Anyone actually learning Japanese?

Hi^^

I was just wondering if any of these OS UTAU makers are actually trying to learn Japanese? I started learning Japanese (by myself OTL) four years ago, yet I'm still not confident enough in my ability to post my nico descriptions in Japanese.....;_;

So, anyway, anyone out there?

/raiseshand

I'm in my second year, about to enter my third. My school offers the language.

Not just yet, I want to learn Chinese first as I'm an East Asian Studies major. After Chinese, I'll move onto Japanese and then Korean.

Hopefully I won't die.

はい！私はせいとの日本語です。私のせんせいの日本語は日本人です。かれは六十さいです。

/is shot
(Please excuse any errors I made, I was too lazy to get my notes to check.)

Yes! I am a student of the Japanese language. My Japanese teacher is a Japanese person. He's sixty. (or something.)

My school doesn't offer Japanese, and I'm actually glad. I have an excuse to make my family shell out money for me to get one on one lessons.
(He's not a private tutor, he's just an old guy who will teach people who come and pay him.)

@Misha - Luckyyyyyy! New Hampshire(Zzzz) has only Spanish and French, except for the occasional German -_-'

@Zeny Good luck^^

@suthethird lol old people orz
there are no tutors of any kind where I live, and my parents wouldn't have enough money for that anyway.

I've tried.. I've checked out books, and cds/cassettes and stuff on the language at the public library, but, alas.. And it doesn't help when your family doesn't support learning it very much [YOU SHOULD LEARN GERMAN YOU'RE GERMAN RHRHGRHRGRH] ;w;

But Manga University has really good tools to learn the language, I've tried to talk parents into getting me some of their materials. But that was also met with [WHY, YOU WONT LEARN GERMAN. WHEN YOU GUNNA USE JAPANESE UHHH!?!]

;n;

vio. wrote:I've tried.. I've checked out books, and cds/cassettes and stuff on the language at the public library, but, alas.. And it doesn't help when your family doesn't support learning it very much [YOU SHOULD LEARN GERMAN YOU'RE GERMAN RHRHGRHRGRH] ;w;

But Manga University has really good tools to learn the language, I've tried to talk parents into getting me some of their materials. But that was also met with [WHY, YOU WONT LEARN GERMAN. WHEN YOU GUNNA USE JAPANESE UHHH!?!]

;n;

that stinks

but my family isn't really supportive either. whenever i try to practice my Japanese by speaking it, my family's like, "Shut up! Stop talking in Chinese or whatever!" even though my sister speaks in Spanish all the time and doesn't get in trouble ;3;

moeloid wrote:
"Shut up! Stop talking in Chinese or whatever!"

Oh man oh god oh man is that a pet peeve of mine. I hate it when people think every Asian language is Chinese (even though evidence shows that most Asian languages DID come from Chinese). It's like, you try listening to some Japanese music and someone's like "TURN DOWN THAT CHINESE CRAP".

The other day someone got a notice at their door in Korean telling them to keep it down, and they were like "I think it's Vietnamese or something". =|

Well, since our school only offers Spanish, French, and Latin (lol Missouri) I bought one of those learning book thingies, but I always forget to look at it... I'm planning on actually getting serious about learning it over the summer. ^__^ My parents want me to learn Chinese instead, though, because apparently China's going to take over the world (again, lol Missouri). But they're kind of right, Chinese is definitely a good language to learn if you want to go into business because China has such a big presence in the international market, but I'm not going into business and this thread isn't about Chinese. So. ^__^;;

Quizlet is a good site for learning languages, though, they have quizzes on vocabulary and conjugation and everything. =)

@Zeny
GRRR same. It's like saying English and Spanish are pretty much the same language just because they share an alphabet. x__x

Chasing Fireflies wrote:
@Zeny
GRRR same. It's like saying English and Spanish are pretty much the same language just because they share an alphabet. x__x

Or worse yet is when people think Thai and Chinese are the same. I look at them and go "What are you stupid?".

Zeny wrote:

Chasing Fireflies wrote:
@Zeny
GRRR same. It's like saying English and Spanish are pretty much the same language just because they share an alphabet. x__x

Or worse yet is when people think Thai and Chinese are the same. I look at them and go "What are you stupid?".

yeah....I'm pretty sure it's a stereotype kinda thing.

