Learning Japanese, much like any language, requires attention to every detail and intense practice of the language before you can finally attain fluency. Learning a new language, especially as an adult, can often be tricky. There have been supposed “hacks” meant to help you learn a new language quickly, but next to none are actually legitimate in the promised effects. Learning a new language requires going through the motions, without shortcuts and hacks. Here are 12 tips to learning how to speak Japanese
Best Free tips to learning Japanse
(1) Having Conversations :
There’s been a lot of shortcuts that are often suggested, but one of the best ways to become better at any language is to have conversations. Long hours of strenuous and erroneous attempts at the language will have you learn at the go. An hour of conversations daily with a dictionary that would be used for correction would be advised. This is as good as spending five hours in a classroom daily just to attempt cramming the language. Japanese is a very beautiful language that you can get better at when you converse with your friends who are ready to set you straight in whatever areas you err.
(2) Starting with 100 most common words :
When learning Japanese, to achieve fluency with speed, you need to prioritize the information you need to take in. This is like creating a filter of sorts that involves simmering the information based on relevance to that moment. Experts suggest learning the first 100 most commonly used words when learning a language like Japanese and the most used during conversations. This way, you assimilate the necessary information, prioritizing your intake. As a person new to a language, it is quite impossible to know the words or Kanji that should be useful as a non-native speaker, but thankfully, there are resources that can help.
The Japanese corpus is a good place to achieve this. This is a list of Japanese words that were collated by linguistic researchers, which was based on a thorough analysis of a wide range of Japanese sources. The produced list of words are ordered by markers such as frequency of usage, is commonly referred to as the Japanese “core vocabulary.”
(3) Prioritize improving your Japanese speaking and listening skills:
One certifiable way to increase your learning progress is simply by making friends. Improving your skills will help you become conversational, and you can make new friends. Asking questions where you have difficulties can help. Making friends with Japanese friends can improve your listening and speaking skills. Being put out in the field for testing is a very good way to improve your listening skills as well as your speaking capabilities. Languages aren’t something to be memorized rather processed. It has to become you, and field testing to improve your learning and speaking abilities would help.
(4) Little and often is better than occasional marathon learning:
It is highly inadvisable to bombard the brain with too much information. Information taken at a normal pace often fares better than the one that comes in an influx of several pieces of information that become lost in a crowded mind. How often you practice your Japanese is equal to how much time you spend practicing. To help during this process, try the Pomodoro Technique, which was devised by Francesco Cirillo and in his book of the same name. Essentially, you break your time into 30-minute chunks. Out of those 30 minutes, spend 25 minutes uninterrupted on the task at hand and five minutes taking a break. The technique is said to improve focus, productivity, and motivation.
(5) Avoiding Procrastination :
Just like anything else, procrastination halves your learning experience by the constant putting off of studying as well. Avoiding procrastination is a good way of getting better at the language.
(6) Immersing yourself in Japanese :
Immersing yourself in Japanese is a good way to make yourself better at the language. There is a certain number of times that are required to be strictly Japanese so as to help you learn in with all focus. Resist the urge to translate to your native language. Also, switching your internal dialogue to Japanese and when you hear words, try to imagine what they describe; this way, you get the meaning. Switching your phone’s language to Japanese during this period will help with this immersion process.
(7) Learn set phrases
Japanese has lots of set greetings and phrases that you will come across when learning the language as well as what occurs in the daily life and it is imperative to learn to use these phrases with either a perfect, next to or rough understanding of their meaning and its applications enough to make sure you’re polite on your deals like ordering dinner for example.
(8) Connect with a community
Learning Japanese can become more of a hobby than an actual chore like it is for most folks; connecting with a community, your community can make learning Japanese more fun that hard work. When it is perceived this way, it becomes a whole lot easier to learn without the pressures that come with undertaking some new things.
You can Check out Meetup, community center events, or classes to find people who like the Japanese language and culture too, Japanese colleges’ society. You can also check out your nearest Japanese embassies and promote the culture in such areas.
(9) use Audio Books and Online courses for better comprehension :
Immersing one’s self in Japanese is a full-time job until you become conversational and fluent. Conversations can be learned through the means of online courses and audiobooks.
(10)Date someone who speaks the target language and not your native language
Dating or living with someone that speaks the language is another step forward. It should boost all your learning process faster than it would normally.
(11) Finding a language buddy
If you’re not into dating for just learning a thing or two, another great idea would be getting a language buddy online. There are several websites for Japanese willing to learn English and, in exchange, would be willing to teach you their language. An online buddy is another method of achieving progress.
(12) Immediate application :
When you learn a new word, try to use it a few times right away.
This way, applying these several tips that has been listed above is sure to shape your progress and make you learn faster than you thought possible.