Learning kanji

[Shotokan_Tigress]

Hi

I would very much like to learn the Japanese language, but I don't have access to a teacher of any sort and have to manage on my own. I have looked around the internet and found a few useful sites but I could do with some help. Tips, for instant, from those who have experience in the area or even a link you consider useful. Thanks in advance for any replies.

[bushido_man96]

If you want to speak the language, then I would suggest perhaps the Rosetta Stone program. I've heard they are really good.

As for writing it, you would need to find someone familiar with the language, or a resource that can familiarize you with it. Not sure what to tell you there, other than trying a Google search.

[sensei8]

Personally, I've always found it was much harder for me to write the Kanji than it was for me to learn the language. I'm more versed at the speaking than I am of the writing.

[isshinryu5toforever]

Rosetta Stone would be the best. I've used it before. It's an immersion simulator. You learn like you're a kid. You see items and learn the word without trying to relate it to your native language. It takes a while to get used to it. As far as writing, you need to get a book on kanji. It will teach you proper stroke order at the very least. East Asian languages are pretty difficult to learn without a proper teacher.

[bushido_man96]

There may also be some books on caligraphy out there that may focus on the Japanese written language.

[JiuJitsuNation]

I have several languages on rosetta stone. I like it. The Japanese and Chinese mandarin are difficult. The one I am focused on is Portuguese. Makes sense right?

[sensei8]

Rosetta Stone has a kanji tutorial as well? Go figure...cool!

[isshinryu5toforever]

Yeah it does, but books are much better. You could get Japan's version of the 1000 Chinese character book. It's the primer that was used for children to learn Kanji/Hanja/every day written language (China). You have to make sure that it's Kanji specific though, because Mandarin now uses the simplified version of a lot of characters, Hanja use only the old ones, and Kanji kind of mixes the two together. Something similar to this would work nicely:

http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Learn-Kanji-Introduction-Components/dp/4770020686/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1287530202&sr=8-2

[Shotokan_Tigress]

Cheers everyone