Want to learn Japanese but not sure where to start? As a beginner, it’s essential to have effective strategies to help you make the most of your time. Try these learning hacks from language teacher Taro T...
Learning any new language can be challenging, but one of the keys to success is how fast you can advance past the beginner stage.
I say this from my experience learning English and Spanish. I was able to gain fluency in the two languages based on how fast I went from the beginner stage to the intermediate level.
These Japanese learning hacks will help you progress and advance quickly, or in other words, help you make learning happen.
Don’t Just Study, “Feel” the Language
Japanese is a dynamic language and there’s more to it than just the words. You have to get a feel for it before you start studying. You can get a feel for Japanese by observing a Japanese speaker’s body language, facial expressions, voice, and tone.
If you’re a native English speaker, learning Japanese may seem daunting. When I was learning English, I felt the same way. Once I realized that language is simply a communication tool, my learning accelerated. I started using whatever English words I knew, and tried to imitate the mannerism of American people.
Not convinced this strategy will work? Think of it this way: if you know 10 nouns, 10 verbs, and 10 adjectives, you can say 1,000 different things. I bet you can survive a trip to Japan if you know 1,000 basic Japanese sentences.
Have a Purpose
Why do you want to learn Japanese? Maybe you want to cover politics as a journalist, or work as a computer programmer, or maybe you just want to be able to communicate with Japanese speakers.
Whatever your reason, defining your purpose makes learning easier. Once you’ve determined why you want to learn the language, you can focus on relevant Japanese vocabulary, phrases, and expressions.
Of course everyone has to start with the basics, but once you define your purpose, you’ll be able to focus on the most relevant and important aspects of the language. This will help you move past the beginner stage, and set you up for success.
Learning Japanese is a lot easier than you think. Use these learning hacks to supplement your Japanese lessons; you will be amazed at how fast you improve!
Post Author: Taro T.Taro T. teaches Japanese and ESL in Washington, D.C. He is a language acquisition specialist and mentors students from the United States, Thailand, Italy, Korea, Turkey, and El Salvador. Born and raised in Japan, Taro came to the United States when he was 16 to learn English and American culture – he’s also fluent in Spanish. Learn more about Taro here!
Photo by rhodes j
Maile Proctor