Teaching Sahara Japanese!

[oslapedo]

I might get to go on a foreign exchange trip to Japan over the summer but I know no Japanese! I would greatly appreciate tips and common phrases from those fluent in the language =3

[Washougal_Otaku]

AWESOME!!!

I really wish I could help, but your Japanese is probably better than mine.

[oslapedo]

My japanese skills are nonexistant because I don't think you can count yourself proficient from the things you see on anime

I can say one thing now because Natalie just taught me!

"Watashi no namae wa Sahara desu, Sahara yonde kudasai!"

[soundninja12]

I know:
hi (kunichiwa, but who doesn't know that)
goodbye (Sianara)
Dammit (Bleach in Japanese. Ca-so)
Strawberry (Ichigo)
Heart (Kokoro)
Thank you (Arigato)
Sorry (Ka-mi-no-sai)
Your welcome (can't remember it)
Peach (Momo)
I know more worthless words, but I don't think you care...

[MiriaRose]

You can borrow my old, thrashed, 1964 Say It in Japanese book, Osla. 

[TanisNikana]

あのう、私のクラッピな日本語はとてもクラッピで、私のの話したことは下手です。

[oslapedo]

あのう、私のクラッピな日本語はとてもクラッピで、私のの話したことは下手です。

I'm not on Kanji/Hiragana yet, just Romanji =,D

I'd love to Kristee

[MiriaRose]

I think there may have been katakana in that sentance, too, Osla. 

And okay, just beware. xD

[TanisNikana]

That's totally tubular that you're letting her borrow that. She won't be talking like a jive sucka at all. Rad.

[MiriaRose]

It's better than trying to get her to decipher kanji without her actually knowing the basics of the language.

Plus, it only has formal Japanese. xP

[TanisNikana]

It's better than trying to get her to decipher kanji without her actually knowing the basics of the language.

Plus, it only has formal Japanese. xP

When Japanese is properly taught, romaji is never actually used. Teachers start in with basic sentence structure while teaching hiragana. Learning romaji is actually a detriment to reading in Japanese.

[MiriaRose]

It's better than trying to get her to decipher kanji without her actually knowing the basics of the language.

Plus, it only has formal Japanese. xP

When Japanese is properly taught, romaji is never actually used. Teachers start in with basic sentence structure while teaching hiragana. Learning romaji is actually a detriment to reading in Japanese.

Yes, but in classrooms you can actually hear what teachers are saying. If she can't even read what you're writing, what's the point?

[oslapedo]

That's totally tubular that you're letting her borrow that. She won't be talking like a jive sucka at all. Rad.

LOL DOOD

I see plusses to both cases. I'll try and learn both equally =3

[MiriaRose]

xD Alright. Good idea, Osla.

[TanisNikana]

That's totally tubular that you're letting her borrow that. She won't be talking like a jive sucka at all. Rad.

LOL DOOD

I see plusses to both cases. I'll try and learn both equally =3

The best way to do it is to try and take night classes at PCC. The instructors there are solid, and the homework is actually really light (seeing as how attendance is 70% of the grade -- being in front of the teacher is what matters the most.)

[oslapedo]

Can you bring the book tomorrow Kristee? =3

Teehee Tanis, I would if I lived up there! I should look into taking some classes at our community college though.

[TanisNikana]

Make sure they're night classes, so it won't conflict with high school. College classes usually run two hours a week, twice a week.

[oslapedo]

Oooh that would be very cool. I'll talk to my school counselors tomorrow =D

[TanisNikana]

Plus college teaches at a faster pace than high school, and it sticks in your brain better.

Case in point: at the end of college JPN101, the first term, ten weeks long, students had mastered both forms of kana, hiragana and katakana, and had learned twelve kanji. At the end of the first full year of Japanese I in high school, students were halfway through katakana.

[Rathany]

I know:
hi (kunichiwa, but who doesn't know that)
goodbye (Sianara)
Dammit (Bleach in Japanese. Ca-so)
Strawberry (Ichigo)
Heart (Kokoro)
Thank you (Arigato)
Sorry (Ka-mi-no-sai)
Your welcome (can't remember it)
Peach (Momo)
I know more worthless words, but I don't think you care...

Yeep, sorry to nitpick but some of this is wrong and it would be bad for a beginner to get confused by wrong things.

'Kami no sai'  would mean the 'age of paper' in Japanese ... or something like that.  Sorry is usually 'sumimasen', 'sitsurei-shimasu' or 'ojamashimasu' depending on the situation.

For 'hi', you say 'ohayou gozaimasu' or 'ohayou' in the morning.  'konnichiha' in the daytime and 'konbanha' at night. 

'Goodbye' is 'sayonara' in formal situations.  When your friends are leaving your house or something like that, you'd say 'ja nee'.

'You're welcome' is 'dou ita simashite'

I don't know what you are going for with 'caso'.  There is a similar word, but considering what it actually means it can't be written on these forums.  The word a Japanses person would use in the same situations to where we would use 'damn' is 'shimatta'. 

Again, sorry to nitpick.  In apology, here are some phrases I like:

'Tonde mo nai' = 'of course not'
'kankei nai' = 'none of your bussiness'
'bikkuri shita' = 'I'm surprised' or 'you startled me'  (It's fun to say)

Is there anything in particular you want to know how to say?

[TanisNikana]

Sore wa watashi no jagaimo ja nakute, sore wa watashi no hikouki desu!

-That isn't my potato, it's my airplane!

[StarryShay]

I'm sure she's always wanted to know how to say that.~ x3

[Rathany]

tanisu-san ha, okashii koto wo iimasu wa nee?

Tanis says strange stuff, huh?

