Good points.

But try writing e-mail in Japanese and see how easy it can be because you don't have to remember the stroke order of Kanji. My Japanese benefited from e-mail communication as I could contextually remember the kanji to use without sluggin away trying to remember strokes.

A lot of Japanese themselves tend to forget some kanji too.

I somewhat disagree! Typing pretty much got me to the level I'm at today.

I spent 2 years between high school and coming to Japan where I had no Japanese lessons. My primary method of learning Japanese in this time being instant messaging with Japanese people on the internet.

In terms of learning new vocabulary, I must have learned at least as many words each year by emailing and chatting on MSN with my Japanese friends than a year studying at high school!

Sure, you don't write the characters down, and even forget to write some, but you learn to recognise them, and I very rarely find myself in the position (even having spent a year in Japan now) where I need to write in Japanese anyway.

That aside, I think for bridging the gap from upper beginner/lower intermediate to upper intermediate, its darn hard to find any replacement for email/instant messaging, since it can keep you in contact with Japanese people for most of the day, if needs be.

Used in conjunction with a tinsy bit of writing (a short journal entry each week, maybe) and you've got yourself as much practice as you need.

sHOT!!!!!

i started my Japanese classes on Saterday and i already can read and write hiragana, it amazing although i have been remembering lots of stuff from anime and JDrama, if i learn a new word i would write it in hiragana,katakana and kanji.
The language is amazing especially when your Sensei is a Japanese.
Kanji is the best, the history behind how it came to be, it keeps me going.

I would like to improve my skills, so im always up for a chat or whatever.
PM me or email me [email protected]

Peace out

I do use emails, or better NJstar WP, which basically does everything for you if you want (even write out the whole conjugation of every verb).
I have exercises that I email to a Japanese teacher who corrects them. But before compiling the WP sheet, I write the whole exercise on a sheet of paper and then I will redo it (I won't simply copy it) on the WP.
It is not that hard to remember the strokes and even if I get one or two wrong it is not the end of the world.

Of course we are all different and what works for me might not work for you. I am old and my generation got used to pen and paper and we use it alot, newer generation might find more useful a computer :)

hi
 

yeah it is right:)

日本語を学んでいます、これは僕の一年です、でも、日 本語が学なたのがいい。

僕のメルアドレソは[email protected]です。

I am learning Japanese, this is my first year, but, I need to study more. -_-

My email address is [email protected].

:)

Good stuff and keep up the learning.:)
Cheers...

hi
 

I was looking around online the other day and found a free kanji dictionary online. The website is saiga-jp.com, it appears to be a site for Nic-knacks but at the left side there is a link to the dictionary. It is very useful and I use it all the time.

Sicerely,
Raka

i think that its a nice offer

but i prefer to teach myself japanese because when i learn from other people they arnt always correct