# Learning Japanese **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 9, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655 "2010-08-09T01:39:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/21 "2010-08-10T22:55:27Z")
I’m still here. 我慢してください！（Please endure). I arrived Aomori in Nebuta which is a festival that increases the population by 1000% and lasts for 6 days, followed by local festivals all around the prefecture. I’ve barely had a moment to catch my breath, and on top of that I’m borrowing neighbor’s internet which goes in and out often. My links will come. 約束だよ！ (That’s a promise) ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/22 "2010-08-11T23:14:41Z")
Ran out of time for a full post. Check out Tofugu ([www.tofugu.com](http://www.tofugu.com)) in the meantime. He is awesome and has great links. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/23 "2010-08-12T05:04:55Z")
MLC ([MLC Japanese Language School in Tokyo | Japanese lessons for English speakers](http://www.mlcjapanese.co.jp/Download.htm)) has some online resources. If you’re just looking for kana drills there are lots of sites a google away. Search “learn hiragana” or something. Where are you posting from, Auto? Did you manage to get internet in your place in a week?! ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/24 "2010-08-12T05:32:53Z")
I am posting from Aomori City. Hopefully I can visit you in Gosh soon. I am currently at work, but between the internet filter and the woefully old state of this PC (766 mHz Celeron) I can’t do much more than post at the dope. At home I have internet, but it’s slow because it’s borrowed from a distant neighbor. I will have my own internet starting from the 14th. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/25 "2010-08-12T05:44:53Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > Ran out of time for a full post. Check out Tofugu ([www.tofugu.com](http://www.tofugu.com)) in the meantime. He is awesome and has great links. 🙂 I don’t even have to click the link to hear Koichi say: 皆さんこんいちはとふぐのこいちでございます [Minasan, konichiwa, tofugu no koichi de gozaimasu]. I’ve been following him off and on since before he started Tofugu. One of the online language study websites I forgot to mention in one of my previous posts is Lang-8 ([www.lang-8.com](http://www.lang-8.com)), which Koichi recommends. Lang-8 is a peer-to-peer language learning system that provides feedback to your journal entries in the language you’re studying. It also allows you to critique and correct others’ entries. It’s actually not bad, and kind of unique as its environment is less than interactive, but more than self-study. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/26 "2010-08-12T16:55:06Z")
Johnny Divine, I have a friend who learned a foreign language by listening to mp3s on her mp3 player. Since you’re low on time but have a really long commute, why not try doing it that way? ---
**Author:** ![ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ellis)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/27 "2010-08-13T16:51:32Z")
I’ve been playing around with [Livemocha](http://www.livemocha.com) recently, and they seem like a pretty good deal. The basics are free, which is tough to argue with. The basic model is to recruit users to teach each other - I submit something in Spanish, and grade something in English. It has the same pitfalls as Rosetta Stone and the like for the set lessons, but has the advantage of what’s basically a built-in Skype chatroom. So I can find someone who speaks Spanish and is interested in learning English, and we can chat and help each other out. Not perfect, by any means, but it’s the best that I’ve found. It looks like there are at least four free Japanese courses, each with multiple lessons, and a reasonable number of Japanese interested in practicing their English in the chats. cheers ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/28 "2010-08-13T18:24:12Z")
> [@ellis](#): > > I’ve been playing around with [Livemocha](http://www.livemocha.com) recently, and they seem like a pretty good deal. The basics are free, which is tough to argue with. The basic model is to recruit users to teach each other - I submit something in Spanish, and grade something in English. > > It has the same pitfalls as Rosetta Stone and the like for the set lessons, but has the advantage of what’s basically a built-in Skype chatroom. So I can find someone who speaks Spanish and is interested in learning English, and we can chat and help each other out. > > Not perfect, by any means, but it’s the best that I’ve found. It looks like there are at least four free Japanese courses, each with multiple lessons, and a reasonable number of Japanese interested in practicing their English in the chats. > > cheers This is only my opinion, so please take it that way, as I have no wish to offend anyone. I must say, however, that LiveMocha sucks, or it used to. I subscribed to their