what do you do after you know all the Kana

[Sunshine]

I have memorized all the Kana no, and i dont know what do do next! ANy tips? I want to not only be able to read Japanese but speak it to. Do i need to buy any books or what?? thanks

[Christian_]

Learn some kanji, basic grammer and some vocabulary. hope that helps sorta.

[Qbe]

You'll probably want a textbook which uses the kana. I use "Japanese for Everyone" ($20 from Amazon), others like "Japanese for Busy People" or "Genki".

An audio course will also help. I liked Pimsleur Japanese because I could listen and learn while doing other things like driving or walking. Others don't like it because it's expensive and somewhat slow. However, if you get it from the library and supplement it with printed texts, Pimsleur works out pretty well.

[kydancer0123]

x911 wrote:
Learn some kanji, basic grammer and some vocabulary. hope that helps sorta.

I agree. I use textbooks (Japanese for Busy People), but it's totally up to you which ones to use. You need to experiment to see which textbook fits your learning style. Audio Courses are helpful, because they teach you exactly how to sasy something.
Hope I helped and Good luck!:)
PS- You may want to look into the Japanese Language Proficiency Test after you've learned some Kanji.

[Gakusha]

I would say audio courses are helpful, but stay away from Rosetta Stone at all costs. It's computer software that teaches you a regional accent that only a few
Japanese actually speak.

[Shibakoen]

check out the study guides for the japanese proficiency test. you'd want to check out the level 5 first.

[colind]

there's a level 5?!?!?!?

[kydancer0123]

colind wrote:
there's a level 5?!?!?!?

Wow! Is there really a Lv. 5?

[Sunshine]

Thankyou all very much^^ I am going to order "Japanese for busy people" once i fet more money, and i am on a waitning list at the library for Pimslur^^

[colind]

hehe well yeh... i'm pretty sure there's not a Lvl 5...
i even checked out the website in case they added a new level and i hadn't found out...
well good luck with ur studies!
i personally have used "Japanese For Everyone" and found it very good. you can get a workbook, kanji book and audio materials to go along with it.
and of course... if u can get to a class... go for it!
頑張って！

[Sunshine]

..perhaps i shall get "Japanese for Everyone" I bet my Local Barns and Nobles has it. I will have to call and see

[Qbe]

I've seen "Japanese for Everyone" at only one Barnes & Noble (are you in Michigan? It was the store in Portage.); they're much more likely to carry "Japanese for Busy People". However, Amazon has a great price on "Japanese for Everyone."

[Kates]

Qbe~ Woah, do you live near Portage? XD I'm in Kalamazoo, and that B&N is 'my bookstore'. ^_^

Hey everyone! Check this site for searching the web for the best deals on books:
http://www.bestbookdeal.com!!

[Gakusha]

Since when is there a Level 5 JLPT???

[Qbe]

Kates wrote:
Qbe~ Woah, do you live near Portage? XD I'm in Kalamazoo, and that B&N is 'my bookstore'. ^_^

I'm in Grand Rapids. I was passing through Portage one day in February, checked out the Japanese section at that B&N and spotted Japanese For Everyone. I'd never seen it in a store either before or since. My teacher was impressed too; she'd never seen it in a bookstore. Looking at the book sold me on taking her class because of all the cool content crammed into each page...but I bought the book from Amazon at a substantial discount.

It's good to see yet another Michigan Nihongophile here!