The Japanese language, having a distinct alphabet and complex sentence structures, can be quite a challenge for Westerners to learn. Like most learning projects, though, you can make the process less difficult and a lot more efficient by doing a bit of organizing before you dive in. In this posting I'm going to tell you 3 things you should do to make your Japanese language learning experience an enjoyable, productive and advantageous one.
Find Your Learning Strengths
Modern analysis based on Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences demonstrates that there are 7 distinctive varieties of learning styles: visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, linguistic, and logical-mathematical. Before you leap into the Japanese language do yourself a huge favour and determine what sort of learner you are. To discover if you are a linguistic or a logical-mathematical learner, all you have to do is take one of the numerous 100 % free tests online. To do this, just head over to Google or Yahoo and type in "Theory of Multiple Intelligences free test," and you should come across one.
Look at a handful of them and choose the one which provides the most questions; you'll get the most appropriate results that way. While doing this, remember the fact that you won't simply be just one style of learner. You'll possess a whole lot more strength in some areas, though. Discover your strengths and after that design a Japanese language learning system that is ideal in your case.
Introduce Yourself to Katakana
You may not be aware of this, but the Japanese writing system features more than one alphabet. One of these is termed Katakana. It is the most simple alphabet, and it is used to transcribe imported terms, to dictate the names of plants, animals, and minerals, and to type out specialized and scientific words.
It's also commonly used to put in writing the names of foods, making it very beneficial for you to understand. Moreover, it's a phonetic alphabet, so it's quite simple to learn. If you study hard, it is easy to master the sounds of the forty-eight characters in the system in an afternoon or possibly two. So, prior to going out and attempting to tackle Kanji, the considerably more challenging system of characters that make up the principal written form of the Japanese language, get comfortable with Katakana. This will ease you towards success, one step at a time.
Work With a Native Japanese Speaker Right From the Beginning
When getting to know a language that makes use of the exact same alphabet as the one your used to, for instance, if you are a native English speaker studying Spanish, you can actually learn quite a lot by simply changing your own pronunciation. When getting to know Japanese, though, you will find yourself producing sounds that are totally and completely different when compared with anything you are used to. Because of this, it is crucial that you start using a native Japanese speaker from the start.
Thankfully, doing this is as convenient as ever. You have a variety of solutions. The first is to find a local Japanese speaker and practice with her or him one on one. This is a very good solution, but it is usually by far the most pricey. Our next solution is to use language learning software or online instruction. Most of these packages, in the early days, were not very good. Presently, however, you can find high-quality, totally interactive language learning software programs taped by native speakers for under one hundred bucks. This is substantially less costly than getting a personal Japanese instructor, and you can complete exercises again and again until you are satisfied that you've learned them.
Last but not least, if you need a no cost alternative, you can do a language exchange over the Internet. You simply visit a language learning discussion board and search for a native Japanese person who's willing to teach you Japanese the Japanese language in return for you teaching him or her your own first language, whatever it is.
It doesn't necessarily make a difference which solution you finally choose. Just make perfectly sure that you're conversing with a native Japanese speaker from the start; it really is substantially harder to correct bad Japanese pronunciation than it is to simply learn it properly from the get go.
Summary
Studying the Japanese language is usually challenging for Westerners, however, with a little bit of preparation, you can have a superb learning experience. To make certain this happens, find out what type of learner you are, learn about the Katakana alphabet, and work with a native Japanese speaker from day one.
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