1. Which should I start with, hiragana or katakana?
   • Start with hiragana. You’ll use it more! So it will get you to fluency faster.
2. Learn basic grammar: Japanese grammar is different from English, so take time to understand its basic structure.
   • After I took two semesters of college Japanese I still couldn’t build a sentence. Learn how the words fit together, and you’ll be able to make sense faster of all the Japanese you hear!
3. Watch Japanese media: Watch Japanese TV shows, movies, and anime to immerse yourself in the language and learn new words and expressions.
   • I know a guy who learned Japanese extremely fast mainly by watching Japanese soap operas. Why does that work? Because they’re talking about every-day things at a normal pace. I can’t personally recommend soaps, but I can say that the more true-to-life your media, the faster you’ll learn to speak Japanese.
4. Use flashcards: Use flashcards to memorize new vocabulary and kanji.
   • You’ve probably heard this before, but it’s true! The more ways you encounter a concept, the faster your brain will assimilate it. With flash cards, you see the words and concepts, and you touch them, and you can say them aloud. That’s three in one. Maybe you can even figure out more ways to interact with your flash cards. The language-learning card game Japanese: The Game is basically flash cards plus grammar patterns (in a card battle game format). I spent over a decade making Japanese: The Game, so you can see how much I believe in this tip!
5. Find a language exchange partner: Find a Japanese native speaker who wants to learn your native language, and practice speaking with them regularly.
   • We all need friends anyway. And when you like someone, you’re naturally motivated to work through the language barrier!
6. Use language learning apps: There are many language learning apps available that can help you practice Japanese.
   • I’m already fluent in Japanese, so I’m learning Scottish Gaelic with my wife (who is of Scottish ancestry) using an app. I can tell you, it’s very exciting to make progress together!!
7. Read Japanese news: Read Japanese news articles to improve your reading comprehension and learn new vocabulary.
   • Now, this is a tricky one because Japanese uses different characters. But even if you’re only advanced enough to read the headlines, and even with those you may have to look up most of the words on jisho.org, it’s still a great idea. Why? Because the news is something different every single day! And it usually teaches you something culturally relevant and often fascinating.
8. Listen to Japanese music: Listen to Japanese music and try to understand the lyrics.
   • This tip is listed in another recent blog post of mine because it’s a great idea and also I’m a huge music fan. Lyrics are usually short phrases and very often teach you a new language concept. And if you get a Japanese lyric stuck in your head, you’re going to learn it a hundred times better!
9. Use mnemonic devices: Use mnemonic devices to help you remember new vocabulary and kanji.
   • Okay, it’s confession time. I’m a purist. When I learn kanji, I like to know the ancient Chinese origin of a character, like that the kanji for cat (猫) literally means “quadruped that sounds like miao.” But if you want to learn kanji fast, you should probably take the saner route of memorizing with mnemonics. A friend of mine made a site that can help with this called NativShark which has a free trial.
10. Write Japanese: Practice writing Japanese characters and sentences to improve your writing skills.
    • I love writing the hiragana syllabary chart. It feels good. I do it during meetings as a doodle. Sometimes I’ll also sit down and write every kanji I can think of. I find it meditative, and it helps me remember.
11. Use social media: Follow Japanese people and Japanese language learners on social media to learn new words and expressions.
    • There are a million blogs and feeds and channels and handles to follow, which means you’re certain to find some that are ideal for your specific level and pace.
12. Learn kanji radicals: Kanji radicals are the building blocks of kanji, so understanding them will help you learn kanji faster.
    • The great thing is, there are a limited number of kanji radicals. These are the pieces you put together to make a kanji, and you’ll use 20-50 of these per day. Here are a few of them:
    ⼀ ⼁ ⼂ ⼃ ⼄ ⺃ ⼅ ⼆ ⼇ ⼈ ⺅ 𠆢 ⼉ ⼊ ⼋ ⼌ ⼍ ⼎ ⼏ ⼐ ⼑ ⺉ ⼒ ⼓ ⼔ ⼕ ⼗ ⼘ ⼙ ⼚ ⼛ ⼜
    If you just cringed because some are “missing” from my selection above, you obviously don’t need this tip. Technically there are 214 “historical radicals” but simplification, modernization, and standardization make it so that if you learn the radicals that have one, two, and three strokes, you’ll have a HUGE jump on your Japanese studies.
13. Use online resources: Use online resources like online dictionaries and language learning websites to supplement your learning.
    • I’ve already referred to jisho.org in this post, and you’re using an online resource right now. But I’m going to change t up on you. Use online resources OFFLINE! (Whoa.) Print out some hiragana or kanji practice paper. Print out some free flashcards from a PDF. You can even print out this blog post and check off the tips once you’ve used them. Here’s an extra checkbox for those of you who choose to do this: ▢
14. Speak out loud: Practice speaking Japanese out loud to improve your pronunciation and fluency.
    • This is especially fun to do while imitating your favorite characters from Japanese media. I don’t think I need to explain further.
15. Practice regularly: Practice Japanese regularly, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day. Consistency is key to learning a language.
    • This really is the key. I’ve had to re-learn SO MUCH JAPANESE because I wouldn’t just lock it in. All the best learning systems have you review the subject matter over and over. That’s because it works. So if you’re sincerely trying to learn Japanese, don’t let a weekday go by without some exposure to the language!

