Using Technology to Learn Japanese Questions

by 42 Comments

sadderface.jpgSo, I have more questions for you.

This time the questions will be shorter/easier and more specific. Although the previous data was incredibly helpful (and I will be using so much of it), I’d like to focus a little on “the use of technology to learn Japanese.” By technology, I mean everything from Mixi.jp, to your Nintendo DS, to your iPod. For those of you who are learning Japanese in a “formal” setting (i.e. in a classroom with a teacher), I am also curious to know if you use technology in your classroom, and if you do, I want to know what it is. Anyways, the questionnaire and polls are below. This one shouldn’t take very long for you to fill out, so if you can help me out, I’d really appreciate it.

Just like the other data, this going towards a thesis all about “how people learn Japanese,” which I will be making available to everyone after it’s all done in an e-book format. So, just know that if you are contributing, you will eventually get something back in terms of information that could be helpful, or at least interesting, to you personally!

Without further adieu, here it is

**Polls and stuff are closed. Thank you for your participation!

Once again, thank you so much. Hopefully this is the last set of questions, though I can’t promise anything. Even though I learn a lot, I also have a lot of questions after reading these. I’ll need a rough draft two weeks from now, so we’ll make sure to get back to normal (or perhaps better than normal?) very soon.P.S. Also, since some of you didn’t quite get it, those “responses” from the last post were fakes. April 1, you know?

**Don’t forget that April 9 is the New Nara Mascot Deadline!

  • http://youtube.com/profile?user=chokudori クリス

    Submitted. I couldn’t much in the first section because of the whole ‘self-teaching’ thing, but I managed to compensate for it in the second section. Hope it helps.

    Question about the ‘Typing in Japanese’. By typing in Japanese, do you mean the actual keyboard layout in Japanese, or using Japanese input for the keyboard? Example, I have a Japanese input setting on my Macbook for whenever I want to type in Japanese [shift control + j / k / ;]. I’ve seen a Japanese configured keyboards, but I haven’t really manage to get the hang of it. I’ve played ‘Typing of the Dead’, but I couldnt really play correcty because I wasn’t use to the Japanese character layout and some of the keys were missing from the keyboard.

    Video here: http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=-zkfVqrGXog

  • http://www.tofugu.com koichi

    I suppose either one would be fine. I’d be very impressed to see someone type on a keyboard with Japanese characters on it. =)

  • http://youtube.com/profile?user=chokudori クリス

    I’d be impressed as well. It took me a good 5-10 seconds looking for the characters to spell “くも”, haha. I guess the only problem I have is knowing which kanji to use when typing out sentences.

  • WOTDsctoo

    Alright…submitted. I had to send a second submission because I left something out…sorry about that. From the same person.

    Good luck! :)

  • http://bowryj.wordpress.com/ Mizuu

    *submits*
    *cheers on for Koichi-san*

  • insomniacgamer

    hey guys, i’m not sure if i’m allowed to post this or not (feel free to delete this post if you feel the need to) but i came across some awesome torrents when i was searching through the web tonight… follow this link: http://thepiratebay.org/search/japanese/0/99/0 somebody apparently has uploaded all of Heisig’s Remembering the Kanji Series 1-3, Kanji de Manga 1 & 2, and all of the Genki textbooks and CDS…plus a lot more!!! gotta check it out ^_^

  • http://www.goddesscarlie.com GoddessCarlie

    Submitted!! I can’t wait to read your thesis. Are you doing a Masters Degree, PhD or an undergraduate honours – or other? Just curious. I will be doing my undergraduate honours next year, but I’m thinking I’ll be taking a more literary approach, rather than a language learning or linguistic approach.

  • http://www.tokidoki.splinder.com/ Tokidoki

    Done!
    グッド・ラック！

  • http://www.tofugu.com Viet

    Just a reminder to everyone: Please don’t link to sources that contains illegal distribution of copyrighted material. I had to remove a post just a moment ago that linked to some copyrighted media. We do not endorse and tolerate this kind of activity on Tofugu.

  • http://tofugu.com Tofugu_Erin

    The Tofugu team played Typing of the Dead in Odaiba (Tokyo). Super fun.

  • buratto

    where can i get an electronic dictionary and a japanese keyboard in canada? well, edmonton specifically. i looked all around, but couldnt find anything yet. probably amazon eh?

  • http://youtube.com/profile?user=chokudori クリス

    Unfortunately, my friend and I were only able to play it in ‘Little Tokyo’ (Los Angeles). We eventually settled for House of the Dead, but my gun was broken so I ended up losing 25 cents… (-_-)”

  • http://www.tofugu.com koichi

    you don’t need a japanese keyboard to type in Japanese. In fact, Japanese people use a keyboard very close to our own, with all romaji (english) characters

  • http://youtube.com/profile?user=chokudori クリス

    You can try Newegg, they always have a wide selection of electronic goodies. Also I think Cannon makes an electronic word storage device, you can try Google and search around.

