Four Tips For Learning Japanese

Remember your first few days in middle school or high school when you were signed up to take Spanish or French as a second language?Well, learning Japanese can generate the same sort of excitement and anticipation. 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. That's right, the more errors you make, the more you know what you don't know. And that's the larger part of learning. Making mistakes will help you learn more easily than you dreamed possible. When you discover a weakness, you can figure out a way to strengthen it. So, it's very important to fail often!

2. Learn Katakana. Every language ends up borrowing words from other languages, Katakana is a writing system the Japanese use to express those borrowed words, most of them English. Learning Katakana will help you sound out 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. Even in your own language, you can run the risk of being misunderstood. But taking that risk is a good way to learn. Go ahead, take a chance. Chances are you'll win, and if you don't - you'll learn. You may be a stranger in a strange land when you visit Japan. You will become less of a stranger if you attempt to use the language; even if you flub a lot your hosts will appreciate your effort. 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. Don't be timid because of it, go ahead and take some chances, the native folks will help you.

4. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat. The more you drill, the easier customs and language can become second nature. 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.

Japanese is an intriguing language to learn, being well-spoken in it can advance your career, earn yourself foreign friends, or ease your travels in the Land of the Rising Sun.