Japanese language programs
drainer at mpinet.net
drainer at mpinet.net
Fri Feb 5 11:24:50 EST 2010
Interesting article, though I wonder if there was more to it than just the software...
As I said earlier, I think it is a good listening tool for an intermediate speaker. It's mostly repetition and although not exactly groundbreaking, it could suffice for learning vocabulary. Regarding Benito's criticism, he is right, version 2.x (roughly 10+ years old) was rubbish. The newer versions, 3.2.x offer substantial improvements. From my understanding, this was when Rosetta became a LLC (it was originally owned by Sierra) and revamped the whole line of products. The newer edition also offers Japanese levels 1-3, so for someone who does not live in Japan and wishes to bridge the gap between intermediate and advanced, it could be useful (especially level 3 if you'd like to practice reading).
Anyway, I would not encourage anyone to purchase it, but if you can use it through your department it is worth taking a look--that was my original suggestion. And as mentioned by others, these days you can supplement your learning with an online tutor (through Skype, etc), though my caveat on that one is to try to pick the most "serious" instructor, otherwise you won't get far.
It essentially comes down to self-discipline and picking the right sources...learning languages can be quite tedious and boring, I certainly know it was like that for me....
-daniel
----- Original Message -----
From: Bruce Baird
To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 11:06 AM
Subject: Re: Japanese language programs
There was an article in the NYTimes just the other day about Rosetta Stone--
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/technology/personaltech/28basics.html?scp=1&sq=rosetta%20stone&st=cse
I've never used it and I don't know if something has changed, but it apparently worked for someone going from Farsi to English. Whether it is as good at going away from english is another question.
On Feb 4, 2010, at 11:20 PM, Benito Cachinero wrote:
Sorry, I just think Rosetta Stone is a scam geared towards dilettantes. Maybe something miraculous happened to the software, but when I tried it 10ish years ago it was a laughable collection of mini-games.
Your other suggestions are good, though. I wish I had had KanKen games when I was coming up...
Benito
On Thu, Feb 4, 2010 at 11:00 PM, <drainer at mpinet.net> wrote:
No apologies necessary.
I was not suggesting flashcards, but rather Japanese games like 漢検 or even something like ことばのパズル (which is a *great* vocabulary builder). Remember, these are made for Japanese who are learning vocabulary or kanji; if you master all the 漢検 games you will be well beyond a scholar's grasp...
Textbooks, of course, are also great, but I believe in following all of the paths, and I think that media, especially television, is the way to fluency. It worked for me well beyond Japanese...
-d
----- Original Message ----- From: "BC" <pencileraser at gmail.com>
To: <KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 10:36 PM
Subject: Re: Japanese language programs
In case you are considering doing something stateside, you might try the
Monterey Institute of International Studies in California or the Middlebury
programs in Vermont (though these might be geared towards younger people? I
don't know much about Middlebury). I believe that Cornell also does
something similar.
Some years ago when I was starting out I did an intensive Japanese program
at Stanford's summer session, and it was exceedingly good because there were
only two of us in the class!
But if you can manage to get to Japan to do it, by all means go that route.
I wouldn't under any circumstance recommend Rosetta Stone. Textbooks
(usually of 1970s-80s vintage are best) will get you up to speed in no time;
as a PhD candidate I assume you have no qualms about reading! It will help
you in the long run more than fun graphics and flashcard drills will. (With
apologies to previous poster.)
Barring all of these options, you can have your own intensive program by
hiring a tutor privately. This may hurt your pocketbook, but Tachibana
Takashi seems to agree that you can learn something 10x faster when you do
it alone; group classes lessen the cost, but also the learning potential.
Benito Cachinero
On Thu, Feb 4, 2010 at 10:30 PM, <drainer at mpinet.net> wrote:
Hi Robyn,
Unfortunately that seems to be the requirement for most formal
institutions, though I think there could be placement tests. Perhaps others
on the list could give you better advice on specifics.
Cornell University also has a good program (FALCON) designed for
beginner/intermediate/advanced students, though the costs are a bit
prohibitive.
There are many intensive language schools in Japan, some good, many bad.
There is an institute which keeps costs low--the name escapes me, anyone
remember it? I think it is somewhere in kansai and starts with an Y, though
I am not sure at all....
Your best bet would be an intensive course at a university in Japan for one
or two semesters, though I am not sure if you have the time as you are a
focusing on the PhD.
To be honest, I would even recommend Rosetta Stone, if you've got the time
and patience and can get it through your department. It's not the greatest
learning tool in the world, but it works well enough for an intermediate
learner or someone adept at listening.
I did not take three semesters of Japanese at university, so I had to learn
on my own (and trust me, I never studied). In my experience, listening is
the key...the hardest part is bridging the gap between intermediate and
advanced...after that, just get a Nintendo DS and some Kanji learning games!
-d
----- Original Message ----- From: "Robyn Citizen" <rc1434 at nyu.edu>
To: <KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 9:55 PM
Subject: Re: Japanese language programs
Thanks! I checked into IUC but the it seems that I have to be somewhat
more proficient in Kanji (500-700 characters) then I currently am and need
to have three semesters of university courses in Japanese.
Robyn Citizen
PhD Candidate
Cinema Studies
New York University
alternate e-mail: ladykaede1221 at gmail.com
"I'm giving her all she's got Captain!" - Scotty, Star Trek 2009
----- Original Message -----
From: Lindsay Nelson <lrnelson at usc.edu>
Date: Thursday, February 4, 2010 9:45 pm
Subject: Re: Japanese language programs
To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
I second IUC Yokohama, have heard great things from friends who did it--I
did a one-year intensive program at Sophia that was really helpful (I
think
they've also got a summer course now, www.sophia.ac.jp), and I applied
for a
similar program at Waseda.
On Thu, Feb 4, 2010 at 6:40 PM, Eija Niskanen <eija.niskanen at gmail.com
>wrote:
> Hi!
>
> This one, IUC in Yokohama, is a good one. I studied their 1-yr
> program, but they have summer courses as well.
>
> http://www.stanford.edu/dept/IUC/
>
> Eija
>
> On Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 11:37 AM, Robyn Citizen <rc1434 at nyu.edu> > wrote:
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I was wondering if anyone on the list could recommend a good
program or
> school in Japan for intensive short-term (summer) Japanese lessons.
> >
> > I've been learning Japanese informally and through weekly Japan > >
Society
> classes for a couple of years now and have decided that at 30 and
with a
> natural ineptitude when it comes to grammar, I probably need to
invest in
> the immersion experience if only for a brief period.
> >
> > Ideally, this will put me on the right track to being able to watch
> Japanese movies without subtitles - which is necessary since I can
only find
> certain films like KIKU TO ISAMU, without them - and read the
original text
> of film reviews and analyses by Japanese critics.
> >
> > Thanks much,
> >
> > Robyn Citizen
> > PhD Candidate
> > Cinema Studies
> > New York University
> > alternate e-mail: ladykaede1221 at gmail.com
> >
> >
> >
> > "I'm giving her all she's got Captain!" - Scotty, Star Trek 2009
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Eija Niskanen
> c/o Fujita
> Kichijoji Honcho 4-12-6
> Musashino-shi
> Tokyo 180-0004
>
--
Benito Cachinero
http://www.linkedin.com/in/benitocachinero
Bruce Baird
Assistant Professor
Asian Languages and Literatures
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Butô, Japanese Theater, Intellectual History
717 Herter Hall
161 Presidents Drive
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003-9312
Phone: 413-577-4992
Fax: 413-545-4975
baird at asianlan.umass.edu
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