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+--- Thread: "Hands-on" resources (for a beginner)? (/thread-9922.html)
"Hands-on" resources (for a beginner)? - pixel - 2012-09-12
Hey there! I recently started RTK1 and it's going alright. Not great but not bad either. I didn't really have much knowledge of Japanese beforehand (or currently) except for a few things I've picked up from anime and movies.
So I'm looking for a good way to learn grammar and maybe some other stuff!
The thing is, it's really hard for me to learn something just by reading it, I definitely learn best when I'm actually doing something.
Basically what I'm looking for is any books or websites that have a lot more exercises/activities/whatever than most others.
Any suggestions?（ ´∀｀）
"Hands-on" resources (for a beginner)? - RawrPk - 2012-09-12
pixel Wrote:The thing is, it's really hard for me to learn something just by reading it, I definitely learn best when I'm actually doing something.I can relate. Being a kinesthetic/tactile learner just purely reading or listening for things I have to learn bores me to death. No way will it go from short term to long term :/ I can only really understand something when there is physical stimuli in the learning process. Sometimes it's borderline childlike lol but it works so I'm happy.
Basically what I'm looking for is any books or websites that have a lot more exercises/activities/whatever than most others.
Any suggestions?（ ´∀｀）
With Japanese I can't really think of anything fun except making really fun stories for RTK that seem engaging and where you can picture things happening. Also, I make Anki like a game of how well I know things. It's not exactly kinesthetic but it does require thinking and the physical pressing the mouse/button on how well you know the answer. I also do the oldie but a goodie write out answers for muscle memory purposes. I personally don't like to do this last tip because it easily bores me and I'm not as engaged to learn.
I know kinesthetic learning methods for usual school subjects but languages are a bit tricky. If anyone has more info I'd also benefit from it like OP
"Hands-on" resources (for a beginner)? - pixel - 2012-09-13
Heh, yeah I can relate to feeling childlike but whatever works, right?
I always write out the answers to all my Anki cards by hand, like you said. It can get boring sometimes but at least it helps, and hey, that's what counts.
Looks like there's not a lot of ideas floating around about this kind of thing but hopefully something will turn up!
"Hands-on" resources (for a beginner)? - partner55083777 - 2012-09-13
I do 99.99% of my Anki reviews on my cell phone using AnkiDroid. This allows me to do my reviews anywhere I go. One thing I've found kind of fun is to do my reviews while I'm taking a walk.
There are two big drawbacks to this. 1) It's sometimes hard to use the phone and walk at the same time. You really have to watch where you're going. I've come close to running into telephone poles and stuff while doing this. 2) I find it to be a lot less efficient than sitting down to do my reviews. Reviews take 2 or 3 times as long.
This probably isn't the type of thing you are looking for, but it might allow you to shake things up a bit. Try it out and let me know how it works for you.
"Hands-on" resources (for a beginner)? - RawrPk - 2012-09-13
I actually do most of my reviewing on my iPhone via AnkiWeb (because it's free ^_^). I'm out most of the day so I rarely have time to use my laptop. I never tried walking while reviewing though. Mostly I review in between classes sitting down in a study room.
I'll try walking around the study room during reviews tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion partner55083777
"Hands-on" resources (for a beginner)? - Zgarbas - 2012-09-14
Workout videos in Japanese?
Going to a Japanese restaurant and managing to associate taste with words/kanjis/whatnot?
Grammar exercise books?
Not really getting what you're asking for, maybe cause I'm a traditionalist
.
"Hands-on" resources (for a beginner)? - RawrPk - 2012-09-14
As a kinesthetic learner, I learn best with a more "hands on" approach.
Quote:Kinesthetic learning (also known as tactile learning) is a learning style in which learning takes place by the student carrying out a physical activity, rather than listening to a lecture or watching a demonstration. People with a kinesthetic learning style are also commonly known as "do-ers".http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinesthetic_learning
Here is a website with a list of activities kinesthetic learners can use but this mainly applies to other subjects, not language learning. Also most tips to kinesthetic learners tend to be for kids, not adults. Not that it's a problem or anything. If it works, I'll do it no matter how childlike the activities are lol xD
http://www.learningabledkids.com/multi_sensory_training/Page24-kinesthetic2.htm
The big question is, are there any tips that can make language learning more "hands on"? I think that's was OP's main question.
"Hands-on" resources (for a beginner)? - pixel - 2012-09-15
Sorry for the late reply! I've had a weird couple of days.
RawrPk explained it well enough, I think. It's hard when it comes to languages, but I'm basically looking for anything that extends beyond just reading a text. And can be done by yourself. I have Genki 1 and there are plenty of activities you can do in there but they almost all require at least 2 people and no one I know is learning japanese... plus I'm just kind of a hermit, haha.
"Hands-on" resources (for a beginner)? - howtwosavealif3 - 2012-09-15
do song lyrics with rikaichan (do tae kim grammar guide before doing that though -- he now has videos as well)
try out the free stuff on tofugu
maybe it's only this
http://www.tofugu.com/textfugu-by-tofugu/
"Hands-on" resources (for a beginner)? - arnaud_couturier - 2012-09-16
I just released a small game prototype of mine for active practice of hiraganas.
Get it here
Hope it can help...
"Hands-on" resources (for a beginner)? - RawToast - 2012-09-21
I found the Brainspeed game on iknow.jp a fun way to revise the Kana. They don't have a course for for Kanji, but do have one for the Core series.