Good luck with your language learning journey!

The post 15 Quick Tips to Learn Japanese Faster appeared first on Japanese: The Game.

1. Watch Japanese TV shows and movies (with subtitles)

Let’s start with the obvious. Watching Japanese TV shows and movies with English subtitles is a great way to learn the language. Not only will you get used to the sound of Japanese, but you’ll also learn new words and phrases in context. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy some great entertainment in the process. Just don’t get too caught up in the plot and forget to learn anything! Try repeating phrases you hear. Make sure anyone else in the room understands you’re “studying” to minimize weird looks.

2. Listen to Japanese music (and sing along)

Music is a universal language, and Japanese music is no exception. Whether you’re into J-pop, rock, or hip-hop, there’s something for everyone. And by listening to Japanese music, you’ll pick up new vocabulary and grammar structures without even realizing it. Plus, singing along is a fun way to practice your pronunciation and intonation. Just remember: it may be acceptable to sing “Butterfly” by Kaela Kimura at the top of your lungs on the train in America, but they do not do that in Japan.

3. Use a Japanese learning app (and compete with friends)

Learning apps like Duolingo, Memrise, and Rosetta Stone are great for building vocabulary and grammar skills. But let’s be real, they can also be a bit boring. So why not make it a competition with your friends? Challenge each other to see who can get the highest score or complete the most lessons in a week. Not only will it make learning more fun, but you’ll also hold each other accountable and stay motivated. Duolingo and a few others even have competition built right in!

4. Label everything in your house in Japanese (even your pet)

Labeling everyday objects in your house with their Japanese names is a fun and effective way to build vocabulary. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter when you have guests over. “Oh, you like my cat? His name is Neko, which means ‘cat’ in Japanese.” Just make sure you don’t accidentally label your pet as a “toilet” or a “trash can.” Unless your pet is named “toilet” or a “trash can.” But… if only for my sake, please don’t do that, either.

5. Play language-learning games (like Japanese: The Game)

Learning should be fun! Language-learning games like Japanese: The Game are a great way to practice grammar and vocabulary in a more engaging way. This card game focuses on sentence-building practice, with the twist that you get random and amusing sentences like you’d enjoy with MadLibs. It’s easy enough for kids, but it’s great practice for high school and up! Plus, you can play with friends and family, making it a social activity. Just don’t get too competitive and start throwing cards at each other. I’ve seen Japanese card throwers cut fruit in half and that’s got to sting.

6. Talk to yourself (in Japanese)

This one might sound a bit strange, but hear me out. Talking to yourself in Japanese is a great way to practice speaking without the pressure of talking to someone else. Plus, it’s a great way to work through grammar and vocabulary that you’re struggling with. Just make sure you’re not doing it in public, or people might think you’re a bit crazy. If you want to get really Japanese about it, though, you could plan out the phrases you’re going to speak to yourself so that they’re minimally awkward in public. Diminishing awkwardness is an art form you should get used to if you’re going all the way with this.

7. Go to a Japanese restaurant (and order in Japanese)

Last but not least, going to a Japanese restaurant and ordering in Japanese is a great way to practice speaking in a real-life situation. The phrases to order, such as “o kudasai” are pretty basic and memorizable. Plus, you get to enjoy some delicious food in the process. The waitstaff will forgive you if your accent is a bit off. And don’t be discouraged if you accidentally order “nattō” (fermented soybeans) instead of “tempura” (batter-fried meat and vegetables) even though those things don’t sound anything like each other. I pre-forgive you. And I’ll even eat your nattō. I forced myself to like it back when I lived in Hiratsuka.

Ganbatte!

The post 7 Effective Ways to Learn Japanese (Without Really Trying) appeared first on Japanese: The Game.