Comments on: The Immersion Environment: Rome wasn’t built in a day…But this isn’t Rome, so a week should totally do… http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do How to learn Japanese. On your own, having fun and to fluency. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:22:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: khatzumoto http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-3387 khatzumoto Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:38:33 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-3387 >what is the best thing to do while working through the Kanji, if anything? Yeah, just build and maintain that environment. >what is the best thing to do while working through the Kanji, if anything?
Yeah, just build and maintain that environment.

]]> By: noah http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-3386 noah Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:36:29 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-3386 Khatsumoto I hope this hasn't been answered yet, but there is a lot of information to sift through on this site. Because your method begins with creating an immersion environment, and because it is after a multi-month method of learning the Kanji before the sentence-into-SRS phase begins, what is the best thing to do while working through the Kanji, if anything? I am listening to music, watching movies, etc...that is fine, and I am becoming used to the new sounds, but I have as yet not tried to parse and understand anything being said, as I have not finished RTK. Should I be working through some of the audio in Kana? thanks! Noah Khatsumoto

I hope this hasn’t been answered yet, but there is a lot of information to sift through on this site.

Because your method begins with creating an immersion environment, and because it is after a multi-month method of learning the Kanji before the sentence-into-SRS phase begins, what is the best thing to do while working through the Kanji, if anything?

I am listening to music, watching movies, etc…that is fine, and I am becoming used to the new sounds, but I have as yet not tried to parse and understand anything being said, as I have not finished RTK. Should I be working through some of the audio in Kana?

thanks!
Noah

]]> By: Jonathan DeSousa http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-2911 Jonathan DeSousa Thu, 06 Sep 2007 03:02:34 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-2911 Hi Khatsumoto-san, Thanks for the recommendations. I will get some more doraemon and I have seen Ore wa Teppei at Sasuga. I'll look for these others as well. I think that 少年 manga will be fine. I actually am finding that reading manga like doraemon that are full of hiragana are actually more difficult to understand than ones with kanji. At least with kanji, I can infer the meaning; however, with hiragana, I've got nothing, and I don't even have a great way to look it up in the dictionary. I'll pick up some good stuff when Sasuga is open next weekend. Thanks again. Hi Khatsumoto-san,

Thanks for the recommendations. I will get some more doraemon and I have seen Ore wa Teppei at Sasuga. I’ll look for these others as well. I think that 少年 manga will be fine. I actually am finding that reading manga like doraemon that are full of hiragana are actually more difficult to understand than ones with kanji. At least with kanji, I can infer the meaning; however, with hiragana, I’ve got nothing, and I don’t even have a great way to look it up in the dictionary. I’ll pick up some good stuff when Sasuga is open next weekend.

Thanks again.

]]> By: khatzumoto http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-2909 khatzumoto Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:11:22 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-2909 I looked up a list of kendoh manga on Wikipedia Japan. I limited the list to 少年 manga...that is, the kind targeted towards young people (and that are therefore full of furigana; furigana on every character). This is what I came up with (I've never read any of these, by the way, just looked at the descriptions). <ul> <li>おれは鉄兵（ちばてつや） [ｵﾚ ﾊ ﾃｯﾍﾟｲ (ﾁﾋﾞ ﾃﾂﾔ)] Ore wa Teppei (CHIBI Tetsuya)</li> <li>旋風の橘（猪熊しのぶ） [ｶｾﾞ ﾉ ﾀﾁﾊﾞﾅ (ｲﾉｸﾏ ｼﾉﾌﾞ)] Kaze no Tachibana (INOKUMA Shinobu)</li> <li>六三四の剣（村上もとか） [ﾑｻｼ ﾉ ｹﾝ (ﾑﾗｶﾐ ﾓﾄｶ)] Musashi no Ken (MURAKAMI Motoka)</li> </ul> I would actually recommend you get Doraemon as well (if you like it) because it <em>is</em> so simple. Simple, predictable things are great when you're just wanting to get your foot in the door... I looked up a list of kendoh manga on Wikipedia Japan.
I limited the list to 少年 manga…that is, the kind targeted towards young people (and that are therefore full of furigana; furigana on every character). This is what I came up with (I’ve never read any of these, by the way, just looked at the descriptions).

