How To Avoid Burnout Learning Japanese

Learning Japanese: Taking on Too Much Too Soon?

We've all been there before, some crazy idea pops into your head about living and working in Tokyo for a year or following the cherry blossom front from Okinawa to Hokkaido. A love affair with all things Japanese fills your head with ideas of romance under sakura in the the Land of the Rising Sun (and other cliche). The next thing you know you've clicked through some crazy adsense promising immediate language gains and before you know it spent a fortune on language CD's, books and lessons.


Maiko by FLEECIRCUS

Because you're highly motivated you throw yourself into your new found passion only to find that results aren't coming as quickly as you'd hoped. Now you've wasted all your hard earned cash on books that are gathering dust and your dreams of fluency in Japanese are fading fast. Burnout.

Buying more textbooks isn't going to help you out of this pickle, nor are more lessons, you probably still have a book full of tickets left anyway. It feels bad, doesn't it? But wait, there is a way out, so don't give up just yet.

OK, Go! Do The Pythagoras Switch

Were OK, Go! inspired by the Japanese Pythagoras Switch?

I thought I was watching Japanese comedy duo Pythagoras Switch when first I saw the Rube Goldberg version of 'This too Shall Pass' from Illinois band OK, Go!





Pythagoras Switch [ピタゴラスイッチ | Pitagora Suicchi] are probably more famous for their Algorithm March, which has been copied all over the world from hitchikers in Europe to prisoners in the Philipines. Sure it's entirely possible, these guys do it over and over again for NHK. Can you see any similarities?

Japan for two weeks and then back for more eduFire!

I'm in Japan for the next two weeks on a trip to see family and friends, and when I come back I'll be starting right back up with some new classes on eduFire, most of them free!

You can keep up with my adventures on Twitter in English @rainbowhill and in Japanese @jrfiction. I'll be doing my best to keep Rainbowhill's Language Lab up-to-date also!

Japanese for Beginners

My class Japanese for Absolute Beginners has now morphed into two classes, the original Absolute beginners class, and now a new and improved Beginners class (only slightly more advanced than the first).

Both classes will continue in two modes, one where we learn new phrases and expressions, and the other where we use what we learn in what I call a Language Lab.

The two free classes are

• Japanese for Absolute Beginners
• Japanese for Beginners

The two conversational classes are $7 each, and class sizes are small so you'll have plenty of opportunity to speak (if you get in early).

• Japanese Language Lab for Absolute Beginners
• Japanese Language Lab for Beginners

Fast Track to Fluency in Japanese

You might also be interested in my other free class, Fast Track to Fluency in Japanese. In this language 'hacks' lesson I cover techniques to immediately increase your fluency, stuff you won't find in textbooks.

Fast Track to Fluency is also paired with a Fluency Lab where you can put into practice all the tricks you've learnt in the lesson. Class numbers are limited so you'll have more personalised attention and the best chance to talk.

Other Classes

Check these and other Japanese classes out on eduFire.

My Background

I'm a CELTA qualified English teacher with over 6 years experience teaching in Japan and Australia. I'm currently working at University as a international student adviser by day, and an English Teacher by night.

At home I speak mostly Japanese with my wife and our two kids. I'm at an upper intermediate level of Japanese, written and spoken. I am keen to take on beginner to intermediate level students of Japanese.

Learning a language is a great way to meet people and learn about the world. Not only that, it's a great way to learn about yourself. Share your enthusiasm for learning languages with me.

Learn how to express preferences in Japanese

Well the end of the year is almost upon us and you are probably excited about all the New Years Eve parties you've been invited to. Wouldn't it be great to be able to impress your Japanese speaking friends with your command of basic phrases in Japanese?

Learn how to express preferences in Japanese with me on eduFire. I'm doing group classes for absolute beginners twice a week. Next month we'll be splitting into two groups, one for beginners and one for lower intermediate students, check it out.

http://edufire.com/rainbowhill

Image: Moet, like the champagne she says. Uploaded on July 14, 2008
by brandon shigeta

Learn how to express preferences in Japanese with Brett

In this lesson we learn how to respond to someone offering us a drink by expressing a preference for something different.

Vocabulary:

お茶
o-cha
Japanese (green) tea

紅茶
koucha
black tea

コーヒー
kouhii
coffee

ジュース
juusu
juice

ビール
biiru
beer

ワイン
wain
wine

紅茶がすきです。
koucha ga suki desu.
(I) like black tea.

コーヒーより紅茶がすきです。
kouhii yori koucha ga suki desu.
(I) prefer black tea to coffee.

コーヒーのむ？
kouhii nomu?
(Will you) drink coffee?

ワイン飲みませんか？
wain nomimasen ka?
Would you like some wine?

Thanks for watching! Remember to follow me on twitter, in English @rainbowhill or in Japanese @jrfiction.

Learn five Japanese Greetings

G'day, thanks for joining me again.

Learning a language is just the same as forming a good habit, make it part of your routine and it comes easily. I'm lucky enough to have a daily habit, which involves me waking up with my family who speak Japanese. In fact we all speak Japanese at home.

You can create this same kind of environment for yourself however if you just set aside the time to follow through with a few basic greetingｓ whenever you get the chance.　

Learn how to punctuate your day with these common Japanese Greetings. Watch the video below and follow the captioning. When it's over a transcript of some of the words used appears at the bottom of the post.



おはようございます
ohayougozaimasu
good morning


こんにちは
konnichiwa
hello

いただきます
itadakimasu
(I) receive

ごちそうさま（でした）
gochisousama
thanks for the meal

おやすみ
oyasumi
good night

Learn Japanese with Brett on eduFire

There is nothing stopping you from picking up a second language right now. Millions of people all around the world are using the Internet to enhance their language skills. Live video learning is just one way of doing it.

I've recently created a profile on eduFire and I've started taking on students in English and Japanese. Ultimately I want to share with you some of the methods I have for learning a second language, because I believe any one can do it, and the Internet makes so many things possible.

Here is my introductory video for edufire, which I posted on YouTube just a couple of weeks ago. I'll be making many more basic Japanese lessons over the next couple of months and I hope that you'll tune in and just take a look. Even if you never subscribe or take a live online lesson with me I hope that you will feel my enthusiasm for languages and learning.