So many people out there would love to learn Japanese, but this dream is cut short very quickly because of where they’re based. And funny enough, these people — just like you — are not willing to move to Japan. This is, however, one of the reasons why people opt out of learning Japanese. Other reasons are that some people believe Japanese is the hardest language in the world, so why bother they think. Or for some, it is that they can’t afford the time to learn a language or afford to even take Japanese classes, but while these reasons will have a cameo in what I’m going to talk about below, it should be noted that the people this article will focus on is those who seek to learn Japanese outside of Japan.
So, shall we?
Here are my advices , If you Want to learn Japanse outside Japan
1. Through Online Tutors
2. Through Language Learning Websites
3. Self-Teaching
- THROUGH ONLINE TUTORS
One thing you have to understand before we move forward is that, because you will be learning from outside Japan, it will be an even harder process for you. Learning from within Japan means you have no choice in the matter since you’ll be bombarded with the language every second, whereas learning from outside Japan will present you with a choice: the choice of laziness and procrastination. We’ve all had these moments in our lives — moments where we tell ourselves, “It’s not going anywhere. I’ll come back to it in an hour.” That’s a big lie!
The point being, you will be faced with these same choices when you’re learning Japanese from outside Japan. But it’s pretty simple when you come to think about it. All you’re required to do is press a few buttons on your computer screen or your phone, and register for a Japanese tutor online.
A good example is https://preply.com/en/skype/Japanese-tutors. Learning from an online tutor is the fastest way to learn Japan from outside of the country.
- LANGUAGE LEARNING WEBSITES
On these websites, you get access to an arsenal of learning materials on the Japanese language. If you’re not aware already, the internet is the largest database for knowledge seekers. This is why it’ll be particularly easy to learn Japanese through these sites. They supply all sorts of fields and formats, from key vocabulary lists and quizzes to videos and audio files.
Here are a few things to know about language learning websites:
- They’re free.
You don’t have to start saving up just to learn the language. All you need is a good internet connection, and voila! You have access to a variety of Japanese-language materials.
- They’re pulled from right sources
The content in the materials you will find on these language learning websites are drawn directly from actual Japanese textbooks.
- They are constantly updated
Unlike textbooks that take quite a lot of time to publish revised editions, websites are always expanding, and sometimes, even daily.
- They foster a sense of community
Truth be told, teaching yourself Japanese alone can be lonely. This is why these websites have found a way to make things lively while learning Japanese, and this has succeeded in encouraging communication and support among Japanese learners all around the globe.
“There’s nothing more intimate than bonding over the psychological agony of mastering kanji, right?
- Connection
With language-learning websites, though, all you have to do is turn on your camera, and you’ll be connected to Japanese people anywhere.
Examples of these language learning websites are FluentU, JapanesePod101.com, imabi, and itaki.
- SELF-TEACHING
If you feel the two options aforementioned is something you can not do, or something you’re interested in, then this bit is for you. To self-teach, try out some of these things:
- Place Japanese reading material in the bathroom
Time to be frank with one another — you usually do nothing when sitting on the toilet seat, yes or yes? Rather than sit on that toilet seat staring endlessly into nothingness, you can capitalize on that time and get some learning done. Find a Japanese dictionary or a Japanese text that you can go through while having a blast. Go for the ones that are easier to read like “manga.”
- Include only Japanese content in your watch list
If you’re serious about learning Japanese, you should be able to sacrifice some of your regular films for films with Japanese content. Make sure to include Japanese videos on your Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, etc.
Also, to fully embrace that Japanese role, remove all content in your native language and replace it with Japanese content.
- Label household objects in Japanese
To further your learning, you can use notes, sticky notes. Place them on every single object in and around your house. It’s a great way to get started with learning Japanese.
You can use Tuttle’s Japanese Picture Dictionary or the Japanese version of Google Images to find the Japanese words you need, and depending on your level, you can write the words in romaji, that is, romanized Japanese, or Kanji. Also, writing the words out will give you some writing practice.
Shalaka Manohar talked about some other tips for learning Japanese outside Japan. They are:
1. Spend time on self-study to strengthen the foundations of grammar, kanji.
2. Read a lot (Online material, books, reading comprehension textbooks).
3. Listen a lot (watch news, TV shows, anime (mostly casual/colloquial Japanese)
4. Try to imitate without fearing mistakes
5. Write regularly (essays, short paragraphs about daily life topics)
With these few tips, I hope someday you’ll be able to communicate effectively in Japanese. And when you do, find me, let me know! Good luck!