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+--- Thread: How to build conversational skills? (/thread-9768.html)
How to build conversational skills? - ltsax - 2012-08-13
I started learning Japanese a few months ago. After learning the kana, I started doing RTK1. I have been studying Japanese on and off for about a year and have tried many methods (Rocket Japanese, Micheal Thomas, etc.). By using these resources, I have learned a very small amount of words, very basic grammar and have gotten a taste of the language in general. I am taking a Japanese course/joining the Japan club in the fall and would like to improve my speaking. (I really don't think my Japanese 101 course will help me all that much but I need to take a foreign language) I can't just get a language partner because my Japanese is so limited that it is difficult to do more than make basic introductions. What resources are good for building functional/useful vocab that I can use to express my thoughts better? In other words, how did you improve your speaking skills?
Thank you and sorry for the long question.
How to build conversational skills? - nadiatims - 2012-08-14
"What resources are good for building functional/useful vocab that I can use to express my thoughts better? In other words, how did you improve your speaking skills?"
reading and listening a lot. To improve your speaking skills in any significant way you need to improve your comprehensive skills (that means vocabulary,grammar and listening practice). If you're not doing these things on the side, you can practice speaking till the cows come home but you'll likely just hit a plateau where you run out of things you've learnt to say. Sure you'll learn the odd word/phrase here and there but doubling/tripling your vocabulary via speaking practice will take much longer than by reading and listening a lot. As to what resources to use, anything contemporary and non-technical/non-academic should teach you useful stuff. That could be magazines, novels, dramas, movies, music.
How to build conversational skills? - dtcamero - 2012-08-14
Ya I'd second that. As for suggested material I personally think manga is the bomb for getting used to all the quirks of conversational speech, and how very different it is from a textbook.
How to build conversational skills? - partner55083777 - 2012-08-14
A lot of people will also suggest shadowing.
I personally agree with nadiatims advice, but keep in mind whenever there is a thread like this, about half the people will completely disagree with nadiatims advice, some even going as far as saying that it's actually harmful. They will instead recommend that you actually practice output with what you know. (I think they usually suggest that you get a speaking partner or just shadow things.)
Try different things and see what works for you.
How to build conversational skills? - ltsax - 2012-08-14
Thanks guys. Can you recommend any good anki decks?