[itachi689]

ive always wanted to learn japanese but its kinda hard isnt it

[TanisNikana]

Easier than English.

[Rathany]

Easier than English.

dochira mo muzukashii to omoimasu.  nihongo no kakikata ha monosugokuhidoi.

I think both are hard.  The Japanese system of writing is terribly bad.

[TanisNikana]

But English spelling is terrible.

[Rathany]

sore ha sou da kedo, kanji ha motto taihen.  sore mo, raigetsu jouyou no kanji no risuto ha motto nagakunarimasu, nee.

That's true, but kanji is worse.  Also, next month the list of kanji required for basic literacy is getting longer.

[KogaRyu]

You could always look into My Japanese Coach on the DS, its Magibon approved.

[TanisNikana]

You could always look into My Japanese Coach on the DS, its Magibon approved.

* TanisNikana snickers

Honestly, MJC is fine until you get to verb conjugation. Then it attempts to explain something you'll work on in class for 10 weeks with two screens of text.

[oslapedo]

How do you say thank you? =D

[Coconutty93]

Arigato gozaimousu. xD

Btw Sahara, my mom said yes to the coming over to pack thing but you need a bus pass.

[oslapedo]

Arigato gozaimousu!

And yay =.D

[Coconutty93]

Oh crud, does Kristi know that she needs a bus pass?

[oslapedo]

How do I say, "I love you, but you're kind of spamming a bit" =D

[EveofAbyss]

^ Just to add, 'Arigatoo Gozaimasu' is the formal 'thank you'. If you're just talking to friends you don't have to say 'gozaimasu'. Just 'Arigatoo', or 'Doo Mo' (which is short for 'Doo Mo Arigatoo')...Mr. Roboto?

[Coconutty93]

I dunno. Gomenasai. 

[oslapedo]

Arigatoo Gozaimasu Colleen!

[Coconutty93]

I can't remember how to say "You're welcome". >.<

[Rathany]

How do I say, "I love you, but you're kind of spamming a bit" =D

"suki da kedo, posuto no koto ga chyotto oosugiru"

[Rathany]

I can't remember how to say "You're welcome". >.<

More formal "Dou itashimashite"  <- literally: 'in what way did I humbly do something?'

Less Formal "iie"  <- this is also the word for negation, so it only has meaning of 'you're welcome' if said softly. 

[nikkiolie]

dou itashimashite sounds like don't touch my mustache XD

One way I remember is easily.

[TanisNikana]

Anou, koka kora wo shimaimashita.

[Negima]

It's better than trying to get her to decipher kanji without her actually knowing the basics of the language.

Plus, it only has formal Japanese. xP

When Japanese is properly taught, romaji is never actually used. Teachers start in with basic sentence structure while teaching hiragana. Learning romaji is actually a detriment to reading in Japanese.

...
You were taught the Jorden method, weren't you? (Is not a fan of that method)
Different high schools teach different methods.  Some focus more on speaking while some try to focus evenly on speaking, listening, reading, and writing.  My high school JPN 101 was through katakana by the end of the first trimester.
But yeah, if you can and want to, take a college course.  They teach at a much faster pace.  One semester/trimester (or less) of college can sum up a year of high school.

I just came across this thread so I thought I should join.

One tip I highly recommend, along with learning parts of the language, is to learn custom traditions and taboos.

-Itadakimasu - (What you say before eating a meal.  There's no real solid translation for this)
-Gochisousama deshita - (What you say after the meal.  Sort of like "Thanks for the meal.")
-DON'T stick chopsticks upward in a rice bowl.  That's done at funerals.

[TanisNikana]

It's better than trying to get her to decipher kanji without her actually knowing the basics of the language.

Plus, it only has formal Japanese. xP

When Japanese is properly taught, romaji is never actually used. Teachers start in with basic sentence structure while teaching hiragana. Learning romaji is actually a detriment to reading in Japanese.

-DON'T stick chopsticks upward in a rice bowl.  That's done at funerals.

Not only at funerals, but anywhere you need to pledge a bowl of rice for the dead. Not too long ago, my grandpa died, and the rest of us living folk went out to Sambi, and we filed in, sat down, and ordered our stuff. When we were done ordering, we asked for an extra bowl of plain white rice, placed it at an empty place setting, and put both chopsticks straight in. That one was for my granddad.

[makichan]

dou itashimashite sounds like don't touch my mustache XD

One way I remember is easily.

Haha, oh my! That's exactly the same way my friends and I used to say it.

"Arigatou"

"... don'ttouchmahmustache"

xDDD

[Coconutty93]

It's better than trying to get her to decipher kanji without her actually knowing the basics of the language.

Plus, it only has formal Japanese. xP

When Japanese is properly taught, romaji is never actually used. Teachers start in with basic sentence structure while teaching hiragana. Learning romaji is actually a detriment to reading in Japanese.

-DON'T stick chopsticks upward in a rice bowl.  That's done at funerals.

Not only at funerals, but anywhere you need to pledge a bowl of rice for the dead. Not too long ago, my grandpa died, and the rest of us living folk went out to Sambi, and we filed in, sat down, and ordered our stuff. When we were done ordering, we asked for an extra bowl of plain white rice, placed it at an empty place setting, and put both chopsticks straight in. That one was for my granddad.

Beacuse it means death! Dun dun duuuuuunnnn...>:3

[MiriaRose]

フロクシノーシナイヒリピリフィケイション

[TanisNikana]

フロクシノーシナイヒリピリフィケイション

Means nothing to me, nothing at all.

What are you trying to say?

[MiriaRose]

フロクシノーシナイヒリピリフィケイション

Means nothing to me, nothing at all.

What are you trying to say?

Floccinaucinihilipilification. >.>