Quote:
Originally Posted by Hadaka
UNIVERSITY?! You're just so lucky! Imagine how is it to learn kana without any interactive lessons! But I made it  So horay to everyone! |
Actually, I don't take the actual course (I bought the textbooks regardless). There are only 15 seats in each course for a university of 40k+ students. Instead, we have several student-led and one professor led organization that teaches Japanese. Unfortunately, the professor-led one is full of students that have been studying for years (or are Japanese transfer students), and there is no real room for a newbie like me to get in there despite how kind they are.
I use Japanese pod 101 for alot of stuff, but I am well traveled at learning languages. One, my mother is a German (Advanced Placement certified) teacher for my old high school with 23+ years of teaching experience (and quite the hardass even on me). Two, I took German I-III and made A's. I was given more work than the regular students, and I was forced at home to do my homework and studying. If you can learn a language proficiently by use of learning techniques and regiments of practice, you can do the same with other languages.
Speaking of learning techniques, we used do a variety of interactive dialouges in German class. We'd create a short skit in groups by writing and translating, then we would act our parts out. I found that helped me alot in conversational German when I traveled Southern Germany and Austria in 2005. Of course, this technique is applicable to Japanese and other languages.
In fact, the only real thing different about learning Japanese and German (to me) was learning two more alphabets and some kanji (which I need to get back on). In both languages you are going to have to learn vocab, grammar, santax, genders or formalities of words (in German the particle before the word can very based on 3+ forms EX: Das/Die/Der = the based on the gender of the subject.), and other nuances.
On a side note: I am suprised to see so little teaching positions for Japanese teachers in schools. Anime is an integral part of alot of Texan kids (lol we have ADV Films and Newtype USA in Houston). They mostly don't give a shit to learn, but there would be enough reason to try with them.