@Chasing Fireflies ooh Quizlet sounds good. I'll have to check that out sometime.....but I did a practice SAT on Japanese on the SAT website and I almost completely passed it :3

Chinese is important, but I would rather learn a language relevant to my interests.

Also, China wont even get to a high state of power, at least not through PR means.
They wont get on simply through deeds. They have too many policies that conflict heavily with the world, so to be honest, I don't think they were ever get on the same level that America is / was. China is just not a country that many people like, with their uber strict policies and, uh, various other things. Business and sheer amount of people are really all they have going on with the rest of the world, and I doubt I would ever be on the level in a corporation were I need to speak the language.

TL;DR: No, I don't think Chinese is really that necessary to learn. For business, maybe. Very slight maybe. Oh, or if you want to be a translator. In that case, go for it. They always need those.

For that matter, Japanese isn't needed. It's really all about what your planning on doing in you life. I mean, if you're just gonna try to learn it for, well, UTAU or Anime, I don't really suggest it. It's a tricky language that takes major time investment. Of course, if you are someone who picks up and languages easily, then go ahead. I'm not trying to dissuade anyone, just adding my own two cents.

Also, hilarious comic is hilarious. And true. CHINPOKOMON!

Misha wrote:Chinese is important, but I would rather learn a language relevant to my interests.

Also, China wont even get to a high state of power, at least not through PR means.
They wont get on simply through deeds. They have too many policies that conflict heavily with the world, so to be honest, I don't think they were ever get on the same level that America is / was. China is just not a country that many people like, with their uber strict policies and, uh, various other things. Business and sheer amount of people are really all they have going on with the rest of the world, and I doubt I would ever be on the level in a corporation were I need to speak the language.

TL;DR: No, I don't think Chinese is really that necessary to learn. For business, maybe. Very slight maybe. Oh, or if you want to be a translator. In that case, go for it. They always need those.

For that matter, Japanese isn't needed. It's really all about what your planning on doing in you life. I mean, if you're just gonna try to learn it for, well, UTAU or Anime, I don't really suggest it. It's a tricky language that takes major time investment. Of course, if you are someone who picks up and languages easily, then go ahead. I'm not trying to dissuade anyone, just adding my own two cents.

Also, hilarious comic is hilarious. And true. CHINPOKOMON!

I digress. China is still a powerful political entity that is increasingly more pivotal for relationships between America and Asian communist countries. Everyone wants a piece of China, not just it's business. While I do agree they aren't ready for modernization in terms of human rights or quality of life, but in politics they're just as important as any other power.

For business and politics, no language is "necessary", but cooperations and government agencies are both actively hiring people who can speak Chinese and understand it's vast culture. Simply speaking Chinese gives you an edge for people who don't know it when a company wants to increase it's influence in China. In other words, you're going "Hey company A, I'm exactly what you need!" by knowing Chinese.

Likewise, Japanese is also very important and looks stunning on an application. Though, the same could be said about any foreign language.

And yes, this comic is amazing.

Politics, yes, they are important. But to the rest of the world that isn't involved in politics, which I think includes most of us, learning Chinese shouldnt be such a high priority.

I'm simply saying that for people who want a learn a language without thinking what they are going to use it for, learning the language may not be in their best interests.

Of course extra languages look nice on a resume. But I think that's more like icing on cake, unless you are in a very foreign relations orientated workplace.
It's always nice to have, but in the long run, I don't think companies are going to go to gaga. But then again, that's just what I think, seeing as I've never had to use a resume, so if I am totally off here, well, ack. And yes, any foreign language is important, but if we are talking usefulness, then everyone should just drop everything and learn spanish, at least if they are living in America.

Misha wrote:Politics, yes, they are important. But to the rest of the world that isn't involved in politics, which I think includes most of us, learning Chinese shouldnt be such a high priority.

The rest of the industrialized world is deeply involved with politics. Look into the Six Party Talks as a perfect example.

I'm simply saying that for people who want a learn a language without thinking what they are going to use it for, learning the language may not be in their best interests.

Agreed. It's a huge time investment.

