subject: Four Tips For Learning Japanese [print this page] Four Tips For Learning Japanese Four Tips For Learning Japanese
Intimidating? Perhaps. Exciting? For sure! Those are the emotions you might experience as you undertake learning Japanese as a second language - just like grade school or middle school. Japanese, so totally different than many other world languages, is actually quite easy to learn if your follow these four tips I use to teach my own students.
1. Make Mistakes. Sounds odd but that's the best way to learn. So, give yourself permission to err, and you automatically give yourself permission to learn in a way you never would've realized. You or others may laugh when you fail, but you're learning to win! So, at first, don't be afraid of failing a lot!
2. Learn Katakana. Katakana is a sort of alphabet that the Japanese use for words lifted from other languages, especially English. Once you learn to read Katakana, you will be pleasantly surprised that you will be making the sounds of words that are very familiar to you, only they will be written in Japanese. There's a confidence-booster for you from the get-go.
3. Take Chances. Inevitably you're going to flub when attempting to communicate in another language. But you've got to take that risk so you'll learn. Go ahead, take a chance. Chances are you'll win, and if you don't - you'll learn. No matter how awkward your Japanese may be, your efforts will be appreciated in a magnanimous way. No matter how much you bone up on your phrases and customs, you're going to be recognized as a tourist and you're going to make some gaffes. Yes, you'll be a tourist and recognized as such. But don't worry about making mistakes. You'll be offered more help than you can handle.
4. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat. It may get boring, but stick with it. Repetition fixes things in your brain so that they become almost automatic in response to certain situations. Brushing your teeth or combing your hair are things you do without thinking about them at all, practicing your phrases can help them assume that sort of nature.
If it happens to rain on the day you were going to the beach or go shopping, use the time to read up on culture or news and practice your phrases or language lessons. You're commute time can double as your learning time. Put some lessons on your iPod to listen to as you walk to work, or while you're riding the bus or train. Play CD's in your car.
A delightful language, learning Japanese could give you a career boost, help you make overseas friends, or help you have fun on an already exciting tour of the land.
If you enjoyed this article and you're itching to start learning Japanese, check outbasic Japanese phrases on my website, where I teach youhow to learn Japanese online.
