Job Discussion Forums

[elkarlo]

Hello all. Let me give you some background as I am new here. I have studied Japanese for 3 semesters, now that doesn't qualify me as intermediate under normal circumstances. But I have pushed myself, and often use anki, and just plain study. Oh and I was in Japan for 5 1/2 months at Kansai Gaidai. Now I am conversational on the lower level. I maybe know 1,20 words, and have a good flow. I have also gone threw both Genki I and II. My Japanese friend said she'd rate my ability as 6 outa 10, if that means anything to you.

The problem is that all Japanese books seem to crap out in the intermediate level. While the advanced stuff is all in Japanese, which is still a bit beyond me. I'm looking at something in between these. Can you reccomend me anything besides Japanese for busy people III?

I guess I am in that weird middle ground that no one thinks about. I really can't ask my skype friends Jpn grammar questions, as I can't explain them well enough to know that I am getting my question answered.

Oh and I can't take any more college JPN, I'm maxed out 302 and I am graduating.

BTW Yokosoo was an AWFUL Awful textbook. Why does anyone even use it? It's 4 times the price as genki, and almost completely un-understandable.

Oh reason I asked is that the only book recommeneded on this site for my question is:A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar
by Seiichi Makino, Michio Tsutsui, Michio Tsutsui and it seems to be out of print. Also only one person said it was any good, which I think is not enough to justify me investing in it.

[Brooks]

that dictionary is sold in Jukundo in Shinujuku.
It is not out of print.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese published by the Japan Times is pretty good.

http://ij.japantimes.co.jp/en/

You can supplement it with various books on particles etc if you need to.

The dictionary you mentioned (it's available at the large Kinokuniya in Takashima Times Square in Shinjuku) is also good.

[elkarlo]

Thanks for the responses. But I'm going to ask you a question before I buy them.

Did you read that I finished genki II? Which I feel is an upper beginning/early intermediate book. So I hope you're not reccomending that I basically buy the same book again. Not to be offensive just making sure, as not everyone reads the entire post.

[Apsara]

The book recommended by Gambate is a good one, and is well past the level of Genki II. Some of the grammar is JLPT 2 level, so it should be a good challenge for you.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[elkarlo]

[elkarlo]

[Zzonkmiles]

I would recommend the official JLPT grammar books. 1-kyu has a yellow cover, 2-kyu has a green cover, and 3-kyu has a red cover. They are not pretty, but they are comprehensive. I think they are called "Kanzen Master." I studied those and was able to pass 2-kyu.

And yeah, I know exactly what your level is. You're trapped between being able to participate in a basic conversation and being able to lead a general conversation. Strange place to be indeed. But keep studying!

[elkarlo]

[cornishmuppet]

For brushing up the kanji I recommend Tuttle Flashcards. Each box has about 450, generally moving you up through the ones the kids learn in school in the same order. The first two boxes tell you what grade of elem school the kids learn them in.

Each card has all the readings, four sample items of vocabulary, stroke order, English translation. Once you get to box three you get example sentences on the back. I think there are four boxes in all. The first two cover all the pretty common kanji.

Good for bus queues, toilets, ski park gondola rides. Worked for me.

[MrMackerel]

Hey man, first of all, congratulations on getting this far. I know many that have quit.

I agree that with you on that you can relax with the strict grammar for now. And what I do strongly suggest is hitting vocabulary. If you haven't realized it yet, it will be the bulk of your work. That and, heh, getting your thinking to change to Japanese so your output doesn't sound too Englishified.

I understand that you're picking up vocab, but it doesn't seem to be cutting it. Well, keep doing it. You'll learn and then forget a lot, but that's okay - later you'll come across them again, and need them, and then they'll stick. It does, as they say, add up. Try to organize your vocabulary topically, and don't fret over vocab you don't see yourself using any time soon. Add the words that interest you, the words you like, and of course the words you need. I would also suggest learning words in phrases, and not singly/isolated.

As part of this process, I also strongly recommend learning kanji. I know people that put this off or simply don't do it, and I'm sorry but I think that's foolish. Learning kanji will help your understanding and *retention* immensely. You'll be able to see word construction more easily and thus remember them more quickly, not to mention you'll be able to read.

Speaking of which, concerning kanji, focus on reading kanji. Don't blow too much time on learning to write them, as that really should be the least of your trouble right now. Not to mention that making sure you remember how to write them all spic-span and instantaneously before moving on to new kanji will slow you down. And you don't sound like a guy that wants to be slowed down. White Rabbit Press makes some great flash cards.

It sounds like you're now bridging into intermediate. Don't want to give you any clouds, but most of the good intermediate books are strictly Japanese, including the explanations. (Actually imo the best beginner books are as well.) They may very well look advanced. To be honest with you though, I wouldn't worry to much about them.

Read. A lot of people push manga, which can indeed be helpful. However, I've tried it, and it just wasn't my cup. It's possible to get your hands on story/language books for Japanese 小学生 as well. Or even better and easier to come by are the few Japanese readers out there for us English speakers. They generally have the original story (original story written for the Japanese populace) with furigana, a translation on the next page in case you get stumped, and often embedded dictionaries for core words/phrases as well. Don't forget that as you read, you'll pick up grammar. Double bonus.

You can try more advanced realia of course, but you better have some hot fingers on your kanji dictionary! (c:

Anyway, read and reread. You'll pickup and more likely retain vocabulary. Learn your kanji. Keep studying every day, and find ways to use it, be it just penpals or getting a weekend job in a Japanese bar.

Feel free to take the 4 and/or 3級. If you're past elementary levels, you should be able to pass both.

Vocabulary. And start pushing your way into realia.

Fun times ahead! Ooh yeah!

(c:

[elkarlo]

[tsunatuna]

As for vocab, you could try http://www.iknow.co.jp/

[elkarlo]