Learning the counters for people: The trick I found to learning this was learning a kids song that is sung in preschools and to little children called "Ten Little Indian Boys". The song simply sings the people numbers up to ten with a catchy tune that will stick in your head. Below the song you can find a traditional version of the song except with samurai's don't worry that the spelling is different, it's only different because the video shows the traditional spelling. The song goes like this:
Hitori, Futari, Sannin no Indian
Yonin, Gonin, Rokunin no Indian
Shichinin, Hachinin, Kunin no Indian
Junin no Indian Boys!
Flash Card memorization technique: This trick I found particularly helpful when trying to memorize things or when revising on things I have already learnt. The trick is quite simple and fun it's kind of like a game. To do this trick all you need is some paper and scissors. What I did is cut out little squares of paper, then on one side I would write something in Japanese that I have learnt or am learning, then on the other side I would write the English translation of the word. I did this for all the words I had learnt then I mixed them all together made some on the English side and some on the Japanese side, then I would simply get someone to read the words on the cards to me. I found this trick really good for revising and I quite enjoyed it too.
Japanese culture in modern day life: Anime is a perfect example of how Japanese culture has come into modern day life for Australians and is also a great way to keep on learning Japanese without a teacher. For those of you who don't know what anime is it's Japanese animation such as Naruto, Pokemon, Yugioh, Digimon, Onepiece and Bakugan. Most people in our days probably just know them as cartoons but they are indeed Japanese and started in Japan too. If you turn on your television in Australia and see an episode of one running it would probably be in English which is fine for entertainment but watching it in Japanese with subtitles really helps you learn Japanese and helps you learn to ready faster as well. Anime is a great source for Japanese culture and education be careful of slang when watching because you don't want to learn how to say something show off to your friends about it and be wrong do you?
When you get to a very high level in Japanese you can also read a thing called manga which is Japanese comic books. They are traditionally read from right to left and in Kanji or Romaji (Japanese symbols) They are also a great source of eduction on Japanese and a great example of Japanese culture but once again be careful not to get tricked by slang.
