Another Brain Training Question

[ShotokanKid]

This one's about language-- I speak Japanese-- or did. My mom is Japanese and my dad speaks Japanese well enough to pass for a native over the phone. My sister just got back from Japan where she took Japanese, which she already spoke very well.

So here's my question: How do you retrain yourself in a language that you are forgetting? I've been listening to audio files trying to brush up. My main problem is talking. For the most part, I can understand what is said but I don't speak because I'm afraid that I'll mess something up. In the past, when I was speaking to a Japanese karate instructor (a very high ranking one, I should add), I accidentally said the wrong word and it had the same meaning but it was less polite-- how an adult would speak to a child. This was an embarrassing experience but I didn't know any better-- no one had taught me that.

I'm also currently taking French 3 and Chinese 1 at school. Is it possible to improve in all three of the languages; can you make your brain divide itself into compartments, or will they all end up running together and you end up saying "Bonjour" when you meant to say "Ni Hao" or "Ziajian" when you meant to say "Sayonara"? What is the best way of "making compartments"?

So the questions are:

1) What's the best way to brush up on a language you are forgetting?

2) How do you make compartments in your brain?

One thing I forgot to mention-- my church is a Japanese-American church so I have access to native speakers besides my family. I suppose one of the things I can do is ask someone to work with me there.

[bushido_man96]

My main problem is talking. For the most part, I can understand what is said but I don't speak because I'm afraid that I'll mess something up.

The answer is simple: you have to speak the language. I pointed out the quote you made above because this is the very atmosphere you need to learn you language. If you don't ever speak it and hear it spoken back, you won't get it down. Even if you mess something up, who cares? Then, the person you are talking with can help you figure out what you are actually trying to say, and then help you to get it right. That is how you have to learn a language.

Believe me, I speak from experience. I took 3 years of Spanish in high school, and was pretty good at it, as far as writing and vocabulary go. Hearing it and translating it was tougher, especially hearing it from Spanish speakers (hearing an English speaker speak Spanish, and then hearing a Spanish speaker speak it are two different monsters!). I then had some time away from it, but took some more classes in college for it. It came back pretty quickly, but then, I never used the opportunities that I had to talk to Spanish speakers to really get the language down. So, all that time squandered, and I really wish I had it now.

Don't be like me. Talk with Japanese speakers in Japanese. Don't be scared. Do it. It will be the best thing you do.

As for learning the other 2 languages, the same thing applies. If you get to where you don't have someone to speak them with, they will begin to slip.

[lordtariel]

I agree here. It's one thing to listen to cds and read books, but the fastest way to learn a language is conversationally. If you know people who speak Japanese even as a second language, spend a good amount of time when speaking with them in that language. Not only that, instructional courses tend to lean more towards formal language and not what the everyday speaker uses.

[bushido_man96]

...instructional courses tend to lean more towards formal language and not what the everyday speaker uses.

This is an excellent point. It is easier to learn the slang and jargon of the times when actually speaking and asking what it means.

[AikiGuy]

Good answers by everyone else about brushing up on the Japanese. So I won't bother to repeat any of it.

As for the compartments, I will suggest trying to do one at a time. I believe they would run together as you suggested. If you can alternate semesters (or years), I think it will be easier. For me, learning two languages would be very confusing. It's the same as martial arts. Most people agree it is easier to learn one style well, then start another one than to learn two simultaneously. At first, you can understand two different concepts individually. But it's hard to build up habits when you have to switch from one to the other depending on which class you are in. The result is that it may never become a true habit at all. You may just rely on your memory which is good for short term things but not so much for long term retention.

[NightOwl]

3 at once might be a little bit much. I am starting to study Chinese now, but have already been studying Japanese for 6 years so when I speaking in a foreign language, usually Japanese feels familiar enough not to be awkward and mix it up in my chinese. Then again, they are very different languages, just like french, Chinese, and Japanese are all very different from each other. I think it might be best to get a good base in one before the others though, and that way you won't get them mixed up as much when you start your second one.

[wingedMonkey]

My advice is basically like everyone else's just speak a lot to native speakers, get into conversations with them, and listen to them also in their conversations.

Although I know how you feel, I know Spanish and some Korean but am losing it because I don't practice it. The reason I don't practice it is because I'm afraid that I'll mess up so...Learn from others! lol.

[mecalder]

A few years back, I didn't know any Japanese at all. But I like to watch anime, and most of the anime that I watch is in Japanese with English subtitles. So from watching it, I've picked up a little of the Language. Not sure if you like those type of shows or not, but if you do, you can pick up some of the Language that way.