I have stumbled across a very effective vocabulary building method which I think can help you to learn lots of vocabulary.

Do you know what a Mnemonic device is?

It is a method for enhancing memory – a trick that one uses to help memorize something. Mnemonic devices can help with remembering peoples’ names and faces as well as with remembering words in a foreign language.

You could be memorizing Japanese in the slowest way possible, and not even know it.

Most Japanese courses teach you the slow way. They cram you with grammar, grammar, grammar… and treat vocabulary as a side dish.
Your biggest challenge isn’t the few hundred grammatical rules… It’s the thousands and thousands of words you have to remember.
” Speak Japanese Fast “ takes a fool-proof memory tool that’s been used for 30-years and launches your Japanese skills in no time at all.

So if you want a smart study system, that is fun to use and will give you results in days instead of weeks, then Speak Japanese Fast is something you need to get your hands on. i have tested the product myself.

Several months ago I was contacted by David McGimpsey. He is the creator of  “Speak Japanese Fast”, a Japanese Language learning ebook that uses Mnemonic devices to learn and retain vocabulary.

Anyway, David emailed me and asked me to promote his product  Speak Japanese Fast. At first, I was sceptical of his product and said no. So he gave me a copy and just asked me to read and try his learning tool.

So about a week later when I had some free time I had a look at his ebook. I was actually pleasantly surprised and found his learning  system fun. Yet, I already knew all of the Japanese words in his ebook. I couldn’t really review his product as a learner. However, I did believe his learning tool was effective. So, I had the product tested with some of my wife’s private students. We gave it to five of my wife’s private students who are beginners.

I actually had my wife test the students with the vocabulary from the ebook after a week. She gave them a little test for five minutes at the start of her next lesson. All five students had made incredible progress with the method. One student had pretty much remembered all the 300 pages of  the ebook.

So I highly recommend the book if you are struggling to learn and remember Japanese words. This ebook can definitely help you learn and retain vocabulary.

When living in Japan for a long time as I have there are moments when you discover the real meanings of certain words. They are usually moments of serendipity where you experience Japan - the culture of Japan and what you happen to be doing at that time seem to meet at the perfect moment and then you realize you have made a discovery. This when I feel I am really learning Japanese. One word that I had always found odd and confusing was “Okagesama-de”. You may know this word to mean “Thanks to you”.

It is one of the most common expressions in the vocabulary of the Japanese way, but it is almost always misunderstood by Japanese-speaking foreigners who hear and use it. Japanese routinely use the expression when someone asks them how they are, asks about the health and welfare of a family member; or ask how their business is going, and so on.. Not understanding the true meaning of Okagaesama-de, many foreigners take it personally, presuming that the Japanese, out of politeness and their automatic response to formailites, are actually thanking them. I once often thought this. In fact, I thought it was yet another stupid and meaningless Japanese expression from a socially challenged people.

As with many Japanese words, the misunderstanding arises in the translation of the word. Instead of meaning “thanks to you” in a personal sense, the expression actually means “as luck would have it” or “thank heavens” (in a Buddhist sort of a way). The word is a vestige of the Buddhist concept of fate in the lives of people. It is way of implying that the relationships and life have been properly nurtured and are thriving, and that all is right in the word.

You , as a student or Japanese-speaking foreigner can gain valuable points by using okagasama-de appropriately when to responding to Japanese friends and business contacts. Use this word correctly at the right and people will be impressed. It subtly notes that you are speaking on their cultural wavelength, and gives a warm, positive feeling to your response.

As Japanese don’t do small talk you can impress Japanese and start speaking Japanese with just a small number of Japanese words, phrases and set expressions under your belt. However, understanding the deeper meanings of certain Japanese words may take several months or even years. Culture plays a very important part in the Japanese language right down to simple phrases and words. Learning about Japanese culture is as important as builing your vocabulary or learning the stroke order of Kanji. The more Japanese culture you know the more important Japanese words you will discover.