You can install keyboard apps in your phone too. And it's okay not to know kanji yet but at least start with hiragana and some katakana.

almost 3 weeks but i still cant manage to find a class, either not enough people to start a class or need 1 hour+ commute for one way to class.

This post has been edited by AweFace: Jul 3 2019, 11:56 PM

Yes, it's something new each day

What phone are you using? Mine is Android. I installed Japanese keyboard via language pack at setting.

Another option is go to PlayStore (not sure about Apple) and download Go Keyboard. Choose Japanese for keyboard input.

That's quite a challenge. Which area are you looking at?

Konnichiwa sensei. okotae wa arigotougozaimashita. iPhone wo tsukatteimasu.

@sweet_pez

Setapak area, most of the centers recommended by jlpt is around kl and pj. I'm college student no car so I have to rely on public transport and walking

You can take LRT/MRT and go to the ICLS language center at Fahrenheit88, Bkt Bintang.

maybe you can try this online classes https://cakapjepun.com/

いいえ、いいえ、先生じゃありませんよ。私も皆さんと一緒に頑張っています。

Hmmm Setapak... other than ICLS at Fahrenheit, what about JLSM http://www.jlsm.org/ at Kompleks Mutiara? I think its not that far off Setapak area. But i think this place you'll need to take bus to get there.

I tried, beginner classes are full for 2019

When will be the next intake? Maybe you can pre-register for it first while searching for some other options?

most of them are hangat hangat tahi ayam..

my time , during first class there are 6 students. fast forward today...only left 3 still continue...

Too bad I cant jump in half way, and actually I found a center near my hostel as well, but still not enough persons to even start a trial class

This post has been edited by AweFace: Jul 4 2019, 10:01 PM

Hi guys, haven't logged in for ages, but randomly coming across this topic, I was interested in answering some of the questions.

I've sat for JLPT N1, and have passed the exams. In my experience, the grammar part would need lots of drills, but for me listening was the easiest. I would attribute it to a personal experience of working in a Japanese environment for almost 8 years where I had to communicate in Japanese daily. I failed the exams once, which discouraged me from resitting it for quite a while. (It's okay to fail haha. It'll make you work harder) A handful of my non-Japanese colleagues did not pass on the first try too, but with some preserverance, you might be able to make it.

I majored in Japanese languages and linguistics, but upon graduation only obtained JLPT2. Put off taking the exams till last year. If there are any questions you might have, I would try to answer them the best I can. I've noticed the severe lack of classes available for N2 and N1, and would say that self-study is really crucial in obtaining that pass! Cheers and good luck.

There's a new comprehensive textbook published by The Japan Times Publishing, catered for N3. Recommended studying this book after finished Genki II or Minna no Nihongo Elementary II textbook. The next volume for Quartet series focusing for N2 will be available in the near future. You can get the first volume at the end of July 2019!

４技能でひろがる中級日本語カルテット<１> (QUARTET: Intermediate Japanese Across the Four Language Skills I)
Official English catalogue
Official 日本語 catalogue (Includes extended TOC preview)
Kinokuniya catalogue
While waiting for the book's release, get the official audio zip copy here. They are not publishing CDs anymore.

This post has been edited by chunhoecch: Jul 8 2019, 02:40 PM

Thanks for your sharing! It's very meaningful. At the end of the day it boils back to one's own reason "why" you take up Japanese. If the reason is strong enough, you'll be persistent with it. Learning a new language is tough, especially for locals who does not have the environment/ exposure to help with practice/ proficiency.

Lastly, congratulations on passing your N1! I always say it's nothing to be ashamed about. I recall a member said he had failed the exam 6-7x and still went for it.

That's great! Thanks for the recommendation!

Other than online, for tourists who wish to buy reference/ academic books, I'll recommend Bonjinsha bookstore in Chiyoda, Tokyo: 凡人社
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2009/07/2...o/#.XSWgK-szbIU
http://www.bonjinsha.com/wp/access

After much consideration, I decided to not go to a Japanese lesson class due to commute time and decided to self learn.

I'll be mainly using this site https://pomax.github.io/nrGrammar/#section-...riting_the_kana and borrowing Minna no nihongo I from my uni's library.

I would appreciate if you guys would provide some guidance for beginners to avoid any mistakes. (Im aiming for passing N4 this year)

I wish to learn japanese too can anyone recomend me some place to learn in penang?

Minna no Nihongo is a very good start. Even ICLS's in house textbook is kinda based off it. It can get you through N4 no doubt. It's like an early bible for Japanese Language learners. However the grammar part's explanation might not suffice without a proper teacher. Like the grammatical rules, and how/what situations to use certain phrases, or commit to certain changes in the 語尾 gobi（ending of the verbs）

For free test samples, try getting a membership at JFKL if you are in the Klang Valley to access their library. If I'm not mistakened there's also a photocopy machine so you can photostate some worksheets for reference. While preparing for N1, I downloaded a number of free apps for the drills, and a flashcard app for the Kanji. A quick search can show you the list of them.

If you are on a tight budget, and can read/understand Mandarin, there are workbooks in Kinokuniya published in Taiwan meant for JLPT. They are much MUCH cheaper than those published in Japan.

In summary, personally I feel that a good teacher with a good hold and understanding of the basic structures of the language is extremely important. Beyond N3, its a grey area where you are free to explore how you want to advance the language skill. Some I knew watched J-dramas, or we played a whole game in Japanese to get ourselves used to the native-way of the language usage. But the basics are always extremely essential.

Good to hear that you wish to do self study. But in doing so, there's a lot of discipline, reading and consistency required. It'll also be hard to find explanation you needed for certain rules, exceptions etc.

If you're starting from ground zero (with no Japanese basic), I'll suggest to be realistic and aim for N4 next year instead. JLPT exam takes place twice a year: first Sunday of July and first Sunday of December. With only 6 months, it's good enough if you're able to sit for N5.

shirotan painted a pretty accurate/ realistic picture of the situation. I have read of others who studied independently for first 2 years and they do struggle, but managed to go through. Thus it's not impossible since everyone have different style/ preference in studying.

Feel free to ask here if you have any questions - a lot of N1, N2 master around.

I'm going to expand Post #1 to be more informative so it's easier for all learners to benefit from this thread.

Go to Post #1. Check out the link i posted up.

sweet_pez Just wanna ask, is the Japan Foundation at Mid Valley a good place to learn Japanese?