I have been studying Japanese since I was a 10th grader! Gosh, that was like 2002! ^^ Anyway, over the years I have taken a couple other languages! One of the was American Sign Language. Very hard... @_@ The other was Spanish. I didn't take Spanish very seriously so I don't really know much.

I was looking for a good text for Korean as I'm making plans to spend the summer in Soule South Korea. And just like any language you are pretty much SOL unless you have a formal class. So I thought, with all my knowledge and all the text that I've poured over I should be able to compile a pretty comprehensive guide of study materials for people who want to learn the language.

Firstly, if you've never had a formal class, you are in for a treat. Japanese is not hard phonically, but when it comes to writing, and reading it really does help to have formal instruction. Phonically speaking you can get several of the "Learn Japanese in 10 minutes a day" type things and listen to native speakers. If you're like me you watch Anime subtitled. This offers 2 benefits. You hear the language being spoken by a native, and after a while of study you begin to pick out words. (More than just Baka or korosu!) ^^ So I do suggest using subtitled anime as a study guide. Also learning the songs helps with pronunciation.

If anime isn't your cup of tea I have the first option for a study guide!

1.) Genki Text Books 1 and 2

These are invaluable! The bulk of my learning came from these books and you will be hard pressed to find someone who didn't reap the benefits of using this program. Whats great about this text is that you can get the CD's and you hear both Tokyo and Osaka dialect! Which is great!

2.) My Japanese Coach DS

While this may sound Hoakie it really does work! I bought it when it came out and I am impressed. It is like having a teacher with you. It teaches you pronunciation, and you can record your voice and play it back with a native speaker, it teaches you to write in Hiragana, Katakana, and kanji! And finally once you have mastered the writing, it teaches you to read the language! Seriously, if you have spend hundreds of dollars on language guides and have been miserable, get this game. It is invaluable! I love having it to use as a reference! (It even comes with a phrase book built in as a special feature for the game!)

3.) This is optional, but I think its a great resource! Let me make this clear, this text should not be used alone, it should be used a supplement to Genki! Japanese in Mangaland! It will give you practice with your writing and the workbook gives you more opportunity to read in the native language! Meaning you will read manga with the vocabulary you learned in the lesson and you should be able to translate your comic 100%! Its great! Also, Kanji in Managaland is another great source when you finally start learning Kanji! I suggest learning and MASTERING Hiragana and then while mastering Katakana throw in a couple Kanji! It will help!

These are the 3 study aids I use to work on my learning! I am planing at some point to take the JLPT. From my understanding mastering Genki 1 and 2 will put you at or near the area of taking the JLPT2! JLPT does work backward so 4 is the easiest with 1 being the toughest! I hope this helps anyone who is interested! Please let me know if I can be of any help!