Make Learning Japanese Fun

Ossu, nanika atta. Burento de gozaimasu.

Boom. Just like the videos. And yes, I am completely aware that I’m mixing politeness levels. I just like how it sounds.

So, I was at work, and I was wondering how I can learn at work. It’s not like Denny’s where I can have my headphones in the whole time. And then I thought of something.

What if I started learning the names of the products we sell?

So, if I saw some dog food, I would think “ドッグフード”. Got it?

Everyday, we have a chance to learn something in our L2. Just a simple little game (ゲーム).

“But Brent,” you may ask. “AJATT says not to learn words, only learn sentences.”

Well, fictional reader that obviously hasn’t read my blog before, let me let you in on a BIG secret. The secret that will change how you look at learning Japanese. A wondrous secret that will open your eyes to so very much.

AJATT is NOT a Method.

Do we have to go over that everytime? Don’t try to follow AJATT exactly. You won’t do it. You’re a perfectionist. I know I am. So you know how hard it is to do something like that if you’re a perfectionist. You’ll never, EVER finish learning Japanese if you have a perfectionist attitude about it.

Trust me, I know.

It’s been 5 years since I started “learning Japanese”.

5. Years.

And I still barely know Japanese. All the Kanji I learned? Gone. The kana? Well, not gone, but I don’t remember the ones I don’t see very often. And do you know why?

I stopped interacting with Japanese. I started rapping to improve my Japanese, and then I completely forgot that goal.

So, learn Japanese the wrong way. Make mistakes. Break the rules. (That’s what they were meant for, were they not?)

Have fun. That’s the number one rule. Hell, that’s the only rule. Because if you’re having fun, you’ll make yourself play more. Kinda like crack, you always want another hit.

I feel like I strayed a bit, but honestly, I feel that this all goes together. Because by making little games for yourself, like my word game, then you’ll constantly be winning. And that’s good for a healthy psyche.

 

Well, let me end my rant now. I will have a new video up on Friday, so expect some learning to GO DOWN.

 

 

A…mess of changes?

Just a quick update. I am cleaning house.

All of the update posts will be taken down, and I’m going to be tagging my site and make it more readable. This looks awful, honestly.

I’ve been going through a lot, and that’s not really pertinent to this post. Well, other than as an excuse. I’m going to be updating weekly. (Every Wednesday!) So be on the lookout. I will also be adding a youtube playlist section, where I put songs and videos I’ve really liked.

So, honestly, for the people that read this site, I apologize, but I will be back in full force. Expect more videos, and a LOT more japanese.

Thanks again for reading.

-Brent

Google+ is Amazing!

Yo, Brent here.

Seriously, finally got my invite, and now I’m using it, and it’s so good. It’s also really good for learning Japanese, in the same way that Facebook is, but slightly easier.

The way you put people in circles really helps you out, because you don’t have to share with everybody. So, you can put some people in your Following Circle, or even make a Practicing Japanese circle, and just send Japanese messages out, and – Unlike Twitter – you can ask for feedback on your Japanese.

So, if you have a Google+ account, follow me for more Japanese on a Dime updates, And check me out for new updates soon. Been pretty busy with everything, but I will be updating more often.

See ya!

I know I said I don’t follow the leader, but if donations are the only way for me to get video games and blow, then dammit I’m gonna try. Click the little button below, you know you want to…

5 Awesome Tools for Learning Japanese

Yo, Brent here.
おっす、ブレントだ。

I don’t use enough Japanese in my posts. So, I’m gonna try to use it more now on my main blog.
However, still not good enough, so it’ll just be the intro and the outro for now lol

Anyway, back on topic. I’ve been looking around, and I found a few really cool sites and tools for learning Japanese.

5. Rikaichan/Rikaikun

Well, if you’ve been learning Japanese for a bit, you probably already know about this, but I thought I’d add it anyway. It’s ridiculously useful. It lets you hover over Japanese text and it’ll tell you what it means. Basic tool, but invaluable when you’re doing active learning.

Here’s the links: Rikaichan for Firefox and Rikaikun for Google Chrome

4. Furigana Injector

This one is very useful, but you need to download HTML Ruby for the full effect. If you don’t, the furigana will end up beside the kanji in parentheses. But, it turns that wall of kanji into readable kana, and that’s always good to me.

And…BAM. Here’s the links for Firefox and Chrome.

3. Kanji Koohii

This is one of my favorite sites ever. Now, there is a bit of AJATT hate, but at the same time, there’s a lot of people on there working on it, so it just depends on who to talk to. However, everyone is amazingly helpful and nice. Now, there are two sites I’m gonna link here. Kanji Koohii is an online SRS basically, but it only works for Kanji. It keeps up with a lot of your stats too, so it’s really fun to use. There’s also a script that is RTK Lite. Instead of learning all 2000-something, you learn the 1100 Kanji from JLPT 2 down, and 92 supporting kanji. That’s what I’m doing, but seeing as I haven’t worked on it in a while, it’s hard for me to remember. It’s a Greasemonkey script, and I’ll link it here.

