• From: Canada
  • Registered: 2006-08-21
  • Posts: 3,009

Topic: Studying tips for the advanced student?

What can I do to review Japanese at this advanced level? Reviewing grammar is painfully boring now -- heck even have most of the guide and the grammar books that I read memorized --, and the only other option for any real growth is watching dramas and stuff, and recording and analyzing what is said. But this is tedious, as i have to post every 10~20 seconds to type down whats been said.
On top of that there are no 日本人　around here to practice with.

So what can I do that is fun and stimulating?

うまい書くことは、思いつけない。まぁ、変なことはいっぱいあるけど・・

Quote Post 1

  • taekk
  • Administrator
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  • From: Seattle
  • Registered: 2005-05-16
  • Posts: 1,398

Re: Studying tips for the advanced student?

Finding a conversation partner online with skype and mixxer is one option.

-Tae Kim

それは、よくなくなくない？

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Quote Post 2

  • richvh
  • 日本語なんか楽ちん！
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  • From: Port Jervis, NY
  • Registered: 2005-12-14
  • Posts: 1,533

Re: Studying tips for the advanced student?

Find something interesting to read.

Richard VanHouten
[url=http://www.citlink.net/~richvh]ゆきの物語[/url]

richvh's Website

Quote Post 3

  • From: Egypt
  • Registered: 2007-09-04
  • Posts: 661

Re: Studying tips for the advanced student?

Write down what's being said? Why would you? Are you revising the writing system?

Whatever. Don't know, but you could try calling someone Japanese if you write the code of Japan then added 7 numbers.

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Quote Post 4

  • Gestalt
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  • From: Sydney, Australia
  • Registered: 2006-01-31
  • Posts: 667

Re: Studying tips for the advanced student?

Once you get to a certain level, the only way to improve is to stop studying the language and just start using it (not just listening or reading, but actively speaking and writing).
Without being in an environment where you can do that (ie. Japan) it will be harder - I like the suggestion others have given of using skype or similar to talk to someone regularly. Put away every text book and dictionary you own into a box and just start talking. well, maybe keep the dictionary handy smile

Last edited by Gestalt (2008-02-16 15:47:24)

Quote Post 5

  • From: 東京
  • Registered: 2006-09-25
  • Posts: 636

Re: Studying tips for the advanced student?

Get some books in Japanese and read them.

Quote Post 6

  • From: Canada
  • Registered: 2006-08-21
  • Posts: 3,009

Re: Studying tips for the advanced student?

modernic2008 wrote:

Write down what's being said?

Errr, i said typing for one...and 2, you wouldn't believe how helpful it is when you look over them and you're like "thats an interesting sentence pattern", even though you probably didn't think so at the time.

But yeah, thanks everybody. I really should actually buy some Japanese books, I only have a few.

うまい書くことは、思いつけない。まぁ、変なことはいっぱいあるけど・・

Quote Post 7

  • QKlilx
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  • From: Hawaii
  • Registered: 2006-12-30
  • Posts: 207

Re: Studying tips for the advanced student?

If you feel that your current study methods are simply not working for you, then I suggest taking Tae's advice and finding a speaking partner online somewhere. You'll be surprised at how much improvement you'll make after awhile. My grammar and vocabulary are actually at a fairly low level, as I've mentioned numerous times in the past. However, in my case, my strongest skill in Japanese is speaking. You wouldn't expect such a thing, but it's true. I can handle myself in conversations for a long time in polite or semi-casual forms, depending on who I'm talking to.

When writing becomes boring, go talk to someone. If that still doesn't help, get language tapes or start trying to memorize the dialogues of movies. Note that I'm not telling you to memorize lyrics since those sentences are rhythmic, slow, and rarely conversational. It's only good for pronunciation, in my opinion.

Quote Post 8