How to learn Japanese for beginners

Approximately 122 million people speak Japanese all over the world, according to the Ethnologue Report. Most of these speakers live in the East Asian country, although there is also a Japanese-speaking community in Taiwan. People often say that Japanese is one of the most difficult languages ​​to learn. The advantage of this is that if you are successful in learning Japanese, you will have access to some unique development opportunities in certain careers, as well as access to the national culture of Japan. Learning to speak Japanese is possible for beginners with a dedicated study and a lot of practice.

Steps to follow:

one

Focus on learning the Japanese oral language to begin with, since it is simpler than written language. Listen to the pronunciation of Japanese vowels and consonants, and practice repeating the sounds of the language out loud. Japan has only five vocal sounds, and these should be relatively easy to learn, since they correspond to similar English sounds.

two

Learn the basic Japanese vocabulary . Websites like "Learn Japanese", provide diverse lists of Japanese vocabulary grouped in common themes such as animals, family and food. The lists show the words transcribed into the Latin alphabet, as well as the way it is written with Japanese characters, and it also offers English translation services. Set aside a regular amount of time each day, to study Japanese vocabulary. Begin each session by reviewing the words you learned the day before to make sure it has been recorded in your brain.

3

Study Japanese grammar Japan has an order of words, "subject-object-verb". Use online resources such as "Tae Kim", "Complete Japanese Learning Guide" to learn about key topics, such as nouns, adjectives and verb tenses.

4

Learn to understand Japanese in writing . Even if you do not want to write in Japanese, the ability to read the Japanese text can be useful, particularly if you are planning to travel to Japan. The Japanese use three main scripts: Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana. Study these scripts at the same time, to avoid confusion. Draw new characters on the paper, then practice saying aloud, to learn to associate the sound of the letter with your shape.

5

Practice what you have learned. Even if the Japanese is at a basic level, you will benefit from practicing with another person. Find native speakers of Japanese in your local area and make arrangements to meet and chat. Greet them in Japanese, and ask for your advice so that you can improve your pronunciation. If it is not possible to meet, look online for Japanese who are learning Spanish and make arrangements to chat with them through Skype. You can help them practice their English in exchange for advice on Japanese.

Tips
  • Japanese is a complicated language, if you delay in learning this language, do not worry and keep studying.