How To Learn JapaneseStart Here Guide on Learning Japanese

Reasons for Learning❖ Communicating for Meeting People

➢ Learn more conversational Japanese. Textbooks do not teach conversational Japanese.

❖ Reading➢ Textbooks are great for learning to read. Many

young Japanese gain fluency through reading manga.

❖ Business Communication➢ This is almost a different language. Pick up a

good textbook and tutor.❖ Watching Television

➢ Another method where textbooks will be minimal.

Learning Strategy

● Vocabulary is the first step in learning a language. You don't need to know a lot of words to actually start communicating in a language. Just a handful of words can help you begin communicating right away. Words such as "I" and "want" can help you communicate with people at a caveman level.

● Grammar is the next important step for learning a language. This is very important if you are learning a second language because you need to understand how the language is different. For example, "I" and "want" are not always sufficient for expressing want in Japanese.

● Communicating is the final step. You can learn all the grammar and vocab you want, but you don't really know the language until you can communicate. This does not mean you have to speak to people. Some people simply want to learn a language to read books, so reading is a one-way communication that works for that person. For myself, I'm just interested in speak and listening, so that is the emphasis of my focus.

Online Resources- http://jisho.org/ (amazing dictionary)- http://JapaneseVideocast.com (beginner lessons and vocabulary

decks from anime/dramas, also mobile games and apps)- http://JapanesePod101.com (great for listening to people talk

about Japanese)- http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar - great guide to

Japanese grammar- http://ankisrs.net/ - great spaced-repetition flashcard program -

works great for anything- http://quizlet.com/ - fantastic flashcard tool that has voice audios

and games - great complement for other tools.

I Know What You’re Thinking...

頑張れ！Let’s just start learning a little bit at time. This word above is pronounced “gan-ba-re” and we use it almost everyday. According to Jisho.org, it means:

hold on; go for it; keep at it; do your bestSo we leave you with this word which is the equivalent of “good luck” in Japanese.