Of course extra languages look nice on a resume. But I think that's more like icing on cake, unless you are in a very foreign relations orientated workplace.
It's always nice to have, but in the long run, I don't think companies are going to go to gaga. But then again, that's just what I think, seeing as I've never had to use a resume, so if I am totally off here, well, ack. And yes, any foreign language is important, but if we are talking usefulness, then everyone should just drop everything and learn spanish, at least if they are living in America.

I've been in a few internships, and knowing a second language has helped me get into them (it wows the interviewer when they ask about it). While no company is going to go gaga as you put it, a foreign language can be a tie breaker. A common scenario is that two candidates with the same credentials apply for the position. The employer, faced with a touch choice on who to call for the interview, then has to find something that'll break the tie. Often, it is a foreign language that does it.

I've tried to learn Japanese, but due to both financial constraints and lack of motivation due to depressionm, I dropped out; I still have a slight interest on learning, though, but I'm afraid it'd happen again.

Well, relating to other languages, I'm actually bilingual, almost trilingual (if Portuñol counts XD); if I weren't, it'd probably be way too much difficult for me to use UTAU.

Actually, I can't really name one valid reason I'm learning Japanese.
unless wanting to run away to Japan and be a housewife for no reason at all counts

I just really, really, REALLY want to learn it, you know? I've wanted to ever since I got my Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi CD in fourth grade ;.;

I would like to, and am going to someday sooner or later xD maybe this summer?

My school district only has Mandarin, Spanish, and French. I am taking Spanish, and I refuse to learn another dialect of Chinese xD My parents are teaching me how to write Chinese too, but I learn more by watching the weekday Cantonese soap operas with Chinese characters on the bottom lol

My parent's would most likely disapprove of me learning Japanese because they got paranoid about the Chinese-Japanese holocaust or something... -___-;;

suthethird wrote:Actually, I can't really name one valid reason I'm learning Japanese.
unless wanting to run away to Japan and be a housewife for no reason at all counts

I just really, really, REALLY want to learn it, you know? I've wanted to ever since I got my Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi CD in fourth grade ;.;

I, on another side, wanted to learn it for professional reasons; not only to be a translator, but because there's an interesting chunk of artistic/historical circuits which involves the East Asian countries, specially Japan.

Although I completely understand everyone's reasoning on how you should only learn Japanese if you need to, if you really enjoy learning that language, shouldn't you have the right to learn it?

Does it only have to be about the usefulness?

It actually doesn't cost a lot of money to learn Japanese if you learn it the way I have, and although it's taking me a while, I've only had to buy a couple books to help me.

But anyway, I'll try not to rant no mores ^^'

Er, yeah. I'm trying to learn by myself though xD since I don't know anyone who could teach me around here. I know a few words and stuff, but I still need to learn things like word order xD
I took Chinese for a couple years though.

Im starting my first year in the highschool course Japanese I next year. I have taken Japanese school as a child, but im not very confident in my abilities.
I mean, I can read simple texts, some kanji (okay, really all i know is Ne/oto watashi kimi jibun Ai and kiseki, for obvious reasons @_@ )

EDIT: I would also like to add, I have tried to learn Mandarin, but chinese ... is ... all... kanji...orz....
korean...is...scary to me, Hangul is hard for me to understand.

kisekixkoe wrote:Im starting my first year in the highschool course Japanese I next year. I have taken Japanese school as a child, but im not very confident in my abilities.
I mean, I can read simple texts, some kanji (okay, really all i know is Ne/oto watashi kimi jibun Ai and kiseki, for obvious reasons @_@ )

EDIT: I would also like to add, I have tried to learn Mandarin, but chinese ... is ... all... kanji...orz....
korean...is...scary to me, Hangul is hard for me to understand.

Yeah, Japanese seemed like an easier alternative for other Asian languages to me^^' Y'know, since it has kana instead of just Kanji......

But Kanji isn't that hard once you start to get into it. I always looked for ways that the character looked like what it meant and that helped xD

And my aunt, who is from South Korea, told me that Korean might actually be easier than Japanese and Chinese because they have something that's kind of like the English alphabet. They have these characters in their "alphabet" that they put together to make words, kind of like English does.
I don't know any Korean though xD;;