So this is supposed to be my review of Rocket Japanese but truth be told, I have no idea where to begin. The Japanese languages has got just as many intricate and complex layers as the culture itself. Even the country Japan conjures images of peaceful shrines and snow capped mountains while at the same time is also a land of bullet trains, karaoke and high tech gadgets.

I'm not even sure at this point that I can review Rocket Japanese in one blog posts so I may have to branch out and do a series of blogposts related to this theme. I guess if I am looking for a place to start, I should start at the beginning. This is a language that I felt pretty excited to review because of my previous experience with other Rocket Languages products. No matter how difficult the language is reputed to be, Rocket Languages has somehow always finds a way to break down even the hardest of languages into something that is feasible and fun. And Rocket Japanese was no different.

Due to the complexity of the japanese language and culture, I decided to develop a learning plan for tackling this language. For those of you who aren't familiar, Japanese has 3 writing systems. The three writing systems are hiragana, katakana, and romanji. I decided for now to just focus on romanji and when I felt comfortable with that, I would then set aside a season and a time for tackling the other two writing systems.

What I love about Rocket Japanese is that with each unit, they also have grammar and cultural lessons as well. So you can actually create a plan on how you're going to map out your language learning. For now I've decided just to focus on doing the audio lessons with a sprinkle of cultural units on the side. I'm not planning a trip to Japan anytime soon so there is no rush to try and learn everything as fast as I can. The way that I see it, Japanese is a big beautiful steak that I can just cut into tiny pieces that is meant to be chewed and swallowed nice and slow (and perhaps washed down with a good dose of sake? LOL)

In true Rocket Languages style, you have your two hosts who take you through the program. For Rocket Japanese, our hosts are Kenny and Sayaka who led the way with humour and heart. Together the help you digest some of the more difficult aspects of Japanese grammar and culture. Bit by bit they help unravel the mysteries of this ancient culture and it is amazing how with just a few sprinklings of wit and wisdom, a language and a culture that once seemed foreboding is now friendly and feasible.

This may just seem like a very general review but in the coming weeks and months, I'll be updating you as my journey unfolds to learn this fascinating culture and language and will be able to give you more detailed blogposts on the technical aspects of what it is like to learn Japanese using Rocket Japanese.

Mata ne!

This summer I decided to experiment with some of the other popular products that Rocket Languages had available. Awhile ago I had actually purchased "Rocket French" but had never gotten around to using because at that time, my focus was on becoming fluent in spanish. Now that I'd achieved my goal of fluency, I was ready for a new challenge. So I couldn't think of a better way to make good use of my time other than to lie in the summer sun listening to Rocket French audio lessons on my ipod.

As for my consensus, I would have to say that Rocket French can be summed up in three words: fast, fun & funny.  French is a complex language. There is no doubt about it. This language has a notorious reputation for putting off potential language learners with it's multitude of irregular verbs and rules broken. As well as having words that are just as hard to pronounce as they are to read.  There is just no fast way to fluency with french.....or is there?  Rocket French proved that there is.

With your Rocket French hosts Marie Claire and Paul Martin, they take you on a journey that will navigate you pasts all the previous traps that ensnare language learners and take you on the fast track to fluency. In terms of grammar, you'll only learn what is relevant and what you will need to know for real life encounters in France or any french speaking country.

They take you through real life situations and only role play conversations that you can use practically. And while doing so, they've even found a little bit of time during each audio course to talk to you about french culture so that you walk away from each lesson with some travelling tips as well as a better understanding of the language itself.

Topics that they role play and cover are themes such as buying wine, going to the grocery store, booking a hotel room, taking the tram, meeting and greeting family, skiing on the french slopes and SO MUCH MORE!!!!!  And Paul's sense of humour throughout the entire course is an added bonus. Learning a new language is going to be work even with a course as simple and practical as Rocket French so it is important to keep things fun for the learner.  But the banter between Paul and Marie Claire certainly kept things entertaining and amusing throughout the entire course.

Rocket French will have you soaring as a language learner like those birds from the clip "Winged Migration" could be seen soaring over France. Although I spend a majority of my time in the latin american world, I never know where the journey of life will take me next. It is comforting to know that no matter where I go or whom I may encounter, there is a program out there like Rocket French that will put me on the road to fluency in a manner that is fast, fun & funny.