Learning Japanese

[paddockdweller]

I want the girls to be able to converse basically in a few languages and since my SIL is from Osaka I thought Japanese was the logical language to start with.

#1 is 3 and a half and I dont want to leave introducing a language much longer. I wish that I spoke something other than English - but I dont, so I plan to learn Japanese with them.

Im totally unsure where to begin....

A book??? A DVD????

Suggestions please

[Ceres]

I just bought a set of english / malay books for my DS. They have the english written on one side of the page and malay on the other. Maybe something like that to start?

[Louise]

Learning lyrics to songs is fun.

[cgull]

See what's in your local library

[Sarasvati]

What about a cd-rom package? That way you'd get visuals and be able to hear pronunciation as well. Japanese is a very logical language, I found it easy to pick up, even the script. It's not tonal either which is a bonus for english speakers!

[paddockdweller]

Where did you buy the books Ceres?? On-line?

Ive contemplated audio CD's for the car - but aren't sure if that would work? I have put some DVDs on for the girls and put the language as Japanese but wonder if they just tune that out.

Unfortuately our library is also the area school library (small town oz) - they have no appropriate japanese books - and they are generally unhelpful when sourcing info outside the norm - tis a shame but so be it - but if I ever want to know about quilting they are the place to go :)

[Ceres]

I bought the books online from a bookshop in malaysia.

[gypsyoak]

you also might be able to find a learning japanese download on the net. maybe youtube? I speak a teeny bit of spanish and from when dd was born I would say things like hello and how are you in spanish as well as english, you can also do the same for putting clothes on, doing activities etc. If you learn maybe one either object of phrase a week and incorporate it into your everyday life, then that may be a nice gentle introduction for all of you....

Have fun with it!

[CariOfOz]

Ok so it's been months since this thread was posted on.. :oops but I couldn't resist sharing this (http://www.livemocha.com/) website just in case anyone is still looking :o We have done a little bit of Japanese and the fact that you get to hear the words spoken with the correct accent etc really helps.. because I found that often the word doesn't sound quite like it looks :lol

[Harmony]

I've seen lots of free podcasts for learning languages on the iTunes site, if you have an iPod. You can subscribe and they download automatically. Well, you don't have to have an iPod, you can play them on the computer as well :)