Learning Japanese can be both fun and daunting. Let’s face it, it is a tough language and more so if you are trying to learn it online. So what can you do to simplify it? This article will tell you how!
So if you are wondering How To Learn Japanese Language Online, then you have come to the right place. Read the tips below to get started.
Educate yourself about the difference between scripts
There are three crucial character sets in Japanese – Hiragana, Kanji, and Katakana. These three scripts can be overwhelming for a beginner. But if you want to master the language at some point, then they are unavoidable. Love it or loathe it, this is going to be your starting point to learn Japanese. So start by learning the difference between these three scripts to begin with.
Knowing this difference will help you know which one to use and when. So if you are an absolute beginner, start with hiragana and katakana, kanji can come later when you are comfortable with the first two.
Set learning goals
Before you start, ask yourself why you want to learn Japanese in the first place. Are you planning to live or travel to Japan? Do you want to make friends in Japan? Do aspire to work in Japan? While there are a lot of good reasons, you need to find the one that motivates you to stay committed to the course. Setting objectives and goals will help you stay focused. When you think long and hard about why you want to learn the language, then it will help you design a practical action plan.
If you are interested in Japanese pop culture, then learning your language from business books will hardly help you get there. If you want to improve your conversational skills, then what you need is a communicative course that makes you practice and speak the language with natives confidently.
Once you know your goals, it is very easy to plan your learning around it. You will also be able to progress faster and will most likely stick with it.
Stay consistent in your practice
If you really want to learn Japanese, then there is no excuse to not practice it every day. An hour long class every week will not make the cut. When you incorporate practicing Japanese every day, then you not only get better at the language but will also be able to review your progress. Studying once a week will waste half your time in remembering what you did last week! Additionally, daily use of the language will get you in the habit to stick with a long-term program. This is especially true for online learners who often drop midway because they don’t practice their lessons every day.
But most importantly, by learning Japanese on a daily basis, you will actually end up doing it much longer than planning a master class once a week. Ultimately, learning to speak the language will eventually come down to how many hours you spend learning it. So start today and be consistent if you really want to get there.
Use your open hours wisely
We are all busy people. This is why it is unrealistic to expect to dedicate 5-hours every day and study the language chained to your laptop. Time management is not only necessary but also a skill that will help you stay on top of lot of important things and not just the language. One of the most effective ways to learn Japanese is to use your dead time for study. Look for open hours such as riding the train to work/college, while sipping coffee in your breaktime, while driving to work etc.
How about listening to Japanese lessons and memorize or write anything that you find vaguely similar with English. This will allow you to remember most your lessons and also help you make some serious progress.
Immerse yourself in Japanese
One of the most helpful ways to learn Japanese is to create an immersive environment. Listen to their music, read their books, watch their movies, cook their food, stick Japanese posters on your wall etc. Absorbing yourself in the language is the quickest way to learn it. You will not only pick up important phrases this way but also get to know more about their culture.
All courses are designed in a different way. So if you find something that is completely up your alley, then you should stick with it. Don’t pile yourself with unnecessary information. Find a course that is structured and follows an interactive model. If you enjoy it, you will end up studying it regularly and eventually get fluent!
