Difference between revisions of "Learn Japanese on Your Own"

#*Hiragana is the Japanese alphabet. It consists of 51 phonetic characters. Each character stands for one sound. Begin by studying and memorizing these characters. Once you understand Hiragana, you will know how to pronounce any word in Japanese.<ref name="rf1">http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/</ref>

#*Katakana is a series of characters used to stand for non-Japanese words (such as fast food or California). It is a good idea to learn the Katakana phrases for words you commonly use.<ref name="rf2">http://drmoku.com/about-katakana/</ref>

#*Kanji are actually Chinese symbols that are used to stand for words and phrases in Japanese. Whereas Hiragana symbols are more like “letters” (depicting simple sounds), Kanji symbols depict complete words.<ref name="rf3">http://www.fluentin3months.com/2k-kanji/</ref>

#*Romaji is a system of using English letters to spell Japanese words. A little Romaji will be helpful at first (especially for learning initial key phrases) but if you rely too much on on it, you are unlikely to move on to a real understanding of the language. Instead, focus mostly on Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.<ref name="rf4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvtQWsJtp-M&ab_channel=TaeKim</ref>

#Learn some key phrases. Knowing some key phrases will allow you to begin practicing. Although Romaji should not be heavily relied upon, using Romaji to learn these basic phrases is OK for beginners.<ref name="rf5">http://www.easyjapanese.org/phrases.html</ref>

#Learn the rules of grammar. Japanese grammar is very different from grammar in English, so try not to apply English rules of grammar to your Japanese study. Learning Japanese grammer will take some time to get used to. Purchase a Japanese grammar workbook and begin following the lessons. Some examples include "Practice Makes Perfect: Basic Japanese" and "A Guide to Japanese Grammar" by Tae Kim. Or locate free online resources (such as Duolingo) to study Japanese grammar.<ref name="rf6">http://www.fluentu.com/japanese/blog/how-to-learn-japanese-grammar/</ref> Here are some basic tips:

#*Verbs do not change according to the subject (he/she/it). They also don't change according to number (singular/plural, like I/we or he/they).<ref name="rf7">http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar</ref>  

#Talk to someone online. A fun option for practicing Japanese is to video-chat with a native speaker. Look for online resources that pair language partners together. If you find someone who is a good fit, begin practicing with them 1-2 times per week.<ref name="rf8">http://www.language-exchanges.org/</ref>

#*Look into My Language Exchange<ref name="rf9">https://www.mylanguageexchange.com/Search.asp?selX3=30</ref> or The Mixxer<ref name="rf8" /> to locate an online language partner.

#Use flashcards. Purchase Japanese language flashcards, or make them yourself at home. You can purchase (or make) flashcards for each language system, to study specific phrases, and to memorize grammar fundamentals. Flashcards can be a fun way to strengthen your vocabulary in all three language systems (Hiragana, Kanji, or Katakana).<ref name="rf10">http://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/6-ways-to-use-flashcards-for-language-learning-giveaway/</ref>

#Use online resources. There are numerous online language programs that can help you to learn and practice Japanese, such as Duolingo, Tofugu, and Japanese 101. Seek out these free resources and make practicing Japanese a daily routine.<ref name="rf11">http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/web-resources-learn-japanese-online-free/</ref>

#Read. Look for Japanese books, comic books, or newspapers. When you try to read in Japanese, you expose yourself to new words while strengthening your skills and encountering Japanese culture.<ref name="rf12">http://www.roadwarriorvoices.com/2015/05/30/learn-a-new-language/</ref>

#Watch Japanese movies. Another fun way to expose yourself to Japanese is to watch Japanese movies. Movies can expose you to a wider range of terms (including slang) and provide some entertainment. You can even use English subtitles to help you understand the plot.<ref name="rf13">http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/10-essential-tips-for-learning-japanese/</ref>

#Listen to Japanese radio. Just like movies, listening to Japanese radio can be a good way to hear new words and sharpen your listening skills. Look for Japanese music with lyrics, or Japanese talk radio.<ref name="rf13" />

#Immerse yourself. If you have the opportunity to experience an immersion in the Japanese language, take it! Perhaps you can visit Japan, or even an authentic Japanese restaurant. This will enable you to speak to people in Japanese and watch them speak. There is really no better way to learn a new language.<ref name="rf14">http://www.omniglot.com/language/articles/languageimmersion.htm</ref>