1. Japanese Language Studying - 3 Strategies for Beginning Students of
Japanese
Studying a brand new language could be a daunting job. When that
new language is as different from English as Japanese is, it could
appear insurmountable. In contrast to other European languages (such
as Spanish, French & German) there is very little overlap between
Japanese vocabulary and English. The few words that are shared between
the two languages are usually recently borrowed words like "sushi"
or "terebi" ("television") that don't give you a real feel for how the
language works. Beyond that, the grammar is various, Japanese uses
sounds that aren't used in English and it's written with a syllabary
(3 syllabaries, actually!) instead of an alphabet. As a brand new
Japanese language learner, it could be overwhelming. However, if you
don't panic and follow the tips in this guide, you will be well on
your way to speaking Japanese like a pro.
Tip 1 - Mentally Prepare Yourself for Studying Japanese
The major mistake that most new language learners make is not taking
the time to prepare before beginning their studies. I recommend
reading the Wikipedia page on the Japanese language to familiarize
yourself with the structure of Japanese (basic grammar, sounds, etc).
In addition to this, I recommend that you get a notebook that will be
devoted just to your Japanese studies. It's a very small thing, but,
making a simple investment in your studies by acquiring a notebook can
help cement in your mind that you are going to study regularly and not
just "get around to it some day". Additionally, it will come in handy
to have a place to write down any questions and observations you have
about Japanese as you're studying.
Tip 2 - Start with a Good Oral Resource for Beginners
There are two good reasons for starting with an audio program when
starting to study Japanese. The first is that it will allow you to
hear native speakers from the beginning of your studies. This will
help you avoid studying incorrect pronunciations that you have to
spend time unlearning later. The second reason is that the three
Japanese syllabaries can be overwhelming to beginners. Often, starting
Japanese language learners will become frustrated with their inability
to master Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji and they will give up on their
studies. By focusing on the spoken language you will be able to
familiarize yourself with Japanese without having to simultaneously
learn the new syllabaries.
A good (though expensive) audio course to start with is Pimsleur's
Comprehensive Japanese I. Make sure that it is the full comprehensive
and not the basic or conversational courses. Many libraries have the
Pimsleur audio courses available to be borrowed for free.
To get the most from the course, listen to each lesson more than once.
Attempt to match the native speakers' pronunciation as closely as you
can. Don't worry too much about the details. It's better to only get
part of something but to keep moving forward than it is to get bogged
down in an attempt to master one small detail until you get frustrated
and give up.
Tip three - Practice, Practice, Practice
This one is not rocket science; however, "Practice a lot!" can mean

2. different things to different people. In this case, I am recommending
that you practice 30 to 60 minutes per day and at least 5 days per
week when you are first learning Japanese.. It is much better to have
smaller, more frequent study sessions in Japanese than it is to have a
long 'master session' a couple times each week.
Find as many opportunities each day as you can to flex your
new "Japanese language" muscles. Talk to a friend or coworker that
knows Japanese. If you don't have an available Japanese speaker, look
online for one. There are many sites that help people to connect with
language practice partners. However, you don't have to have a native
speaker handy to practice your Japanese. Start peppering your new
Japanese vocabulary into your conversations. If you don't know the
right word for the verb but you know the right ending to use, add the
ending to the English word. Start writing your notes in Japanese as
soon as you can (again, without worrying about your spelling). The
more you use the Japanese you've learned the more it will stick in
your mind.
If you follow these recommendations, after five to eight weeks you
will be able to have a decent basic conversation in Japanese.
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