Welcome to AikiWeb Aikido Information
AikiWeb: The Source for Aikido Information
AikiWeb's principal purpose is to serve the Internet community as a repository and dissemination point for aikido information.

Sections
home
aikido articles
columns

Discussions
forums
aikiblogs

Databases
dojo search
seminars
image gallery
supplies
links directory

Reviews
book reviews
video reviews
dvd reviews
equip. reviews

News
submit
archive

Miscellaneous
newsletter
rss feeds
polls
about

Follow us on



Home > AikiWeb Aikido Forums
Go Back   AikiWeb Aikido Forums > Language

Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history, humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.

If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced features available, you will need to register first. Registration is absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 01-01-2009, 09:48 AM   #1
gregg block
 
gregg block's Avatar
Location: bethlehem PA
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 127
United_States
Offline
Practice speaking Japanese

Been studying Japanese for a while now. I enjoy the language. Problem is outside of limited usage in the dojo, not many opportunities to engage in discussions to practice fluency.
Does anyone know of any sites that have capability to engage in live audio chat in Japanese? Or even to just listen to native speech. Any suggestions/experiences.
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2009, 10:55 AM   #2
GeneC
Location: Henderson,
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 370
United_States
Offline
Re: Practice speaking Japanese

I'd suggest going to your local neighborhood Asian area of town, finding a sushi/Japanese bar and frequent it and meet a "exchange student". Japanese are in the same boat as you- Since WWII, they have to study English all thru school, but have very little opportunity to practice it, so it should be pretty easy to meet an "exchange student"- one who'd let you practice your Japanese in exchange for them to practice their English.

Only between a single breath is Yin/Yang in harmony
Emotion is pure energy flowing feely thru the body-Dan Millman
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2009, 12:01 PM   #3
Voitokas
 
Voitokas's Avatar
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 376
United_States
Offline
Re: Practice speaking Japanese

I'd put up flyers at the colleges in town (you have Lehigh and Moravian in town, I think) for language exchange partners. As GeneC noted, I've found that grad students especially are anxious to improve their English (and happy to make new friends). To listen to native speech you can download Japanese soap operas ('doramas') from the internet. They're cute, and the language is current (anime and some movie genres have weird characteristic language that you might not want to practise). As far the internet is concerned, the only live chat in Japanese that I know of is on gaming sites, but again, it's not stuff to practise. I think that t.v. dramas and language exchange partners are probably the best way to go until you can practise in Japan.

Good Luck!

I am not an expert
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2009, 08:22 AM   #4
Bob Blackburn
Location: PA
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 71
United_States
Offline
Re: Practice speaking Japanese

http://www.livemocha.com/ is a good site for finding practice partners. Both written and spoken.

  Reply With Quote

Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Ogawa Ryu ? Ethan Weisgard Non-Aikido Martial Traditions 21 10-01-2007 06:36 AM
Do I need Japanese to practice in Japan? Grant JB General 27 06-01-2007 11:58 AM
Transmission, Inheritance, Emulation 3 Peter Goldsbury Columns 16 05-28-2007 06:24 AM
Article: Clarity and Self-Delusion in One's Training by George S. Ledyard AikiWeb System AikiWeb System 65 12-24-2005 07:34 AM
Zen in the art of archery Adam Alexander General 10 08-05-2005 02:26 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:33 PM.



vBulletin Copyright © 2000-2024 Jelsoft Enterprises Limited
----------
Copyright 1997-2024 AikiWeb and its Authors, All Rights Reserved.
----------
For questions and comments about this website:
Send E-mail
plainlaid-picaresque outchasing-protistan explicantia-altarage seaford-stellionate