoke both Italian and English, but my mom would never speak Italian - she understood it 100% though because she would answer any question they asked her in Italian, just in English back to them!

For some reason the word "rural" always trips me up. I can say it, of course, but I have to concentrate or it comes out wrong!

I hear you - my fear comes from sounding stupid or like I don't know what I'm doing.

I'm one of those people that likes being good at something straight away. Sadly with learning a language it doesn't happen overnight and I have to keep reminding myself that. Mistakes and everything are natural, I figure that if I use the language incorrectly hopefully someone will be nice enough to correct me and then I'll learn from it.

Right now I'm just learning it through repetition. Mnemonics help me a lot, and developing those associations through linking it to something else - I plan on making some flash cards from a resource I found on here. I think it'll help a lot with remembering.

For me personally, I think I'd struggle with it - I am finding it hard enough with the one language I am trying to learn!

However, I guess it really depends on the languages you were trying to learn all at once. There are a lot of languages with commonalities, so if that was the case then I imagine it would be a lot easier to learn many at once. However, if they were all extremely different, then I would have to assume it would be hard to tackle.

I know this thread is a little old, but I just wanted to thank you for posting this. I'd been looking for a similar type resource, to try and make associations like that between hiragana and other English words so I could have that sort of link.

I'm going to see about printing it out and turning them into little flash cards.

I'm kind of struggling with motivation right now because I don't really know where to start with learning more Japanese. Yes - I know there's a ton of resources online, but I find "teaching myself" hard. I don't have the time to go to a class, with a baby and a husband that works long hours it's hard to even get normal stuff around the house done some days.

I wish I had the opportunity and time to attend a physical class - something about the presence of others and physically writing stuff down, reading, having worksheets and homework - it all motivates me.

I don't know if there's a limit but I certainly know that some people have an affinity for picking up languages. I also know quite a few people that speak multiple languages and have said that once you know one different language, it's almost easier to learn more - I suppose you pick up certain associations, certain methods of learning too.

For me though, I struggle enough with my mother tongue that I'd be happy enough to know ONE extra language 

I think the younger the better. I feel like if you're learning it at a young age, you just presume there are two different ways for saying things or for asking questions.

I have a young daughter and ideally I want to get her enrolled in Japanese pre-school whilst we are living here, because I just feel like if she gets an understanding of the language early, it will stick with her.

If there's a technique to learn a language that fast, I'd love to know what it is - I have been living in Japan 12 months, with 2 years to go - and I still don't know the language apart from a few basics.

Sure, 15 minutes of intensive studying might give you a few words or phrases but I certainly don't think you'll get much more out of it than that in that time frame.

I'm learning Japanese right now because I'm living here right now! My husband is here for work, and he has a decent grasp on the language but I'm a beginner.

I want to feel comfortable with conversing with people, so that's what inspired me to learn the language.

Have any of you started to learn Japanese whilst actually in Japan?

That's my situation right now, and I'm hoping that being here will assist in speeding up the learning process. Even if you're not learning Japanese necessarily, I would still love to hear from you if you've had any experience in learning a language whilst being in the country that language is spoken in. How did being immersed in the culture and hearing the language every day speed up your learning process (if at all?)

I'm Kim, and I'm an Aussie living in Japan.

My husband ended up getting assigned to work here for 3 years (we still have two years left).

I've been promising myself that I'm going to learn more Japanese than just my few basic phrases so I figured I'd turn to the internet to help me out!

Looking forward to hopefully learning from others!