program a few years ago when they were promoting their online Japanese courses heavily. They have (had?) a feedback/help system that’s worthless. You can submit a question or request for help until the cows come home but will never get a response. Their courses are (were?) not well thought out or organized, forcing the learner to go through material that requires knowledge of content not covered, or even referenced, in earlier lessons. After trying countless times to get responses for my issues and not getting any at all, I gave up and canceled my subscription. This was ultimately a good thing, because my frustration with LiveMocha pushed me to bite the bullet and sign up for live classes. Maybe their chatroom and other interactive features are good, but I didn’t stick around long enough to find out. ---
**Author:** ![ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ellis)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/29 "2010-08-13T18:40:47Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > This is only my opinion, so please take it that way, as I have no wish to offend anyone. Certainly. I have noticed a few vocab words being introduced in mid-assignment, but nothing that I can’t easily pick up contextually. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a spectrum of quality across the languages they offer, but I’ve been happy with the Spanish offerings. If you haven’t played with it in a while, it might be worth checking out again - there seems to be quite a bit available for free at this point. cheers ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/30 "2010-08-13T18:56:51Z")
> [@ellis](#): > > > [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > > > This is only my opinion, so please take it that way, as I have no wish to offend anyone. > > Certainly. > > I have noticed a few vocab words being introduced in mid-assignment, but nothing that I can’t easily pick up contextually. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a spectrum of quality across the languages they offer, but I’ve been happy with the Spanish offerings. If you haven’t played with it in a while, it might be worth checking out again - there seems to be quite a bit available for free at this point. > > cheers Thanks for the advice. I’m well into my Japanese language training and am not interested in online study websites at this point, but if I were, I’d use one that teaches Japanese only, such as JOI. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/31 "2010-08-24T09:02:35Z")
OK. I’ve FINALLY gotten a free minute at home where I can post some of these links. Without further ado. I picked the best from each of my many JP study categories so these will just be in a big list with a brief description. My Top 3 Dictionary 1: [http://www.df.lth.se/cgi-bin/j-e/dict](http://www.df.lth.se/cgi-bin/j-e/dict) Dictionary 2. Great for individual kanji searches: [http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/kanjidic.nsf/MainPage?OpenForm](http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/kanjidic.nsf/MainPage?OpenForm) Kanji dictionary. Very useful for blocks of kanji: [http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1C](http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1C) The Rest Charle’s Kelly’s Directory: [Charles Kelly's Online Japanese Language Study Materials](http://www.manythings.org/japanese/) Jgram. THE place for Japanese Grammar: [http://www.jgram.org/](http://www.jgram.org/) All Japanese All The Time. A neat study method: [WordPress › Error](http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/) Lang-8. Language Exchange: [http://lang-8.com/](http://lang-8.com/) Ling-Q. Peer-language-learning. Hard to describe: [http://www.lingq.com/](http://www.lingq.com/) LiveMocha. Like an online, free, Rosetta Stone: [http://www.livemocha.com/](http://www.livemocha.com/) Smart.FM. Online goal-based learning: [http://smart.fm/](http://smart.fm/) Anki. Make your own SRS (systematic repetition system) flashcards for vocab, kanji, etc. [Anki - powerful, intelligent flashcards](http://ichi2.net/anki/) Japanese Language and Culture Toolbar: [http://nipponster.com/japanese-language-toolbar/](http://nipponster.com/japanese-language-toolbar/) Heisig Method Online. Interesting way to learn kanji: [http://kanji.koohii.com/](http://kanji.koohii.com/) Japanese Stories Online: [http://life.ou.edu/stories/](http://life.ou.edu/stories/) Yojikugo Index (4 character compounds): [http://home.earthlink.net/~4jword/index3.htm](http://home.earthlink.net/~4jword/index3.htm) Tae Kim’s Grammar Guide. A FANTASTIC online text-book of sorts: [Introduction – Learn Japanese](http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar) Japanese Proverb Dictionary: [http://www.kotowaza.org/](http://www.kotowaza.org/) A few Japanese-learning blogs: > **[A Hopeless Romantic's Adventures in Japan](http://surrealu.blogspot.com/)** > > japanese language claytonian JP [http://www.zonjineko.com/](http://www.zonjineko.com/) > **[Hungry for Words: Mostly Japanese](https://maki.typepad.com/justhungry/)** > > Looking at Japanese society and culture through its language, with occasional forays into other languages. > **[nihongo day by day](http://nihongodaybyday.blogspot.com/)** > > This blog explains Japanese grammar, expressions and words. I hope you will find it beneficial. …Tada! I hope this helps. Gambatte kudasai (please do your best). ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/32 "2010-08-24T09:39:33Z")
