I used a two-pronged approach to teach myself some Japanese.
1. Use the Rosetta Stone software to familiarize yourself with the vocabulary, sound, and appearance of Japanese language. I found this to be useful for learning-by-repetition.
2. At the same time, get a Japanese textbook and learn the details of the grammar. Start by memorizing the hiragana alphabet. Learn about the particles.
If you simply use the language - i.e. take approach #1 alone - then you miss out on essential understanding of *why* the language works the way it does. If you simply study it like a science - i.e. take approach #2 alone - then you prevent your brain from learning a language the most natural way, by imitation.
Slashdot Mirror
I used a two-pronged approach to teach myself some Japanese.
1. Use the Rosetta Stone software to familiarize yourself with the vocabulary, sound, and appearance of Japanese language. I found this to be useful for learning-by-repetition.
2. At the same time, get a Japanese textbook and learn the details of the grammar. Start by memorizing the hiragana alphabet. Learn about the particles.
If you simply use the language - i.e. take approach #1 alone - then you miss out on essential understanding of *why* the language works the way it does. If you simply study it like a science - i.e. take approach #2 alone - then you prevent your brain from learning a language the most natural way, by imitation.
Good luck, and I hope this helps...