Japanese for beginners: 11 easy steps
There are more than 128 million people who speak Japanese all over the world. Japanese is a language that is widely spoken in East Asia. In addition to being the official language of Japan, it is also spoken in Korea, the United States of America, and Brazil, mostly due to the presence of significant immigrant groups in those countries.
Just how challenging is it to learn Japanese? The majority of people who are studying a language have the misconception that learning Japanese is substantially more challenging than learning any other language.
Every single journey toward learning a language requires a significant amount of effort and labor on your behalf.
However, if you take Japanese classes and make use of the useful tools and resources that are provided in this article, you will undoubtedly achieve your objective of being fluent in Japanese. Consider enrolling in one of our online Japanese classes if you are interested in taking your Japanese skills to the next level.
There are eleven easy steps to learning Japanese quickly
If you want to make rapid progress with your Japanese, you should begin by concentrating on the basic elements of language learning. Some of these include being familiar with the fundamentals, developing a consistent study schedule, and (the most enjoyable aspect) completely submerging yourself in the culture.
Take a look at our eleven simple methods to cover these fundamentals, and get started on your quest to become fluent in Japanese.
1. Educate yourself about the Japanese alphabet.
Beginning with the fundamentals, such as learning the alphabet, is the most effective method for understanding Japanese. Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji are the three fundamental writing systems that you need to become familiar with to be able to read Japanese.
Hiragana
The ability to read Hiragana is an essential skill for anyone just starting. A total of 46 characters, or 51 phonetic characters, make up the Hiragana script, which is largely utilized for the writing of native Japanese. It is essential to comprehend the reasons behind the sound of Japanese words and how they are spoken. The majority of the characters in Hiragana only have one pronunciation, which makes it a relatively simple language to learn. Once you have mastered Hiragana, there is little question that you will have a solid foundation that is necessary for a native-sounding accent. If you want to learn Hiragana, click here.
Katakana
Katakana is used for loanwords, which are words that have been taken from a foreign language, as opposed to Hiragana, which is used for Japanese words. Among these are terms that are used in the scientific and technological fields, as well as the names of some plants and animals. Because it is not used as frequently as Hiragana, Katakana can be more challenging for you to learn than Hiragana, particularly when you are first starting on your road to becoming fluent in the language. The frequency with which Katakana reappears will increase in proportion to your level. When it comes to reading Katakana, however, it is sufficient for a beginner to have this ability.
(Kanji)
A significant number of students tend to feel that learning kanji is the most difficult aspect of the procedure. On the other hand, it is probably one of the most important components of learning Japanese. Understanding, speaking, and writing elementary Japanese will be possible for you if you have a very basic understanding of kanji. There are thousands of Chinese characters that make up kanji, and each of these symbols represents a full word, idea, or phrase.
There is a great deal of complexity associated with kanji, as the meanings of Japanese words cannot usually be translated directly into English expressions. That is the reason why a single Kanji term might have several different interpretations that are accurate in English. It was never our intention to suggest that learning Japanese would be simple; yet, mastering Kanji will provide you with a vast array of opportunities to express yourself.
What is the best way to learn Japanese grammar? If you want to achieve perfect mastery of it, you will need to unlearn everything you know about English grammar on account of the significant differences between the two. The Japanese language only has two tenses, which are the past and the non-past (present and future), in contrast to many of the romance languages. On the other hand, there are two varieties: courteous and plain style. The final one is utilized for communication that is more relaxed.
You should begin your study of Japanese grammar with the assistance of textbooks, as this is what we propose.
Practice makes perfect: Basic Japanese, A Guide to Japanese Grammar by Tae Kim, and Japanese Hiragana & Katakana for Beginners are the three books that are considered to be the most effective instructional materials for learning Japanese grammar.
In addition, it is essential to point out that the Japanese writing system is completely different from the English one: it is written from right to left and from top to bottom. You will find a great deal of practical lessons that will assist you in gaining an understanding of Japanese writing as you go through these textbooks.
3. Acquire a few essential phrases
Is there a quick way to learn Japanese? To begin, have a look at the list of the most often used words and idioms. You will be able to start speaking Japanese and rapidly enter discussions with native speakers if you are familiar with fundamental phrases such as “Hello,” “How are you doing?” and “Nice to meet you and welcome you.” This will be of great assistance to you in the event that you ever decide to travel to Japan or if you are in need of a beginning point in the event that you decide to migrate there. Take a look at the more than one hundred most important Japanese words.
4. Establish a timetable for yourself
How long does it take to become proficient in Japanese? It is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after inquiries that a great number of individuals have concerning this language. In all honesty, it is contingent upon the amount of effort that you intend to put forth in order to improve your level of Japanese.
The reality is that if you want to see rapid growth, you need to begin training on a daily basis. In order to assist you in scheduling daily lessons and determining a learning pace that is suitable for them, there are hundreds of helpful apps and learning methodologies available. Are you ready to begin a process of learning with lessons that are given every hour? Try your luck! Are you able to devote only fifteen minutes every day to learning Japanese? Oh, no issue! Simply put, make the most of this very moment.
5. Apps are a great way to get started.
Whenever you begin to study Japanese, you will find that language learning applications are of great use to you. You can begin learning fundamental Japanese phrases and vocabulary with the help of Duolingo, Memrise, or Rosetta Stone, which are all extremely straightforward English language study programs. These apps make it possible for you to study whenever and wherever you want.
Check out our assessment of one of the most popular applications now available on the market if you are interested in learning more about beneficial apps associated with language learning: This article will discuss how Babbel can assist you in learning a language.