  • buratto

    when one types japanese on a western (i guess) keyboard, one uses romanji reading and then select the writing right? but when you type on a japanese keyboard, dont you type with actual kana? well, i wouldnt know anyways.

  • buratto

    thanks, i already checked newegg’s website, but alas couldn find nothing. gonna check cannon next ^^

  • http://www.tofugu.com koichi

    yeah, when you type in Japanese you use romaji to type out the sounds. For example:
    a -> あ

    As per a Japanese keyboard? I have no idea, but it sounds like fun. I hear they are BIG.

  • buratto

    haha
    here is what i meant by type by kana: http://benippon.com/shop/i/ELEC-BKBP-J109LG.jpg

    but then again, ive never been to japan, so you would know better

  • http://tofugu.com Tofugu_Erin

    I really hate using Japanese keyboards, haha. They’re just not intuitive. And because Japanese keyboards also allow you to type in both English and Japanese anyway (via the language bar), they’re really no better than the keyboard you have. I dunno, if the novelty of typing a kana in fewer keys is something you’re really keen on, you could probably find one on Amazon or JBox. JBox for sure, actually.

    Gluck with your search!

  • http://www.tofugu.com Viet

    One fault of the Japanese keyboard for Westerners is the tiny space bar!

  • bleaaaghghgh

    If you have a nintendo ds, you can import the game kanji sonomama rakubiki jiten.
    It works great as an electronic dictionary and you can input kanji directly via the stylus, so it’s also really handy when you want look up pronunciations for kanji. The only problem is that it’s designed for native Japanese speakers and the english to japanese translations can be a little confusing if you don’t know that much kanji.

  • Sougen02

    I feel like a noob when I answer some of the survey questions xD

  • Sougen02

    Our spacebar is too large anyway!
    Lol We can rough it 8)

  • fredydb327

    I remember when I first learned to type in Japanese. I was so amazed! More like “amazeeddddddd” It’s fun. :D I remember when in the Simpsons Lisa was typing in a Chinese keyboard. Woah! Haha. But they’re the same too. Kind of like Japanese keyboards. I want a Spanish one that has the ñ for you. :D well, nevermind… I’m okay with ALT 0241. :D

  • Sougen02

    Thanks!

  • mmnessa

    oh maaan, didn’t make it on time :P

  • ロンさん

    What do you mean by typing in Japanese, Like writing on a computer or typing with a pencil?

  • http://tofugu.com Tofugu_Erin

    You’ve typed your Disqus username out in Japanese, so I’m assuming you’re joking?

  • JohtoKen

    Awwww…you’re more sad!? CHEER UP! がんばってください！！

  • Yami123and4

    Cool…O_O I want one ^__^. And Hang in there Koichi!!! XD

  • 「ライアン」

    i could have written more but i have to drive to san diego (o.O)
    ne who, good luck koichi! i’m really interested in what you find out!
    keep me updated.

  • 「ライアン」

    oh ya…i totally forgot about japanese101 podcast

    japan podcast 101

    u can get it by following this

    unless u dont already have an ipod…

    1. buy 1
    2. itunes
    3. click podcasts
    4. click education
    5. search for japanese
    6. subscribe to japan podcast 101 (audio)

    they present u a dialouge in japanese.
    then they slow it down. after that, they speed it up
    again and add the meaning. next, they teach u
    the grammer which they used and the vocab.

    they have different types of speakers so u can
    hear various kinds of japanese accents. also
    they do audio blogs which dont have ne
    breakdown at all. its just a blog in japanese.
    see if u guys can get the meaning. sometimes
    they’ll have dialects. (they’ve been on the niigata
    dialect for awhile, it’s pretty strong.)

    終

  • Joe

    yeah Jpod101 is pretty good, been going through their lessons slowly

  • http://www.myspace.com/heatlessangel heartlessangel

    I agree that the Ipod is a pretty cool way to help you learn Japanese or any language for that matter seeing as how its original intention was just for music and videos to turn into a learning tool its almost as if the Nintendo had something to do with this hummmmm

  • http://www.myspace.com/heatlessangel heartlessangel

    I can’t even figure out how to get Japanese font on my computer mostly cause I never really thought about it all my Japanese frnds speak English really well so I’ve been getting spoiled I guess now that I’m actually learning its time for the hard work I have such good frnds.

  • http://www.ndsworld.net mp3danyul

    Theres a couple Japanese tools on the Nintendo Ds that are pretty useful

  • http://www.ndsworld.net mp3danyul

    Theres a couple Japanese tools on the Nintendo Ds that are pretty useful

  • http://www.handbags-club.com/ Designer handbags

    The Tofugu team played Typing of the Dead in Odaiba (Tokyo). Super fun.

  • http://hi.baidu.com/yishiym123 TwoBlue

    I love using Aardvark!

  • http://www.handbags-club.com/ Designer handbags

    The Tofugu team played Typing of the Dead in Odaiba (Tokyo). Super fun.

  • http://hi.baidu.com/yishiym123 TwoBlue

    I love using Aardvark!

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