How I study Japanese/日本語勉強する

I started studying Japanese language about half an year ago and gradually with the progress I make, it becomes more and more interesting and funny.

When people hear, that I'm now into Japanese, the first question always is "Who is your teacher, and where do you study it from?" The answer is "No one... I don't have a teacher. And I study it from various sources..." Yes, I study it from everywhere, where I can find.

First of all, we have to build up a vocabulary! Can you talk, write and read without of using words? No!
In the modern "internet-based" world you can find various words literally everywhere! I had to install(or enable) Japanese keyboard on my computer and on my mobile phone as well. After that everything is so simple! Just search, memorize, write, and make patterns with that word, so you can memorize it easier. One major dictionary, that I use online is http://jisho.org and its just brilliant! You can also see an animated pattern of how to handwrite Kanji. Very... Very user-friendly!

Secondly... Grammar! As much important as the vocabulary is. If we talk just random words, no one will understand us, or if eventually understands, we will sound in a very funny and foreigner-like way. So building up grammar is next major step. My teacher here is George Trombley and his Youtube channel "Japanese From Zero" In a series of videos he explains various grammatical patterns. Yes, he teaches words too, but they are far away from enough. Here is George's playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOcym2c7xnBwRNLWXOAtlN-9dbLkctxV-
He is such a nice guy! Be sure to listen to his advice. And buy his books! They are so interesting.

Last, but not least, if you find some Japanese friend, be sure to speak or write to him/her. I am happy to have so much Japanese friends and all of them are always so kind to write or talk to me. Practicing something is the best way to study it. I definitely make mistakes and sound strange in many cases, but this is how you learn.

At the end I wanted to express my happiness, that the app "Duolingo" is now available for Japanese learners too!

You can check it out on their website https://www.duolingo.com/. I downloaded it on my iPhone, and yes! it has Japanese language too. Sadly, on my Android tablet, Japanese is not available yet. But I think on the website it is! Just check it.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/duolingo-learn-spanish-french-and-more/id570060128?mt=8

がんばってね！
Keep practicing and じゃあまたね！

The images are taken from the search engine of Google.