Welcome to Gaia! ::

I understand that a lot of people on this forum would like to teach them self's Japanese, but don't know where to start, Or are having trouble understanding what they have learned. I would like to help by posting up lessons on Japanese here on the thread to help you all learn the language and be able to speak it, read it, and write it! biggrin

Feel free to post up any questions you have and I will be happy to help you!! biggrin

First off! You'll need to install Japanese on your computer!! No downloads required!! biggrin Most likely you already have it built into your computer and you just need to install it!!

If you use Window's XP follow These Instructions.

If you use Vista/Window's 7 follow These Instruction.

If you have an older version try to see if you can download this Japanese IME program:Here.


How To Type In Japanese!

Here's a link on how to use the Japanese Language bar.

Once you get the hang of it try practicing with some sentences here!

これは黒い猫です。
kore ha[wa] kuroi neko desu.
This is a black cat.

私の車はあそこに有ります。
watashi no kuruma ha[wa] asoko ni arimasu.
My car is over there.

そのカップは熱いです。
sono kuppu ha[wa] atsui desu.
That cup is hot.

In writing the Japanese Language the particle "Wa" is written "Ha-は" Though it is pronounced "Wa".

To Sum It Up!!
In this lesson you have learned to install and type in Japanese!!
Though you still may feel confused by the Japanese Sentences! But Don't worry!
In the next lesson's you'll learn how to build your own sentences and learn Japanese Grammar and new words!! biggrin

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=CEED31CD-15A9-4B86-AFE5-E77A095599F3&displaylang=EN

you can try downloading this IME from Microsoft. I'm not to sure how to go about with downloading the language but you can start here by any means.

I hope this works for you!

Oh but it is! It's a visual learning tool!! You'll learn Kanji, Katakana & Hiragana threw it. Yes you are typing in romanji, and we all have a one up to Japanese students who have to learn our alphabet to type on computers. But it helps the brain associate what consonant and vowel combination goes to what Japanese Character.

And I guarantee the more you type in the language the faster you will be able to read and recognize characters!

There are so much new Kanji I can read and recognize thanks to typing the language out on the computer. And I'm sure you will experience the same thing!

you also have the added bonus of being able to chat with native speakers on the internet and learn from the language first hand!

It is very useful to have the Japanese Language bar on your computer if you seriously want to learn the language.

thanks, but is there a way to learn i Lil more visually?

You can install japanese through your computer by using languages instead of installing something in and wasting computer space


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7RoldjF0sw

thanks a bunch...since it's the summer and i'm out of my japanese program, this will help with some eye-recognition smile

I want to learn japanese, but i can't read kanji yet, so i go japanese while the letters are english, like "Hai (Yes.) And Baka (Idiot.)"