So you want to learn Japanese eh?

So you want to learn Japanese eh? Great choice! The language is fun, the culture is fascinating, and the food is delicious!

Here's a few tips to get you started.

1. Study everything! Don't look for one or two resources and expect to learn everything from them. When someone asks which book, CD, computer program, or website is best to learn from, I say, "All of them!" I learned something from every Japanese language-related book I've ever read. Study a lot and you'll learn a lot.

2. Start with the basics. The book "Japanese: The Manga Way" by Wayne P. Lammers gives a good, fun overview of the language. So does Tae Kim's "Guide to Japanese" website ( http://www.guidetojapanese.org ) which is very detailed. Kim Allen's "Japanese for the Western Brain" site (http://kimallen.sheepdogdesign.net/Japan… ) gives an overview while focusing on the differences between Japanese and English, and is very helpful. If you need an online dictionary, jisho.org ( http://www.jisho.org ) is a great site to use.

3. As you continue your study, develop each of the four areas of language learning: Hearing, Speaking, Reading, and Writing
--Hearing: Go to JapanesePod101.com ( http://www.japanesepod101.com ) and sign up for their free podcasts. They range from beginner to advanced and will be a great resource in your study.
--Speaking: Talk to Japanese people every chance you get. Shared Talk (http://www.sharedtalk.com ) has voice chat through which you can talk to Japanese people and they're generally very supportive.
--Reading: Memorize the hiragana ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiragana ), then the katakana ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katakana ). After that, you can start memorizing kanji and reading japanese manga (which you can purchase from Amazon -- http://www.amazon.co.jp )
--Writing: Start an online blog at Lang-8 ( http://www.lang-8.com ). When you post, native speakers will correct your sentences. It's a great resource.

4. Take a class. The good thing about taking a Japanese class is that it forces you to study, even if you don't want to. It also provides a nice structure for learning the language, along with someone who can correct your pronunciation.

5. Go to Japan! This is the number one, fastest, easiest, guaranteed-to-work way to learn Japanese. Even if it's just for a visit, being immersed in the language is a huge benefit to study. Japanese people are usually really supportive of foreigners learning their language and their encouragement will be a great boost for you.

6. Never give up! Japanese is a really hard language. It requires a lot of memorization and practice. Don't expect to be fluent even after a few years of study (especially if you're not studying in Japan). Language learning is a life-long pursuit.

7. HAVE FUN! This is the most important tip I could give you. As long as you're having fun learning the language, then you will be successful. Always try to find ways of making the learning enjoyable.

これから頑張ってね!