  • おれは鉄兵（ちばてつや） [ｵﾚ ﾊ ﾃｯﾍﾟｲ (ﾁﾋﾞ ﾃﾂﾔ)] Ore wa Teppei (CHIBI Tetsuya)
  • 旋風の橘（猪熊しのぶ） [ｶｾﾞ ﾉ ﾀﾁﾊﾞﾅ (ｲﾉｸﾏ ｼﾉﾌﾞ)] Kaze no Tachibana (INOKUMA Shinobu)
  • 六三四の剣（村上もとか） [ﾑｻｼ ﾉ ｹﾝ (ﾑﾗｶﾐ ﾓﾄｶ)] Musashi no Ken (MURAKAMI Motoka)

I would actually recommend you get Doraemon as well (if you like it) because it is so simple. Simple, predictable things are great when you’re just wanting to get your foot in the door…

]]> By: Jonathan DeSousa http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-2902 Jonathan DeSousa Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:26:29 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-2902 Hi Khatsumoto-san, My reasons for studying Japanese are two-fold. First, I simply love the culture and would like to enjoy it more, in its own language. Second, I study Iaido and Kendo, Japanese Sword-related martial arts. I have many books by some of the greatest iaidoka but I can't understand much of the writings and can only use the photos for reference. I want to be able to read all of it. Manga is for me a stepping stone to help me improve my Japanese literacy, but from what I read with Dragonball, I may actually enjoy it as a distinct hobby in and of it self. I am more into history and historical fiction and so, any manga related to samurai would be interesting. Again, I don't really know of any manga (outside of those that I already read), but I am also looking for something in my reading level so that I am not so overwhelmed that I give up on day 1. Is there anything in particular that you might suggest? Thanks again, Jon Hi Khatsumoto-san,

My reasons for studying Japanese are two-fold. First, I simply love the culture and would like to enjoy it more, in its own language. Second, I study Iaido and Kendo, Japanese Sword-related martial arts. I have many books by some of the greatest iaidoka but I can’t understand much of the writings and can only use the photos for reference. I want to be able to read all of it.

Manga is for me a stepping stone to help me improve my Japanese literacy, but from what I read with Dragonball, I may actually enjoy it as a distinct hobby in and of it self. I am more into history and historical fiction and so, any manga related to samurai would be interesting. Again, I don’t really know of any manga (outside of those that I already read), but I am also looking for something in my reading level so that I am not so overwhelmed that I give up on day 1. Is there anything in particular that you might suggest?

Thanks again,

Jon

]]> By: khatzumoto http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-2873 khatzumoto Wed, 05 Sep 2007 01:17:49 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-2873 Let me answer your question with questions. What do YOU like? What are YOU interested in? What are the kinds of books that you read in English? What shows do you watch? What are your favorite anime? I say this because...I have very specific tastes (not good tastes, just specific ones :D), so other people's recommendations may bounce off me and vice versa. The fact that you are really, really interested in a book (and/or have prior knowledge of its contents gained from other sources) can trump any apparent difficulty... So, what matters most is what Jon DeSousa likes. Anyway, let me know your answers to the questions. Let me answer your question with questions.

What do YOU like? What are YOU interested in? What are the kinds of books that you read in English? What shows do you watch? What are your favorite anime?

I say this because…I have very specific tastes (not good tastes, just specific ones :D), so other people’s recommendations may bounce off me and vice versa.

The fact that you are really, really interested in a book (and/or have prior knowledge of its contents gained from other sources) can trump any apparent difficulty…
So, what matters most is what Jon DeSousa likes.

Anyway, let me know your answers to the questions.

]]> By: Jonathan DeSousa http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-2872 Jonathan DeSousa Wed, 05 Sep 2007 01:06:26 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-2872 My reading skills in Japanese are pretty poor just yet, but I want to learn. And I must want to start (better now then later). Unfortunately, I am not familiar with manga. Could you recommend some reading materials for me? My reading level is currently about JLPT 3ish. I would like to read something that is stimulating, but not overly difficult. I picked up a manga called Doraemon and I can understand a good bit of it, but it is incredibly simple in terms of its plot. I also have read some of the first book of Dragonball, which isn't bad. I am also just over 1/2 way through RTK1 so I can at least get an idea of some of what I see. I know that I need to work more on informal, though as i get tripped up in that some. Also, I live about 20 miles from Sasuga Bookstore in MA. I can easily get there on weekends to pick up any recommendations you might have. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. My reading skills in Japanese are pretty poor just yet, but I want to learn. And I must want to start (better now then later). Unfortunately, I am not familiar with manga. Could you recommend some reading materials for me? My reading level is currently about JLPT 3ish. I would like to read something that is stimulating, but not overly difficult. I picked up a manga called Doraemon and I can understand a good bit of it, but it is incredibly simple in terms of its plot. I also have read some of the first book of Dragonball, which isn’t bad. I am also just over 1/2 way through RTK1 so I can at least get an idea of some of what I see. I know that I need to work more on informal, though as i get tripped up in that some. Also, I live about 20 miles from Sasuga Bookstore in MA. I can easily get there on weekends to pick up any recommendations you might have. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

