Finally I'm starting Japanese!

[TroyRoget]

After years of waiting to get to college and then wading through stupid placement tests ("No, I don't know any Japanese, why do I need to take a placement test to prove it?") I am finally signed up for a course of Japanese for the spring term!

[Kimpatsu]

Gambatte, ne!

[zatojoshi]

Hai, Hai, Gambatte ne. Please, lemme give you some advice. Stay humble. Realize that a basic course (even a second year course) will not mean that you are a fluent speaker of Japanese. For some reason, I keep running into people that took one semester of it who say, "I know Japanese. I can totally read manga now!"

But anyway, that's a whole other rant. Good luck with it.

[Kimpatsu]

Hai, Hai, Gambatte ne. Please, lemme give you some advice. Stay humble. Realize that a basic course (even a second year course) will not mean that you are a fluent speaker of Japanese. For some reason, I keep running into people that took one semester of it who say, "I know Japanese. I can totally read manga now!"

But surely, reading manga is the highest goal of learning Japanese...

[fifthchamber]

But surely, reading manga is the highest goal of learning Japanese

....Heh..For most of the kids I teach yeah...It is...And they like the manga with Furigana too..Heh..
Regards.

[Shinken]

I've never been a fan of that crowd, either. Clearly there are much better reasons to study any foreign language, let alone Japanese, than to pursue translating a non-responsive medium. I believe George Leonards refers to the person who learns Japanese solely to read manga with furigana "Hackers," in his book called "Mastery." Not exactly the best book I've ever read, but it does something that has not exactly been touched upon too in depth before, which is the study of skill development itself, certainly a worthwhile read.

As far as studying the language, Troy, I'm only two and a half years in, and I've barely scratched the surface of conversation to the point that I can, in fact, converse. However, it has most certainly been one of the most rewarding things I've done in a while, barring that time I placed 7th in a mediocrity contest. I would certainly suggest finding international students from Japan on your school campus to make friends with, and then study abroad in Japan if you can. It really does help to have people you already know live there, and your language skills will progress and solidify far more rapidly if you do so.

Heh, of course, if you're single, perhaps you could find a nice Japanese girlfriend. Mine was absolutely brutal about correcting my Japanese. Probably the best instruction I've had in a while. Good luck, let me know how it's coming along.