It's easy to overwhelm yourself when you are self-studying. I am teaching myself as well, I have two young daughters whom I am trying to teach also. I know for myself it's hard to find time to study so I have a tendency to immerse myself for a few hours once a week, rather than studying daily. For myself, I am using Japanese for Busy People, the kana version. I try and do a lesson a week. I also do a bit of online study daily, it varies. Sometimes it's just visiting websites and looking through their forums. I also watch quite a bit of Japanese television that I either download or watch through streaming video, there are a number of good websites for that. For vocabulary, I have found it helps to make lists and hang them on the refrigerator, since I spend a good deal of time in there 8-) I can study the lists. I also have some actual first and second grade books from Japan to study Kanji, as well as a number of children's books to practice hiragana. I had some Pimsleur tapes from the library that I would listen to in the car, they were helpful for pronunciation.
It's quite challenging. Sometimes I read posts from young students who are studying in college and even the first year students seem far ahead of me. But you really need to work out what's best for you, what is working for me might not be right for you. I think you need to focus on your goal--conversing at the family reunion--and work your studies around that. However, as someone pointed out, March is pretty early for actually being able to converse. It's one thing to learn phrases, another to actually be able to converse. Maybe what you could try is to learn a few polite phrases. It's probably going to be obvious to people that you don't speak much Japanese, but I would think your wife's relatives would appreciate you making an effort to speak their language. Ganbatte! Donna Pedaci ----- Original Message ----- From: Doc To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 10:26 AM Subject: [Japanese_Language] New Student I am a 54 year old physician living in Rockwall, Tx. USA. My wife is Japanese and from Kumamoto Pref. (Yamaga). Thjough I am blessed to have a native speaker living with me I don't seem to have the "knack" to learn a foreign language. I have half a dozen books, tapes, and computer courses. Perhaps i have overwhelmed myself with different study methods. I am looking for advice on the best way to study Japanese. I will be going to a family reunion next march and would like to be able to converse a little with my wife's family. Any suggestions are welcomed! Bill Boone ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS a.. Visit your group "Japanese_Language" on the web. b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/9rHolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Japanese_Language/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