The on-line dictionary that I think receives the most usage from high-level Japanese learners (and by Japanese working in English) is ALC’s Eijiro: [http://www.alc.co.jp/](http://www.alc.co.jp/). You might have to use it in coordination with another on-line dictionary until your kanji level gets high enough. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/33 "2010-08-24T11:27:59Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > OK. I’ve FINALLY gotten a free minute at home where I can post some of these links. Without further ado. I picked the best from each of my many JP study categories so these will just be in a big list with a brief description. > > My Top 3 > > Dictionary 1: [http://www.df.lth.se/cgi-bin/j-e/dict](http://www.df.lth.se/cgi-bin/j-e/dict) > > Dictionary 2. Great for individual kanji searches: [Redirecting...](http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/kanjidic.nsf/MainPage?OpenForm) > > Kanji dictionary. Very useful for blocks of kanji: [http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1C](http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/%7Ejwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1C) > > The Rest > > Charle’s Kelly’s Directory: [http://www.manythings.org/japanese/](http://www.manythings.org/japanese/) > > Jgram. THE place for Japanese Grammar: [http://www.jgram.org/](http://www.jgram.org/) > > All Japanese All The Time. A neat study method: [http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/](http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/) > > Lang-8. Language Exchange: [http://lang-8.com/](http://lang-8.com/) > > Ling-Q. Peer-language-learning. Hard to describe: [http://www.lingq.com/](http://www.lingq.com/) > > LiveMocha. Like an online, free, Rosetta Stone: [http://www.livemocha.com/](http://www.livemocha.com/) > > Smart.FM. Online goal-based learning: [http://smart.fm/](http://smart.fm/) > > Anki. Make your own SRS (systematic repetition system) flashcards for vocab, kanji, etc. [http://ichi2.net/anki/](http://ichi2.net/anki/) > > Japanese Language and Culture Toolbar: [http://nipponster.com/japanese-language-toolbar/](http://nipponster.com/japanese-language-toolbar/) > > Heisig Method Online. Interesting way to learn kanji: [http://kanji.koohii.com/](http://kanji.koohii.com/) > > Japanese Stories Online: [http://life.ou.edu/stories/](http://life.ou.edu/stories/) > > Yojikugo Index (4 character compounds): [http://home.earthlink.net/~4jword/index3.htm](http://home.earthlink.net/%7E4jword/index3.htm) > > Tae Kim’s Grammar Guide. A FANTASTIC online text-book of sorts: [Introduction – Learn Japanese](http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar) > > Japanese Proverb Dictionary: [http://www.kotowaza.org/](http://www.kotowaza.org/) > > A few Japanese-learning blogs: > [http://surrealu.blogspot.com/](http://surrealu.blogspot.com/) > [http://www.zonjineko.com/](http://www.zonjineko.com/) > [http://maki.typepad.com/justhungry/](http://maki.typepad.com/justhungry/) > [http://nihongodaybyday.blogspot.com/](http://nihongodaybyday.blogspot.com/) > > …Tada! I hope this helps. Gambatte kudasai (please do your best). Excellent set of links. I’m not in love with LiveMocha, but to each his or her own でしょう. Mark me as another fan of Anki. I love their flashcard based system, and that the learner can customize their sets. Anki reminds me of another Japanese vocabulary memorization system called NihongoUp [http://nihongoup.com](http://nihongoup.com/). Their learning games are fun and challenging without being childish. ありがとうございましたアウトライクスさん。頑張りましょうね。 宜しく。 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/34 "2010-08-24T13:57:16Z")
Thanks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AliceP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@AliceP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AliceP)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655/35 "2017-05-29T18:55:23Z")
> [@ellis](#): > > I’ve been playing around with [Livemocha](http://www.livemocha.com) recently, and they seem like a pretty good deal. The basics are free, which is tough to argue with. The basic model is to recruit users to teach each other - I submit something in Spanish, and grade something in English. Live mocha is not available anymore, try this [https://www.lingq.com/](https://www.lingq.com/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-japanese/549655.md?page=1)