How to Begin Learning Japanese

| Thursday, December 15, 2011
By Taylor Dow


It's great that you want to learn Japanese; if you haven't studied other languages before, this is an especially brave decision. To learn Japanese involves many new skills; you have to speak, read and write in a completely new manner and even master a new alphabet. There is more involved in learning Japanese than studying some vocabulary! This isn't to say that it can't be done. This is something you can definitely do if you make up your mind to do it. You just need some helpful hints to help you out. Let's look at some useful tips that will help you with learning Japanese.

Repetition is crucial to your success. Make it a habit of repeating words in your own language in Japanese; it can be a thought, an object you see, or a greeting you may use when you come in contact with others. Do this a couple of times. This will teach your brain to immediately start translating the things you see and hear in your current language to the language you are trying to learn. The more you do this the quicker your mind will make these connections. This method will prepare you for your trip to Japan where fast responses and the ability to name things will be vital to enjoying your stay; wouldn't be terrible to not even be able to translate the price of a meal you want to buy or how to respond when someone greets you? This method really can enable you to interpret Japanese words when you hear them and name any given object when you need to.

Learn the basic alphabet. It's not necessary to learn spelling when you get started; learn first of all how to recognize the characters and how to pronounce them. Even if you aren't perfect, you can then write down the phonetic equivalent of any phrases you are trying to speak. This technique will help if you go to Japan before you are fluent in the language. Being able to write down words or phrases phonetically is a good first step in communicating in a new language, as well as developing reading skills.

If you have Japanese audio tools, you should also use them when you doing something other than studying. Yes, there is quite a lot to be said to learning a language directly through lessons and practice drills. The subconscious also absorbs information, however, even when you aren't aware of it. When you are driving somewhere, relaxing at home or maybe exercising, just let the Japanese programs play and see what happens. A portion of your brain will be registering all these words, and this will really make learning easier. This is the way your mind works; a lot of what it takes in is automatic, so why not use this to your advantage? You could try what is known as sleep learning, letting the recordings play as you sleep!

It is a wonderful idea to start learning Japanese. There is no denying that Japanese can be a hard language to learn, but once you do you'll have a lifelong skill! Think of the cultural opportunities it would open for you! Imagine being able to watch anime without needing the subtitles.That's one fun use of your new language. If you ever want to travel to Japan, it would be a lot easier and more enjoyable if you knew the language. You might also have an easier time learning other Asian languages if you decide that is something you want to do. There is no doubt that learning another language can expand you in a variety of ways!




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