Greasemonkey Script, and RTK Lite thread.

Kanji Koohii

Koohii Forum

3. Kanji Damage

Now, I know I’ve mentioned this one before, but I really like his style. Shultzz in general wins the internets. Now, If you want to learn Kanji with Yo momma jokes, then he’s the guy to look to. The system is very similar to RTK, however, his stories are much more interesting, and he has a section under each of the kanji with compounds, and he ranks both the kanji and compunds on how useful they actually are. He also takes out some of the Jouyou Kanji, but if you’re not studying for JLPT, then it’s not a big deal, cause he gets rid of the one’s that aren’t seen a lot at all.
I really recommend him if you’re stuck on RTK, because it’s just more interesting. And if you combine Kanji Koohii and Kanji Damage, I think it would work really well. Just put his stories in the section that you have the option for in Kanji Koohii.

Kanji Damage

2. Sabotenweb

This is an older site, and I don’t see it recommended a lot, but it does have a lot of useful sites on it. Some of the sites may be down now, because it is rather old, but it has links to a lot of popular sites (Like Tae Kim’s Guide) and some ones that typically go under the radar (Like The Japanes Page). Definitely check this one out when you have a chance.

Sabotenweb

1. Lang-8

You knew I was gonna make this my number one, didn’t you you sly dog? I love Lang-8, and I tell everyone about it when I can. You can write a blog in Japanese, and people will correct you. Then you can just drop those sentences in an SRS and you’re good. Make sure you correct other peoples blogs though! It gets kind of addictive in all honesty. Also, PRO TIP: Write you blog in both English and Japanese, so they understand what you’re trying to say. It helps both of you out.

Lang-8

Well, that’s all I have for now, but stay tuned, because I’m gonna have more updates soon.

じゃあまたな！
Talk to you later!

 

I know I said I don’t follow the leader, but if donations are the only way for me to get video games and blow, then dammit I’m gonna try. Click the little button below, you know you want to…

How I Use Facebook for Learning Japanese

Yo, Brent here.

Sorry it’s been a while since I’ve updated, been busy. Finally got a job, and standing for 8 hours straight sucks a lot more than I remember…

Anyway, I found a really awesome post by Chris Brogan, and I finally have something new to write about. If you want to have an idea of the next post, I’m going to eventually write most, if not all of those posts.

So, let me tell you ways I use Facebook to learn Japanese. Now, there are a lot of good ways to do it if you don’t mind friending complete strangers lol

First, I use the Find Friends link, and pick a city in Japan (Osaka is pretty gdlk, but I like Osakans lol)

Then, I go through people who’s picture interest me, and I look at the things they like. If we share interests, I’ll send a friend request, and then I can see their wall (Although, a lot of people don’t have their walls protected)

Then I just chat with people. It’s a really good way to make some new friends, and also a way to get some exposure on your (probably English-dominated!) Facebook wall. I mean, if you have to use social media (And you know I do!) then you may as well use it to learn Japanese too.

Another source of easy Japanese immersion is just simply Japanese pages. It’s much better for people who are still wary about friending random people. You still need to search people, but if you see a page they like in Japanese, you can just like that page, and BAM! +1 right there.

Also, in a semi-related aside, I really can’t wait until I get my Google+ invite. It looks amazing.

Anyway, try and get creative, and tell me ways you use Facebook (and other social media) to your advantage to learn Japanese.

P.S. Your Facebook account is in Japanese right?

 

I know I said I don’t follow the leader, but if donations are the only way for me to get video games and blow, then dammit I’m gonna try. Click the little button below, you know you want to…

MAJA the Anime Rapper – Check this guy out!

Yo, Brent here.

So, I’ve got a new person you should have a listen to. Yeah, he’s American. However, just take a listen to this, and you’ll see why I’m saying this.

This guy is who got me into rapping to start with, and I really hope I can start using more Japanese in my raps, because I love how it sounds. He has a CD out, called
The Amalgam Project. You can find it on iTunes, and you should pick it up if you like his music. It’s a great CD.

Yea, I know it’s more English that a completely AJATT method needs, however, I don’t completely subscribe to AJATT. But, he’s definitely a cool guy, and I hope you like his music.

Check him out on twitter at MAJATRON.

I know I said I don’t follow the leader, but if donations are the only way for me to get video games and blow, then dammit I’m gonna try. Click the little button below, you know you want to…

Some cool tools for your veiwing pleasure

Yo, Brent here.

I have some plans for some more freebies (A Blazblue bilingual set is in the works for both games!) But I figure I would let you guys in on nonstoptube.

It lets you put in a search term, and then play a nonstop playlist on things based on what you entered. So, definitely check it out, and use the hell out of it.

Anyway, I have to head to bed, cause I got a long day ahead of me tomorrow. Catch ya later!

I know I said I don’t follow the leader, but if donations are the only way for me to get video games and blow, then dammit I’m gonna try. Click the little button below, you know you want to…