Things to keep in mind while learning Japanese

The most widely spoken language in Japan is Japanese which is an East Asian language.

Exposure to the Japanese language and culture opens you to communicate globally. When you learn to speak the Japanese language it develops an understanding of the cultural context for communication. You can develop some degree of comfort in speaking and understand it completely when You immersed in the language and culture within the classroom setting. 

             “Learning a language is beneficial in more ways than one”

When we learn to communicate in Japanese in various communication settings, an excellent skill can be achieved for traveling or doing business. Learn basic information about the Japanese will be necessary to communicate in everyday situations. so that you can learn vocabulary, expressions, and sentences of the language, such that it can be put to immediate use in conversational situations. 

Japanese is the national language of Japan. It is also spoken in Korea, The United States, and many other places as well. Learning Japanese is a little different from learning any other language and if you’re a native English speaker you will need a lot of practice and effort to become a Japanese speaker! 

Did that scare you? Don’t worry it’s not that difficult as it sounds. Let’s look at the things you need to be equipped with on the path of learning Japanese.

• The very first and most important thing is passion.

You need an interest in learning the Japaneseese language, a motive that keeps you going. So think what that could be? Maybe you want to learn Japanese because you’re tired of watching your favorite anime with English subtitles or you want to go to Japan for studies. If you have a motive, you can always think about it whenever you go off track and remember why you started learning. So, be passionate about learning Japanese. 

• Learn Hiragana 

Hiragana is Japan’s version of the alphabet. It is one of three Japanese writing systems you need to learn to be able to read. The other two are katakana and kanji, but hiragana is where everything starts. The ability to read hiragana is going to be a prerequisite for most beginner Japanese textbooks and resources. It’s the first thing you learn in a traditional classroom. Surprisingly, I agree with everyone else. This is a good place to start.

Good pronunciation starts with hiragana. While hiragana alone won’t teach you everything, it is the key to understanding how and why Japanese words sound the way they do. It will also help you get the foundation you need for a native-sounding accent. At the very least, hiragana will get you 80% of the way there.

• Learn some Katakana.

Katakana is a series of characters used to stand for loan words or non-Japanese words (such as hot dog or internet). You will want to learn the Katakana terms for English words you are likely to use. 

• Learn Kanji

Kanji are typographic Chinese symbols that are used to stand for basic words and phrases in Japanese. Whereas Hiragana symbols are more like English letters (depicting simple sounds), Kanji symbols are used to depict complete words. Knowing some basic Kanji will enable you to understand and speak basic Japanese. 

• Avoid relying on Romaji

Romaji is a system of using English letters to spell Japanese words. Romaji can be useful for learning initial key phrases, or for online communications. If you rely too much on Romaji, however, you will never move on to a genuine grasp of the language. Focus your study on Hiragana, Katakana, and some Kanji. 

• Practice grammar

To learn Japanese grammar, you’ll need to try to forget everything you already know about grammar. Don’t apply the rules and concepts of your native language to Japanese. Instead, try to take the rules of Japanese grammar at face value. Obtain a Japanese grammar workbook and begin following the lessons. Some good choices include “Practice Makes Perfect: Basic Japanese” and “A Guide to Japanese Grammar” by Tae. Locate free online resources (such as Duolingo) to study Japanese grammar.

• Learn some key phrases 

  Learning a few key phrases will allow you to begin practicing, and may allow you to enjoy some casual conversation with a Japanese speaker. Although Romaji should not be relied upon, using Romaji to learn these basic phrases can work as a good jumping-off point.

Hello – Kon’nichiwa

Goodbye – Sayonara

I’m fine, thanks – Watashiwa genki desu. Arigato.

Nice to meet you – Hajime mash’te