Learning Japanese

Learning Japanese is not easy and I'm learning it doesn't help to when you don't have your own computer.  Why am I learning Japanese?  For several reasons, but the main one right now is beause I wish to better understand the culture I am trying to place my first novel The Hogoshiro Chornicles in.  You guessed it!  Japan.

A writer friend of mind suggested I read Lian Hearn's Across the Nightingale Floor because my story reminded her of the book.  I recently finished the book and I have to agree.  The time period is incorrect (I wish to set THC in modern Japan, while AtNF is set an alternate feudal Japan, but Hearn's book shares many things with the ideas I have for THC.

Anyways, back on topic.  I was looking through Hearn's website lianhearn.com, and read her post on writing in different cultures.  She strongly suggested you learn the language of the culture you are trying to write in.  In both our cases:  Japanese.  If you learn and understand the language, you can than read works from said culture in its own native language.  Nothing can get "lost in translation" if you will.  Since, reading is such an important part of becoming a good writer, I figured it would be important to take the time to learn Japanese.

I've tried looking for continuing education classes at all the local colleges here in Madison, but can't find any that are in my price range. MATC has one for $72.76, but I wouldn't be able to get aid for it.  Besides, there are other free resources out there such as tofugu.com and textfugu.com.  Okay, so textfugu is only partly free (the first 6 lessons of "season 1"), but I'm finding them to be pretty damn good lessons.  Textfugu also has a list of other resources for studying Japanese, most of them with at least some free parts.

Being interested in modern (and ancient) Japanese culture helps as well.  Watching anime with English subtitles is another way to supplement your studies.  It's not a great way to learn by itself, but it can help.  If you're actively paying attention, meaning you stop the video and repeat things or read phrases of Hiragana or Katakana, instead of just passively listening.

I've wondered which writing system is best to learn first, Hiragana or Katakana?  Kanji, the system of characters the Japanese "borrowed" from the Chinese, is the most difficult to learn, so I'm not even bothering with those- yet at least.  Several people say that Hiragana is the one you should study first.  Not only because this is the writing system the Japanese first learn themselves, but it will save you time in the long run.  That, and learning Romanji is a waste of time since you already know it.

Sayonara.