FA+
Shop
Studying Japanese:My fav. Free sites
9 years ago
A*ccept Differnces, B*e kind, C*ount your blessings, D*ream, E*xpress thanks, F*orgive, G*ive freely, H*arm no one, I*magine more, J*ettison anger, K*eep confidences, L*ove truly,
.
.
.
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's a bit old school, since the time I really studied was now 6 years ago, but these were my go to sites. They will definitely get you to basic level, if not beyond.
Jim Breen has a wonderful dictionary if you can copy paste or write the kanji in it. You can only look up one word at a time, but they also have an option for giving you example sentences. I spent soo much time on this site.
Dictionary
There is a language school in Tokyo, Meguro Language School, or MLC, that has the most wonderful free downloads, lessons, and even listening practice. Everything you'd need to get your basic Japanese down. -I preferred the old format to the site better, but it's still very user friendly, perhaps more so now-
I HIGHLY recommend you start with learning your hiragana and Katagana first then start the grammar/Kanji lessons using the Kana-versions -where you are reading in hiragana and Katakana- if you stick with Romanji -Japanese written out with the alphabet- it will slow your progress down. Yes it's a pain in the beginning, but 100,000,000% worth the extra effort.
*poofs up huge and floofy, slides her teacher glasses on, picks up her pointer stick, and repeatedly taps this point until the stick and board begin to smoke and catch on fire*
MLC
There is also another old school site that has quizzes for Hiragana and Katakana. It was a fun easy way to really get them to stick. There are MANY sites for this out there now, and many Apps. Lots of very good ones. But I'm just throwing this out there. Probably best for IPads, and computers
ManythingsKANA
Just ran across this Easy Japanese from NHK. Nice beginner guide. Easy Japanese
memorization and review, and memorization... It's not the most fun part of learning a language, but thank god there are easier ways to do it.
There is a free program out there for computers that is simply amazing. It also has an App now, but that does cost a pretty penny. (It was worth it) it's called Anki. It's a little difficult to use if you are adding in new cards (it's much easier with the newer version) but there are a TON of already premade decks for you to download, and start memorizing. some sites have already made their own decks to go along with their studies too.
ANKI
*pushes her glasses back up on her nose* by the way, Anki means to memorize.
You can also hand make your own flash cards. I do recommend this if you are planning on taking the JPLT tests. It can be really helpful this way if you write out what the answers are. Following the Anki structure of the Japanese flash cards, start off by going through what you are studying. Don't over do it with the amount of cards: burn out is a very real thing. At first make four piles, one for things you REALLY know, one for things you knew but still don't feel comfortable with, another pile for missed but you almost had it, and then the pile for you had no clue. Slide that first pile away, and review it in a week from now. Work with the three piles now, but just make two piles. I got it! And missed it. Once finished sold the I got it! To the side, and just work through the I missed it one's until you have them all.
Such an important thing!! And the most fun! Plop down and start enjoying your Anime and JDramas! If you can, switch on the Japanese subtitles and write down new words you are interested in. -This can also be really good reading practice-
BUT don't ONLY use these as your source for learning Japanese. Like in the U.S., movies, especially anime isn't always a true reflection of how people actually talk in daily life, it's dramticized. -ok that might not be a word- a lot of Japanese will say how a foreigners Japanese is strange or really crude, because they learned it from anime. But you can still learn a LOT of wonderful things from it, just be cautious.
SO, here is a wonderful site/ podcast that has the most amazing audio lessons. You have to sign up, yes it is safe, and yes it is soo worth it. They have plans you can buy too. Also, very much worth the money, if you use it! once I start studying again, it will one of the first things I buy, but let's talk about free.
Update. Only some of the audio lessons are now free. :(
JapanesePod101
Online Dictionary. Jim Breen has a wonderful dictionary if you can copy paste or write the kanji in it. You can only look up one word at a time, but they also have an option for giving you example sentences. I spent soo much time on this site.
Dictionary
Learning Basic Japanese There is a language school in Tokyo, Meguro Language School, or MLC, that has the most wonderful free downloads, lessons, and even listening practice. Everything you'd need to get your basic Japanese down. -I preferred the old format to the site better, but it's still very user friendly, perhaps more so now-
I HIGHLY recommend you start with learning your hiragana and Katagana first then start the grammar/Kanji lessons using the Kana-versions -where you are reading in hiragana and Katakana- if you stick with Romanji -Japanese written out with the alphabet- it will slow your progress down. Yes it's a pain in the beginning, but 100,000,000% worth the extra effort.
