✩47 Learning A Language✩

It's snowing!!!!  It started last night and hasn't stopped ;A; It's supposed to go all the way till tomorrow morning... I'm not here for this... So I'm trying to distract myself with blogging and studying!

A few years ago, I took the plunge to learn another language. Of course I didn't think about it till after I was done with school so I don't have all of the tools available. I tend to learn better in a setting with a teacher of some kind but...here I am trying to learn on my own.

As I'm sure you can probably tell already, I'm trying to learn 日本語! I haven't actually learned those characters yet but I do recognize "Japanese" in Japanese XD

The best way I found to learn the characters on my own was through repetition. I would continuously rewrite each one until I could recognize it when I test myself later on and write them cutely. With the workbooks I've been using, because the simpler the better (at least for me), I could write out the characters, fill in blank spaces with the correct ones, learn some vocabulary and match up the sounds that they make.

I intend to at least get down the three charts of Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji before moving onto vocabulary and sentence structures. Hopefully, I can use my Genki books for that part without too much trouble. But for now, I'm using the From Zero series which are simple enough I think even for younger students.

I started off with the Hiragana from Zero book and am pretty proud to have that chart down thanks to the book. I can read it when I see it but if I don't know the word, unfortunately I have to look it up. But I have to remind myself that that's okay because I'm still learning.... And for whatever reason, I took a very long break after that. I'm happy I still know the chart at least.

But now, I decided it's time to continue. Especially after getting more gal magazines. I want to be able to read them and not just look at the pretty pics. And I've finally moved onto Katakana.It's a bit more difficult but at least it will help me read a little bit more. I have the vowels down for the most part and just finished the K-line - カキクケコ (ka, ki, ku, ke, ko). I sometimes get a little confused with the クケ (ku and ke) but with more practice it should be a little less.

I also have the Quick Study guide that I can use to help me with characters and vocabulary for when I'm ready. As well as a notebook for specifically learning to memorize writing characters. Eventually I will also have to see if there's a Kanji from Zero book XD

Since I made this post on here, I'm going to be checking in from time to time on my progress. It will make me continue learning without taking a huge break like I did last time. I really don't want that to happen again. Plus if anyone else that reads my blog also knows Japanese, I would greatly welcome the practice speaking with someone!

Hopefully, next time I write about this it will be another chunk of the Katakana chart if not the whole thing! Wish me luck!