はじままして FROM ILLINOIS!

[Munkepunk]

はじままして
I live in Rockford,IL small city northwest of Chicago, just looking for other people who study as well.
I found that the best way to study is pretty much everyday and MAKE A TON OF MISTAKES, if your to affraid
to make the mistakes you'll never know if you are thinking correctly. Before I had a Japanese tutor I would have
never tried to do anything new and thus probably would not have changed my way of thinking in terms of speaking.
Make the mistakes change your thought patterns and learn this awesomely fun language.

Lets get some more people posting on here jease it's dead right now

-イアエン

[atgrzymala83]

Welcome! Japanese is a great language to learn, so we all wish you the best of luck with it. My first bit of advice, is study, study , and talk, talk! If you can, find a japanese friend. Preferably one who doesn't speak English (but chances are if they are living in the US, they speak English). this will force you to learn Japanese. Well there are tons of people with plenty of knowledge. A lot of us have visited Japan or lived there a period of time. just remember there is a lot more to Japanese than the language. To really understand the language, you should learn the culture as well .

Good luck! Oh BTW, it is (but chances are if they are living in the US, they speak English)　はじめまして

[cynsny]

Cool!
I'm originally from Crystal Lake, IL, so I know where Rockford is. I'm a long way from home now though!
がんばて

[Munkepunk]

　はじめまして

thanks for the correction ha ha I've been to lang-8 and what not but I'm trying to reach a lot of outlets and people and all sorts of language learning sites. I have a tutor right now that comes to my house, she's moved to the USA with her husband since he's a doctor and she's been nice enough to teach me once a week. Granted once a week is not enough for me but it evolves a lot more self disciplined study. I try to at least find something in my everyday life and find out how to talk about that in Japanese then I study Vocab and writing.

ps

WTB spellcheck for Japanese

[Khyron]

Even if they speak English well- if you get 2 japanese together they will invariably drop back to japanese anyway. That is my experience anyway. I think it's something to do with making sure the other person feels comfortable as well. Great way to study though, be in a conversation with 2 japanese- you get to hear them speak at natural speeds to each other, without dumbing it down for your sake. That's how i started, and it's still my preferred way of doing language exchange.

[capstan]

はじままして
I live in Rockford,IL small city northwest of Chicago, just looking for other people who study as well.
(SNIP)
Lets get some more people posting on here jease it's dead right now

-イアエン

イリノーイの北西の仲間に挨拶。
Representin' from Freeport, IL! Sorry to keep you waiting, Munkepunk. Looks like I'm almost three years late, but better late than never. I'm thinking of taking the language exchange plunge right now. I have to confess, it scares me to death! Any encouragement or advice?

[Munkepunk]

tips learning kanji , hiragana and katakana kept me learning and engaged with theanguage on a dailly basis. Sites like smart.fm also really useful , always try and keep going on a dailey basis : ). Gambatte

[MadKreator]

Hello, I'm new to the form and dropping in to say hello from northern Illinois. I am from Glendale Heights and am A 1st year student. Hope to chat with all of you, and does anybody know of a place to watch Japanese T.V. for free to become acclimated to the language?