]]> By: 3 Films Since Yesterday...(Tres películas desde ayer) « bilingually | bilingualmente http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-994 3 Films Since Yesterday...(Tres películas desde ayer) « bilingually | bilingualmente Fri, 01 Jun 2007 21:41:32 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-994 [...] Reminds me of this post on AJATT: If you don’t yet know all the dialogue and the lyrics, then it’s still worth repeating Don’t use “lack of equipment” as an excuse to not get going. If you’re assembling Japanese-language tools, either do it quickly and in large volume, or use what little is at hand. Time is slipping through your hands, so use it wisely. Time is precious; it is perhaps the only thing you cannot take back. Money can be earned. Marriages can be repaired (lol–warning: do not take relationship advice from me). But time, once it’s gone, it’s gone. So don’t sit there thinking “Man, if only I had more stuff, then I could really get my Japanese on”. GET more stuff now, or USE what you have. Remember, if you still don’t know all the dialogue to that one movie or all the lyrics to that one song by heart, then it still warrants repeating. I don’t care if you’re bored and have seen or watched it a thousand times. Listen to it more carefully; try to pick out something new; I guarantee you’ll learn something. Of course, don’t go around being bored forever, that’s a recipe for disaster, do get something new to watch or listen to. But no excuses. Start now. [...] […] Reminds me of this post on AJATT: If you don’t yet know all the dialogue and the lyrics, then it’s still worth repeating Don’t use “lack of equipment” as an excuse to not get going. If you’re assembling Japanese-language tools, either do it quickly and in large volume, or use what little is at hand. Time is slipping through your hands, so use it wisely. Time is precious; it is perhaps the only thing you cannot take back. Money can be earned. Marriages can be repaired (lol–warning: do not take relationship advice from me). But time, once it’s gone, it’s gone. So don’t sit there thinking “Man, if only I had more stuff, then I could really get my Japanese on”. GET more stuff now, or USE what you have. Remember, if you still don’t know all the dialogue to that one movie or all the lyrics to that one song by heart, then it still warrants repeating. I don’t care if you’re bored and have seen or watched it a thousand times. Listen to it more carefully; try to pick out something new; I guarantee you’ll learn something. Of course, don’t go around being bored forever, that’s a recipe for disaster, do get something new to watch or listen to. But no excuses. Start now. […]

]]> By: Mighty Matt http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-735 Mighty Matt Thu, 24 May 2007 12:05:25 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-735 Saru Sponge: I can't recommend the following site enough for helping you with Heisig's Kanji book. It shedules your kanji reviews to make the most use of your time, and people share stories for later in the book when Heisig stops giving them to you. http://kanji.koohii.com Saru Sponge:
I can’t recommend the following site enough for helping you with Heisig’s Kanji book. It shedules your kanji reviews to make the most use of your time, and people share stories for later in the book when Heisig stops giving them to you.

http://kanji.koohii.com

]]> By: Saru Sponge http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-734 Saru Sponge Thu, 24 May 2007 10:30:48 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-734 I hope so. The stories have kind of started melting together in my head, so I'm taking a week off to revise everything. Ha! Christina is right. This site is fast becoming the only English site I go to. It's hard to wean myself off English, and I've had a few false starts, but I'm persevering. I hope so. The stories have kind of started melting together in my head, so I’m taking a week off to revise everything. Ha!

Christina is right. This site is fast becoming the only English site I go to. It’s hard to wean myself off English, and I’ve had a few false starts, but I’m persevering.

]]> By: khatzumoto http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-732 khatzumoto Thu, 24 May 2007 03:43:34 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-732 Saru Sponge--500 in a month is really good progress! Congratulations! Christina--thank YOU :) Saru Sponge–500 in a month is really good progress! Congratulations!
Christina–thank YOU :)

]]> By: Christina http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-731 Christina Thu, 24 May 2007 01:19:54 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-731 Hey! Thanks for making this topic. I am having such a hard time getting immersed.. but now I think it will be easier. Your site totaly rocks my life by the way. Thanks!! Hey! Thanks for making this topic. I am having such a hard time getting immersed.. but now I think it will be easier. Your site totaly rocks my life by the way.

Thanks!!

]]> By: Saru Sponge http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-726 Saru Sponge Wed, 23 May 2007 04:22:02 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/the-immersion-environment-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-daybut-this-isnt-rome-so-a-week-should-totally-do#comment-726 I've been slack with setting up my Japanese Learning Environment. But you're right. If I don't jump into it now, I'll regret it in the future. I'm still getting through Heisig's Kanji at the moment. Made it up to 500 in just over a month. It's taking a long time, and I'm plodding through it, but I feel a lot more comfortable with writing the kanji than I ever did before. Thanks for your advice. It is worth sticking to. I’ve been slack with setting up my Japanese Learning Environment. But you’re right. If I don’t jump into it now, I’ll regret it in the future. I’m still getting through Heisig’s Kanji at the moment. Made it up to 500 in just over a month. It’s taking a long time, and I’m plodding through it, but I feel a lot more comfortable with writing the kanji than I ever did before.

Thanks for your advice. It is worth sticking to.

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