Now I'm ashamed of myself edi Taking N4 only

Living 2 years in Japan, guarantee you'll pick up the language. And probably better than going for classes.
Working ofcourse, so you dont go poor.

What's the difference between 捕まるand掴まる？
Also, what's the difference between 捕まえるand 捕まる

Thanks. =)

Would appreciate a little help, looking for Japanese language classes nearby OUG/Sri Petaling.

I checked out ICLS and Teikyo... Well Teikyo is very formal, and their part time started class.

ICLS wise, traveling down to KL everyday is a bit tiring.

And I see you guys talking about text books? Where can I get them or take a glance? If I found it useful I probably buy them to self learn bit by bit in addition to classes.

Arigato Gozaimasu for your input... Minna-sama

The best japanese textbooks can only be found in Kinokuniya at top floor, KLCC. Note that the store is divided into three parts, the English books part, Japanese books part and Chinese books part. You should be going to the Japanese books part, Language section. For beginners, I would recommend Minna no Nihongo I (JLPT N5) and Minna no Nihongo II (JLPT N4). Genki I and Genki II are also not bad and covers roughly the same stuff as Minna no Nihongo. Note that for Genki series, the translations for the Japanese text comes together in the same textbook while for Minna no Nihongo, you have to buy the translation book separately.

And oh, the books are wrapped up in Kinokuniya, so if you want to flip thru them, bring them to the counter and ask them to open it for you.

I'm personally using Minna no Nihongo to study Japanese. Doesn't come cheap 100+ bucks per book, but great value and very efficient if you are self studying.

Thanks you the input, it would be of great help.

Originally I only intended to learn speaking, listening (well as in understanding what they say), since understanding kana alone won't do much except well ya, you can read stuffs out.

But then after all, I realized there is nothing wrong is learning all together anyway.

Motive wise, hehe... I traveled to Japan twice, I liked there a lot but it's a shame that lack of proficiency in nihongo serves as obstacles... And also partially, I watch Detective Conan a lot, I feel like contributing to the subbing community should I achieve certain level of mastery.

I'm now going to A to Z Language Center for private class to improve my speaking skill. I passed N1 two years ago, seriously it doesn't mean I'm good in Japanese.

This post has been edited by jayhan: Mar 8 2013, 04:28 PM

But then I thought N1 is seriously not that easy either?

Some people told me speaking is slightly easier than writing, but mind the grammar a lot.

Writing wise, I think it is because some of them did not learn mandarin chinese, thus Kanji is a pain to them.

Indeed it's not easy! I'm just managed to score right above the passing line. Phew!  ぎりぎり合格しましたよ！

やっぱり毎日練習しないとだめ！

But then still, congrats for passing N1... It is all about practice now.

Ohaiyo gozaimasu!

i'm looking for leads to improve my kanji intensively... any suggestions or recommendations? courses/books anything would be a great help

I read a lot of japanese blogs. While reading I always use Rikaichan(firefox app for translation)

From there I started translating blogs. Bit by bit I could remember kanji patterns without any aid.

The feeling when you can read a whole blog without a translator is so much win.

The process is tiring and sometimes we get bored, but i know that feeling when you realise that you actually start to understand Japanese more. =)

it comes with passion man.

if you have it, it doesn't matter whatever you do.

Kanji still ok for me as we learn more than that during primary school, well only had to learn the new reading for Japanese though.

I'm the kind of person who gets distracted easily now and then. But I always get my passion back when i watch anime lol.

Just something, how do you guys learn words meaning after you mastered your kana(s)?

im english-ed. kana is too easy for me, but im still having problems with kanji.
the only effective way i learn them is thru reading japanese subtitles while watching anime/movie,
or read/write a bunch of lyrics. by reading, i forget them easily, so i prefer writing them down.

I am chinese-ed. So Kanji is rather easy to me.

By the way, is there any course just focusing on speaking and listening? Since I realized I need these 2 skills most rather than writing and reading.