hi! i am self teaching myself japanese because i wont be able to take any classes for a few years. anways, does anyone know any good ways to learn japanese self taught? any good books you recomend or techniques?

I also am doing self study. Some books I love to use are

-Name:Japanese-English/English Japanese Dictionary
=Publishing-Random House
=Author-Seigo Nakao
=Price-$12.95
This just helps with looking up japanese and english words. Big, but very useful.

-Name:Japanese Particle Book
=Publishing-Shambhala
=Author-Taeko Kamiya
=Price-$24.95
This is 60 particle and thier 188 uses. This helps ALOT with senctences and how to use particle. Expensive, but a great book

-Name:Japanese Verb & essentials of Grammer
=Publishing-Mc Graw Hill
=Author-Rita L. Lampkin
=Price-$8.95
If you pick up any of these 3 books, this is the best. It helps so much with grammer, shows 7 of the verb forms, and common endings. Makes alot of things make sense. only $9 so its a great reference.

As for teq, I say try to make sure everything you learn sink in. I write down the thing im studing over and over(10-20 times)(thing likewords, verbs, endings, etc) after I memorize 5, I quiz myself, if I forget any, write them over again. Then move on to the next 5.
Having someone study with you is always a plus. you can change some common english words with japanese equvilent that you learned. Try to practice speaking it. People will think your wierd for talking to yourself in another language, but atleast you know another language XD
if you meet someone who can speak english and japanese, or is also studing japanese, try and practice. Everyone makes mistakes, wont kill you. They can help correct you. Also, ask alot of questions to them, anything your books dont cover. Don't give up ^_^ Learning a Language will take time, but if you stick with is, it will be so worth it. if you have any questions, or want to practice japanese with me, email me, message me on msn, w/e works XD I will be more than willing to help you, Im in the same position as you. Ive been self teaching for about a year now. Good luck ^_^
(email/msn messanger-)Sumwheat@msn.com

Books and Classes will definately help you learn japanese gramatically and the basics, but its more about how much ur surrounded with japanese language that ultimately helps u learn. Like, im currently taking japanese AP coming fall, and i can say this: watching drama, or listening to music, or animes can definately help u find more fluency in japanese. I can now about almost watch most animes without subs, or at least understand at least 1 word in each line.

*kanjis, r on the other hand, all about memorization. You probably cant learn that from like listening to music. If u do, u have to tell me how :blink: .

i recommend Minna no Nihongo series,
and yea, watching drama will help alot in fluency,
anime more in vocab, because anime characters speak slower...
in the drama their like racing....too fast T_T

thanks everyone! i'm gonna pick up some books later when they come it!
:toast :toast KoNbai!

i think its "kanbai" XD not konbai =x

I recommend minna no nihongo or shin no nihongo. (There are almost the same! Only characters in it change :P )

hehe XD oops

It's "Kanpai" for our "Cheers" ^_^ Kanbai means sold out or 2 things dealing with plum tree thingy(depending on the kanji)

XD Looks like you all need Japanese lessons.. haha jk jk jk

Thanks for the booklist.. hmm, I have the Random House dictionary, and my library has Japanese Verbs and Essentials of Grammar (I've checked it out a few times). I'm gonna have to see where I can get those other ones!

whoops my bad XD
coz im lazy at studying T_T
and im affected by my chinese lol in chinese kanpai is gan bei,
so i thought its a b =/