Kanji Covered - What About Grammar?

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Kanji Covered - What About Grammar? - GarrettB - 2008-06-20

So here's my situation.

Almost all of my Japanese has been self-study. I started with Genki I and Genki II (both of which I found to be EXCELLENT independent learning texts.) After I finished the Genki series I wanted to improve my kanji count, so I purchased some used kanji text books which have helped tremendously. I'm not quite sure what series they are, but they bring in a curious mix of kanji, and I estimate my count to be circa 1000. Now it's time to get back to formal grammar lessons.

For vocabulary and kanji I'm currently using Anki and would like to employ it in conjunction with RTK.

I'm starting Japan Times' "An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese" but feel that won't last too long.

So I guess my question is, what's next? I know that at some point I need to break off from texts and just sort of "immerse" myself, but I do like formal instruction, especially as the language becomes indiomatic and I work to become more of a "natural" speaker.

Any suggestions?

Kanji Covered - What About Grammar? - Zarxrax - 2008-06-20

Tae Kim's grammar site has some more advanced topics that aren't covered in genki, but I would assume you ought to be at a pretty high level by now if you've got all the grammar in genki covered. Perhaps it would be a better use of your time to focus on vocabulary through sentences?

Kanji Covered - What About Grammar? - chamcham - 2008-06-20

Understanding Basic Japanese Grammar by ALC Press

Kanji Covered - What About Grammar? - Jarvik7 - 2008-06-20

chamcham Wrote:Understanding Basic Japanese Grammar by ALC Press

I browsed UBJG while waiting for someone at Kinokuniya a few weeks ago. It seems... basic - about the same level as Genki and maybe IJ. Thus it wouldn't be a good next step for the op.

The next-step book for IJ seems to be "中級から上級への日本語" which is much more reading focused instead of the conversation focus of the previous three Japan Times textbooks.

Kanji Covered - What About Grammar? - ajishiosean - 2008-06-21

If you don't already have the Japanese grammar dictionaries by Seiichi Makino (Basic, Intermediate and Advanced) then I highly suggest you get them. The quality of the explanations and definitions are unrivaled, and it gives excellent insight into the difference between similar grammar terms.

Personally, I've learned a great deal of grammar by just picking up those dictionaries, turning to a random page, and learning the grammar points bit by bit. Since you say you like formal classes, this sort of piecemeal approach may not be for you, though. I personally prefer classes too (I need the push), but over time I've picked up tons of grammar that way.

Again, is it an ideal main approach? No, probably not, but it's a great supplementary approach, and you'll want the dictionaries around when you get to the higher level textbooks-- they really don't provide good grammar explanations, even in Japanese.

Kanji Covered - What About Grammar? - Jarvik7 - 2008-06-21

I second the recommendation for those 3 grammar dictionaries. They are probably the three most important books you can own for Japanese fluency.

Kanji Covered - What About Grammar? - chamcham - 2008-06-21

If you're already at Intermediate Level, I would recommend
"Making Sense of Japanese" by Jay Rubin. It's the best book of it's kind.

It teaches you to think like a Japanese person and helps you to
figure out what Japanese people really mean when use specific
pieces of grammar.

It's very good at answering all your questions about Japanese that
people tend to shrug their shoulders or are unable to explain.

The "wa vs. ga" chapter is worth the price of the book alone.

Lastly, I also like "Basic Connections: Making Your Japanese Flow".

Kanji Covered - What About Grammar? - GarrettB - 2008-06-23

Thanks folks. Though I'm very dedicated to my language studies, I guess I never really stopped working with the books given to me to see whether they were the best options. Apparently there are staples out there I've completely missed. Aside from the Japan Times books and a decent electric dictionary, I haven't much in the way of learning "things." Anki is my best friend, though. =)

Thanks again for the recs!

Kanji Covered - What About Grammar? - captal - 2008-06-23

Any advice on where to pick up the "Yellow Book" (A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar)? Amazon only has it used.

Kanji Covered - What About Grammar? - roderik - 2008-06-24

Amazon.com has a lot of new copies. If I may, I do recommend ordering from the seller TheJapanShop (http://www.theJapanshop.com I believe). I actually did receive my copy within 3 working days, and it had to be shipped from California to the Netherlands! Also they ask a good price for such an invaluable dictionary.

Kanji Covered - What About Grammar? - GarrettB - 2008-07-07

I just ordered two new textbooks from TheJapanesePage shop and they were shipped promptly, not to mention the prices were, compared to other stores, VERY reasonable.