Kana Books

[gmunchkin]

Hi! I have a few questions.

First, which Kana should I learn first? I have heard arguments in both directions. I have no preference as to which I learn first.

Next, I heard that "Remembering the Kana"'s katakana section is lacking, while the Hiragana is fantastic. Does anyone have any suggestions as to a katakana companion to this book, or a complete replacement?

Thanks very much.

[tanuki]

Definitely learn hiragana first!!!
Arguments for learning katakana first? Where?

[kanadajin]

Yup Hiragana first.. I would like to see the katakana first arguments as well So I can join in

If your talking about TJP when you say the katakana section is lacking.. uhh no, the katakana section is fantastic while the hiragana section isn't doing so well.

[Schisma]

Some of the quizzes in the katakana section throw characters at you that you didn't learn yet, and there's a few errors. How is the hiragana section lacking?

[gmunchkin]

I dont know where the arguments are, somewhere in this internet. And I'm not talking about TJP, im talking about this Remembering the Kana: The Hiragana / The Katakana, by James W. Heisig (Amazon link)

[link fixed - Paul]

[kanadajin]

How is the hiragana section lacking?

It's not lacking but it's not as good as the katakana section.

gmunchkin, It's a lot better to learn hiragana first because that's the main writing system. Katakana Isn't used that much.

[gmunchkin]

Ok, thanks for clearing that up. also, any suggestions for a book to make a companion to Heisig's book, or a replacement?

[kanadajin]

Nope sorry.. I don't know any good books but Search the threads you should find some..

[adam]

if you are going to japan in a week, learn katakana first. It would be more useful than knowing hirgana. There's an argument

[Frumious Boojum]

It seems like many colleges now are teaching katakana first... I would quite like to know why.

Japanese: The Written Language is what we are learning our Kanji out of and it teaches Katakana first. Followed by Hiragana. And then Kanji. And through it all, some of the worst romanization I've ever see.

I hate this book.

Kenneth G. Henshall's A Guide to Learning Hiragana & Katakana is what we used to learn the kana -- it was a pretty balanced book for learning through repition. My only complaint, after going through everything, doing the review activities at the end, they slap you with a writing practice that uses defunct hiragana without notifying you of this!

[aKuMu]

Personaly i wouldnt spend any Money on Books teaching kana as you can learn them relatively easy on the web or with this little program which I used for myself (with this i learned it pretty fast) LernKana - http://learnkana.vahtera.org/
or as alternative -> Dream Kana http://www.dreambreed.com/

And i would say to learn Hiragana first, too

[clay]

I have heard some people argue katakana should be learned first if you are soon to go to Japan. Since many signs are written in katakana, it could be more useful.