japanese pod 101 are good! you can download their free podcast on itunes and if you have a nokia n95.

Yep, that is true. Also I've found that romajiquest.com is an RPG that teaches Japanese. It is kind of lame but actually really works. Though to get the full version it costs about $11.00US to get it. I haven't gotten the full version yet, but I will soon. It is helpful and pretty amusing.

Raka

what ive found is really good is tapeing the list of symbols you want to learn (and other info) around the house so you cant escape them and after waking up with a big 猫 in my face and looking in the mirrior to fid it in my sleepy face again and etc. maybe when school starts again have a new symbol every day and write it in between classes in your locker!
this works for me! (yes it drives my parents crazy!)

plz anser it would mean a whole lot. ^_^

I haven't tried either of them and cant really afford it. Though I did get a japanese/english dictionary for about... $10.00US. I would try it first then if I liked it I would get it in full.

Sincerely,
Rakashael

Some "must-have" programs and sites.

NJStar Word Processor - very good word processor with a kanji dictionary inside. Very good program, only drawback is way too expensive (if not wrong around 200 US$).
NJCommunicator - Good IME program, to write kana and kanji. It is very similar to the one provided by microsoft so I wouldn't spend the money (if this one is very expensive).
Readwrite Kanji - Don't remember the price, but you can download it online for free as evaluation with a limit of 10 or 50 kanji. Full version contains all 1945 basic kanji. Allows you to build your own list (as in you decide what kanji to work with and adding them when you are ready to go on) and offers exercises with the kanji in the list. Amongst the exercise there are multiple choice question about the meaning of kanji, ON reading and KUN reading, the radical of the kanji, the order of strokes and more.
Wakan - Completely free program. Dictionary of kanji (for Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages) with example phrases. The Japanese dictionary contains over 6,000 kanji.

Grammar site:
guidetoJapanese I can say one of the most complete grammar online. I like it above all coz reduces to a very minimum (almost nothing) the use of romaji. Getting used to learning with romaji in my opinion slows down a lot the learning process.
Japanese-Online.com Another very good grammar online which provides also written dialogues as examples, much better than a single phrase.

Just my 2 cents...

I think people have to focus on using the language as much as possible. A good solid learning programme is best to follow with lots of practise be that on the net or in person.

Actually I think a program is good as refreshing something or studying new grammar. For the rest turn off the computer and use pen and paper. Have a page of newspaper or something written in Japanese, a dictionary, paper and pen and start working.
Typing won't bring you far at all in studying.

I am learning Japanese too right now. I learning all the Harakana rite now. It is lot of fun. I have pick up a few words here and there by watching J-drama and anime. But anything you want to share be sweet.

can e-mail me at [email protected] or you can PM me here.

Hi Icenite,

Good luck with learning Japanese. I have studied it and use it daily. It can be easy to use as a basic language but gets more difficult when trying to express oneself.

Watching Japanese dramas is good for learning the intonation and expressions that people use. Childrens anime is good for learning adjectives and vocabulary etc. But you need to learn from a solid programme be that computer based, book and cd based to know what you are watching on TV.

Learning the different verb forms is quite essential for meaning other thatn the verb meaning. The longer you study the more you realise what I mean.

It's hiragana and katakana by the way.

Enjoy!