*poofs up huge and floofy, slides her teacher glasses on, picks up her pointer stick, and repeatedly taps this point until the stick and board begin to smoke and catch on fire*
MLC
There is also another old school site that has quizzes for Hiragana and Katakana. It was a fun easy way to really get them to stick. There are MANY sites for this out there now, and many Apps. Lots of very good ones. But I'm just throwing this out there. Probably best for IPads, and computers
ManythingsKANA
Just ran across this Easy Japanese from NHK. Nice beginner guide. Easy Japanese
Flash cards and memorization memorization and review, and memorization... It's not the most fun part of learning a language, but thank god there are easier ways to do it.
There is a free program out there for computers that is simply amazing. It also has an App now, but that does cost a pretty penny. (It was worth it) it's called Anki. It's a little difficult to use if you are adding in new cards (it's much easier with the newer version) but there are a TON of already premade decks for you to download, and start memorizing. some sites have already made their own decks to go along with their studies too.
ANKI
*pushes her glasses back up on her nose* by the way, Anki means to memorize.
You can also hand make your own flash cards. I do recommend this if you are planning on taking the JPLT tests. It can be really helpful this way if you write out what the answers are. Following the Anki structure of the Japanese flash cards, start off by going through what you are studying. Don't over do it with the amount of cards: burn out is a very real thing. At first make four piles, one for things you REALLY know, one for things you knew but still don't feel comfortable with, another pile for missed but you almost had it, and then the pile for you had no clue. Slide that first pile away, and review it in a week from now. Work with the three piles now, but just make two piles. I got it! And missed it. Once finished sold the I got it! To the side, and just work through the I missed it one's until you have them all.
Listening Such an important thing!! And the most fun! Plop down and start enjoying your Anime and JDramas! If you can, switch on the Japanese subtitles and write down new words you are interested in. -This can also be really good reading practice-
BUT don't ONLY use these as your source for learning Japanese. Like in the U.S., movies, especially anime isn't always a true reflection of how people actually talk in daily life, it's dramticized. -ok that might not be a word- a lot of Japanese will say how a foreigners Japanese is strange or really crude, because they learned it from anime. But you can still learn a LOT of wonderful things from it, just be cautious.
SO, here is a wonderful site/ podcast that has the most amazing audio lessons. You have to sign up, yes it is safe, and yes it is soo worth it. They have plans you can buy too. Also, very much worth the money, if you use it! once I start studying again, it will one of the first things I buy, but let's talk about free.
Update. Only some of the audio lessons are now free. :(
JapanesePod101
And toilets, very important!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKjaFG4YN6g
Mostly because they make me laugh so hard.
but still, learning honorifics in japan is huge too, right?
*face plops*
Yes, it is... And I am horrible at them. 0.O
Something I really need to study again!!
Once we finish the house, I'm diving back into Japanese study. Want to get to N2 at least!
It goes from 5 to 1, 1 being college level language skill, and 5 the very essentials enough to barely get by. But enough for basic traveling ;)
and hope I can start a furry/scaley/ feathery study group later on.
I'm still learning the basics of making my journal user friendly. Any advice or recommendations is much appreciated
Or are you talking about specifically different aspects of Japanese??
You know what I might start this up XD
Thank you!
Took a semester in college about a year ago and still have my Genki books(that we used for college class).
I'm so in between many languages right now that I don't want to kill my brain anymore lol but thanks for those websites =3
I am planning on leaving this up for a very long time :)
Hope it comes in handy!
What's the main language you are studying now??
I frequently study grammar and stuff for French since it's the language I have the most knowledge of(4 years in high school) and I find myself drawn to Turkish and Norwegian and occasionally German x.x
German is another language I really would like to learn, but I want to be perfectly fluent in Japanese first.
But when I go to University, to get my Bachelor's in Psychology(and a certificate/minor in a language), I need levels 1-4 of a language so I think I am going to stick with Mandarin well into Uni and go for either a minor or a certification in Localization and translation for Mandarin.
I want to be near fluent/fluent in at least 3 other languages in addition to my native of English. So I want to try fluency in Mandarin first before I go with German and French x3
I have a few polyglot friends, language just seems to stick easier for them ( most grew up bilingual)
Gotta say I really admire that skill!
Keep at it! And enjoy Psychology:3
I am super passionate about cultures and languages and Psychology. Since I was young, I've been fascinated with life and food and culture from abroad so that's why languages also mean so much to me =3
I DOWNLOADED AS MANY FREE LESSONS AS I COULD!
*FLAILS*
I lost somone them though, in the great computer crash a couple years ago.
I've been searching my house for a tiny carrot for years. I hope I find it when we move :/
AND that site is AMAZING. If you are actually using it, it is really worth the money. you had a smart HS teacher!
LOL! enlist a bunny's help.
I'm on a quest to find all da good ones XD
Lol!