5 rules for learning Japanese for beginners

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Don’t believe those who say that it’s impossible to learn Japanese. Anything is possible if you approach the problem correctly! We will tell you what rules should be followed for effective and enjoyable learning of this amazing and difficult language.

1. Set motivating goals and realistic deadlines

Learning any foreign language "for yourself" will not bring any results, except for disappointment. This rule applies especially to Japanese. A clear understanding of the specifics of your goals is the basis for building an effective training plan.

Tourism, obtaining a unique education, developing international business, passion for traditional and modern Japanese art, professional immigration - whatever you choose, this will become your main motivation and driving force for immersion in the Japanese language.

Setting specific deadlines will help to establish anchor points throughout the training. For example, your goal is to pass the Japanese language exam "Nihongo noryoku shiken" for knowledge of its entry level (N5) in eight months. The list of words, hieroglyphs and grammar required for the exam can be viewed in advance on the corresponding sites and a step-by-step plan for the entire period of study can be drawn up.

2. Structure the teaching material

Select a few proven textbooks and print the copybooks. This will be the foundation of your training. In parallel, you can use an online simulator to test your knowledge. One of the most popular and effective is the Japanese textbook Minna no Nihongo: Basic Workbook in two parts, which is better to take immediately with grammar commentary and additional teaching materials.

If you have a good command of English, then you can use the time-tested and thousands of students, textbooks, workbooks and audio materials from the GENKI series. From the Russian editions, one can advise the "Textbook of the Japanese language for children" in two parts by the author MR Golomidova - a well-known Russian specialist in the field of the Japanese language. The textbook will be an excellent educational tool for adults as well.

3. Start simple

The Japanese writing system consists of two syllable alphabets (hiragana and katakana) and kanji (hieroglyphs). First, you need to master both alphabets, where each of the 46 symbols does not mean a sound, but a syllable. And only after that move on to kanji. Try to study symbols and hieroglyphs not separately, but in the context of words and sentences.

The basic set of knowledge is very clearly spelled out in the requirements for the fifth level of the international Japanese language exam. For a beginner, this can be a great reference point.

When moving on to learning kanji, you should pay attention to the so-called keys, from which, as if from Lego bricks, you can compose and memorize rather complex Japanese hieroglyphs. Don't forget that your success in learning depends not least on consistent written practice. To do this, you can download and print ready-made recipes. It is better to work on pronunciation by reading aloud.

4. Practice Japanese regularly and in a variety of ways

Despite the logic of this point, many people forget about it over time. Undoubtedly, with constant employment it is really difficult to allocate several hours a day for learning a language, but 20 minutes is quite real!

Diversify your lesson plan for the week, for example:

• Monday, Thursday - theoretical lessons from the textbook;
• Tuesday - reading your favorite manga in the original or information from Japanese Internet resources;
• Wednesday - working with prescriptions;
• Friday, Saturday - watching interesting video materials;
• Sunday - communication with native speakers.

Learning Japanese every day, if it's fun, will bring tangible results very, very soon!

5. Use proven techniques for memorizing hieroglyphs

There are several original tools for memorizing hieroglyphs.

Card method

Cut out the required number of cards from thick paper, on one side indicate the character or hieroglyph under study, on the other - the corresponding value. This will help not only in training, but also in testing your knowledge. By the way, you can buy ready-made sets of cards.

Association method

Mnemonic memorization techniques are perfect for the Japanese language. When learning kanji, it is often difficult to remember the spelling of the character and its meaning. To solve this problem, create your own image for each hieroglyph! For example:

• 木 (tree) really looks like a tree;
• 森 (forest) - but three trees turn into a real forest;
• 火 (fire) - a little imagination, and you already warm your hands by the fire near the mountain (山).

This way you can effectively memorize several hieroglyphs at once.

Word replacement method

To do this, you need an excellent computer program called "Cananization" (from the Japanese word for "kana" - alphabet). The program replaces syllables in any Russian-language text copied into it with signs of the Japanese alphabet.

There is a yap お nsk お e belief.

Skip, easier to speak:

With お took い with one あ waiting for the beast い

Choose from the king!

Using this program will help you easily memorize Japanese characters.

Perhaps the most important rule of learning Japanese (and not only) language is self-confidence and focus on results. Don't believe that Japanese is impossible to learn. Foreigners say the same about Russian. But did we somehow learn it? Good luck, patience and fulfillment of the Japanese dream!