The majority of language-learning apps, on the other hand, are excellent for providing a speedy boost to your Japanese language skills. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t rely solely on them as a source of information. When you merely spend ten minutes each day studying an application, you won’t see significant development in a short amount of time. Because there is no app that can replace engagement in the real world! You should instead make an effort to locate a language learning partner or an online tutor who can assist you in speaking on a consistent basis. Take a peek at our selection of highly qualified Japanese tutors here; our prices start at just $5 per hour for tutoring services.
6. Pay close attention to the flashcards
The use of flashcards is ideal for students learning a language. Specifically, it is a card that contains information that you need to keep in mind. In order to commit a certain Japanese word to memory, you can make use of a flashcard that contains the word in question. When you turn the card over, you will see a translation into the language that you are most comfortable speaking.
I highly recommend that you incorporate flashcards into your learning experience, even if you have never used them before. You can use flashcards to do the following: Identify items in your home with their Japanese names so that you can see them every day; routinely repeat new words and quiz yourself; invite a friend to quiz you so that you can see if you remember the terms correctly.
Flashcards have the advantage of being accessible online or even made by the recipient themselves. There are three different Japanese writing systems: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. Using flashcards is an excellent way to increase your vocabulary in all three of these forms of Japanese writing.
7. Engage in online conversation with non-native speakers or other students
Participating in frequent practice sessions with other people is the most effective method for learning Japanese and enhancing the skills you currently possess of the language. At this point in time, you have a number of different opportunities to put your knowledge into practice, even if you do not have a companion who is native to Japanese.
You could, for instance, choose to engage in one-on-one video chats in order to locate a language partner who is fluent in Japanese. Through the use of your mobile device or personal computer, you will have the ability to engage in online conversation or writing with native speakers or students from all over the world. You might want to try out the following tools:
• HelloTalk is a language exchange app that allows learners to quickly find native speakers and chat with them; • LextTalk is the first social networking and chats app designed specifically for language exchange; • MyLanguageExchange is a platform that enables users to find conversation partners and improve their conversational skills with native speakers as well as language learners.
Explore the finest Japanese tutors that Preply has to offer if you want to begin speaking Japanese from the very first class with a native speaker. You have access to a wide database of licensed teachers who are able to tailor an efficient lesson plan to meet your specific requirements for language learning and your current level of proficiency. With Preply, you may have private lessons with professionals over a video chat that is simple to use. In addition, it is shockingly inexpensive, beginning at just $5 per hour.
8. Take in some manga.
Now is the moment to begin completely submerging yourself in the culture of Japan! As an alternative to reading Japanese newspapers and books, manga is a great way to learn the language. Manga is an important aspect of Japanese culture that has been around for a very long time. Today, it is considered an essential component of Japanese popular culture and is also well-known in other parts of the world.
Manga, which is art in the form of comics or graphic novels, is a style of art that can be particularly beneficial for people who are learning a language. In order to make it simple for you to comprehend the meaning of the words that are written, these comics are packed with hints that are contextual in nature. A person who is just beginning their Japanese studies would do well to begin with Sailor Moon.
9. Watch some anime
You should attempt learning Japanese through anime if you want to keep yourself entertained while you are studying. Anime is a very distinctive form of Japanese animation, and for many years, Japan was the only country that produced anime. Today, it has developed into a phenomenon that is recognized all over the world and has millions of followers.
Investing some of your spare time in viewing anime will not only help you improve your listening skills but also teach you a number of new phrases, including slang.
Not only is it possible to locate anime on Crunchyroll, Asian Crush, and Netflix, but you can also find Japanese films and episodes on these platforms.
10. Take in an audio podcast.
Podcasts are a wonderful way to add some more listening practice to your daily routine and explore more about Japanese culture. If you are interested in learning Japanese, you should consider listening to podcasts. If you are just starting out with Japanese, here are two podcasts that are excellent:
Learn Japanese by listening to podcasts. There are a variety of episodes that cover a wide range of themes, ranging from advice on traveling to drinking customs in Japan. The screenplay for each episode is originally written in Japanese, and a translated transcript is included.
The NHK. The narrative of Anna, a fictitious heroine who travels to Japan in order to study Japanese, is presented in each episode of this podcast geared toward novices. There is an English translation of the scripts that are provided in the brief lessons.
11. Don’t be frightened to commit errors in your work.
If you begin to practice Japanese, you should anticipate that you will make mistakes on a regular basis. If, on the other hand, you never make a mistake, you will never develop! The most efficient method for learning a language is to make mistakes and then receive feedback from other people through those mistakes. On the other hand, it is important to keep in mind that native Japanese speakers might not want to correct you out of respect, so it is important to specify that you would be grateful for some direction.
Accelerate your learning of Japanese with one-on-one tutoring.
There is one thing that is certain, regardless of the actions you take to improve your Japanese skills: if you want to see rapid improvement, there is nothing that can compare to speaking the language from the very beginning.
Because of this, Preply is an effective method for engaging in the practice of a new language. Through the use of Preply, you will be able to engage in one-on-one classes with a licensed Japanese instructor via video chat. As your language learning sensei, your tutor will be there to guide you through the process, point out any mistakes you make, and design a personalized plan that is tailored to your current level of proficiency.
There are a great number of tutors from whom to select. The only thing you need to do is make use of our search filters in order to select the ideal tutor for your objectives, timetable, and financial constraints. You will see a significant improvement in your self-assurance after only a few sessions, and you will be able to achieve your Japanese language learning objectives far more quickly than a regular learning program could ever do! For more, click here.
