BEST WAY TO LEARN JAPANESE

(Updated August 2020)

If you’re planning on moving to Japan or just travelling, a little learning can go a long way. For those on a short-term trip, getting to grips with the two simplified alphabets (hiragana and katakana) and learning some key phrases can make travel much simpler, but for those looking to study in-depth, there’s a lot to know.  

Learn Japanese

The JLPT can provide a good framework for reading and writing. Luckily, there are now a whole range of options that reach beyond the traditional textbooks. From flashcard apps to podcasts, technology has opened up language-learning to visual, audio and kinesthetic learners as well as those who enjoy a good revision-exam process. 

Regardless of the preferred study technique, having an opportunity to use freshly-learned phrases makes a vast difference to progress. Enabling students to head out and use their knowledge straight away, learning from mistakes and thinking on the spot, the immersive technique has long been a popular approach. Supported by academics worldwide, the experience of everyday use offers learning opportunities far beyond the scope of a worksheet or even an app. While living in a country won’t help you absorb a language without effort, when paired with study it can offer a chance to progress far faster. 

There are some downsides, of course - the shortened hours of traditional study may mean a little less attention to grammar, and a little more focus on chatting. The ad-lib approach to an afternoon shop may mean a few kanji are left to be memorised another day, but there are unexpected benefits too. As well as learning a local dialect, hearing new idioms or unusual words, it offers an opportunity to join a community. Moving to a city or town, or even a village - your neighbours, new friends and even local shop assistants will follow your progress, offering help and encouragement along the way. 

Studying at a language school in Japan will give you the added bonus of a structured curriculum, helping you stay on track and keep studying when you would otherwise give up or plateau on your own. You will have the support of your teachers to ask any questions along the way, and the social support of your friends you make there too. Inquire here for courses that suit you.

Holed-up in a classroom or studying on bus rides to work, motivation can be hard to keep hold of when learning a language far from its homeland. Setting goals and working alongside others can be good support, but enjoyment is a key factor. If studying abroad isn’t an option, conversation classes, subtitled tv programmes and even karaoke can help - as well as offering cultural insights too. Here are online lessons you can do from home! Whichever approach you take, be sure to try out different options and combine a few - learning can introduce you to the country in a unique and fascinating way.

By: Lily Crossley-Baxter