Learning new languages/vocabulary.

[SnOwBunZz]

What's the fastest way to learn vocabulary in general?

I've tried writing down and saying the word out loud along with it, but that's pretty tedious and takes fairly long to actually getting to know the language.
I also know practice is a good way to learn more than vocabulary alone, although that's fairly impossible for me seeing I'm the only one actively studying Japanese in my community. :/

That being said, I know from a friend that studied Chinese most words/Kanji can be learned from simple stories. It'd be a great method if it weren't for the fact I'm not advanced enough yet.

Any help would be appreciated!

[marcipaans]

Read books. There is no other way really. Besides just memorizing every single word from a dictionary.

[SqueezyTime]

Learn the alphabet first. Before you even learn any of the words. Get the alphabet down, every syllable and sound, and you'll have a MUCH easier time learning the actual language.

[SnOwBunZz]

I'm already fairly fluent in Hiragana and Katakana, so that's not such a big issue for me. o.o

Guess I should order some books for children and start reading them. lol

[poeticas]

For me its conversation or reading books :] atleast that is how i learned my russian , english and german language :]

[Bad Hamster]

Movies, games and books. It's the same as how you learned english

[SnOwBunZz]

Movies, games and books. It's the same as how you learned english

I doubt I am going to learn Japanese solely by watching movies and playing games. :|
Books are a different story though.

[SourChicken]

Books are a different story though.

I see what you did there.

[Bad Hamster]

I doubt I am going to learn Japanese solely by watching movies and playing games. :|
Books are a different story though.

I actually learned quite some when I played TODC a few years back, lol.

[SqueezyTime]

Learning Japanese with kids books is a bad idea. They use a dialect in those books that sounds ridiculous to normal adults. Plus they don't use any kanji, and not knowing any kanji is considered really childish too. Kanji is probably the most important to learn, hiragana and katakana are very easy.