Japanese, with its status as the language of an industrial powerhouse and rich culture, has attracted the attention of a large number of learners around the world. However, many people have difficulty finding effective learning methods due to time, cost or geographical barriers. Therefore, the method of self-studying Japanese at home has become an attractive and feasible choice for those who want to conquer this language.
Self-studying Japanese at home provides a flexible environment, allowing learners to decide for themselves the pace and learning method that best suits their personal needs and schedule. With the advent of online learning resources, mobile applications, interactive textbooks, and online learning communities, self-studying Japanese has become easier than ever. However, to achieve success, learners need to have perseverance, high self-awareness and self-management ability. Let's find out how to learn Japanese at home.
Choose a Japanese curriculum and work with it every day
Most Japanese schools use the “Minna no Nihongo” (“Japanese for Everyone”) series. The book has both kanji and Latin characters. We recommend the kanji version. You'll have to learn kanji at some point while learning Japanese, so you might as well do it from the start. If you are a beginner, buy book 1. If you are not a beginner, you are probably familiar with these books. You will find a lot of videos online explaining the different lessons.
Professionals spend 4-5 hours working on their curriculum every day: 2-3 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the afternoon. You can break it up into smaller chunks or spend fewer hours if you'd like. You should spend about half of your study time on reviewing/reviewing the lesson and the other half on learning new vocabulary and grammar. And you have to work on the book every day. Do you agree? Good.
Now, let's talk about your remaining time. This is the real secret to successful homeschooling. You need to absorb the pronunciation of the language, absorb the Japanese customs, and force your brain to think in Japanese as quickly as possible (at least for a while). So immerse yourself in the Japanese language and culture.
Watch anime, movies, and TV in Japanese
You're welcome to use English, Vietnamese or your native language subtitles, but if you find yourself reading instead of listening, turn them off. It's better to try to absorb the sounds of the language even if you don't understand it. In some parts, turning on the Japanese subtitles will help you learn new words and see how the things you're hearing are written. Take a look with pen and paper in hand. Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, in addition to its regular programming, has a collection of videos that they put together for school children.
Listen to Japanese radio, music and podcasts
Associate your surroundings with Japanese as much as possible. There are thousands of radio stations, lots of great music, and lots of podcasts you can listen to while working out, cooking, or taking a shower. This is your "free time", so don't try to understand every word.
Japan's Foods
Food is typical of Japanese culture. Perseverely search for recipes online, order ingredients to prepare, and enjoy Japanese food. Or why not use the recipe video in Japanese? (search for videos or for more options)
Make Japanese friends
At some point, you need to speak Japanese with native speakers to practice your reflexes, as well as more accurately recognize the Japanese pronunciation. As soon as possible. This shouldn't be too difficult, even if you're homeschooling. Download a language exchange app or use online forums to find Japanese people who want to improve their English or Japanese people who want to learn more Vietnamese. If you want to learn more efficiently and easily, hire an online Japanese teacher.
Frequently asked questions about Japanese
1. Where should I start learning Japanese?
You should start by choosing a suitable Japanese language curriculum, such as the "Minna no Nihongo" curriculum. Get familiar with the Hiragana and Katakana alphabets and learn basic vocabulary and grammatical structures. At the same time, get exposed to the language through diverse sources such as movies, music, and communication with native speakers. Read the shared article now: Tips for learning Japanese for beginners The simplest and easiest method recommended by many experts.
2. How to stay motivated when studying Japanese at home?
Ways to stay motivated when learning Japanese at home:
- Set specific and realistic goals for learning
- Break the learning process into small steps and track progress
- Combine a variety of learning methods to avoid boredom
- Join online learning communities to share experiences and get motivated
- Reward yourself when you achieve your goals
3. How long does it take to be able to communicate relatively fluently in Japanese?
The time to achieve proficiency in communication depends on many factors such as learning ability, investment time, and effective learning methods. Normally, with 1-2 hours of study per day, you can reach a basic communication level after about 6 months to 1 year. To become more proficient, you need about 2-3 years of hard study and regular practice.
4. How to improve Japanese listening comprehension skills?
How to effectively improve Japanese listening comprehension skills:
- Regularly listen to Japanese materials such as movies, songs, podcasts
- Use Japanese subtitles when watching movies to connect the sound with the written word
- Focus on context and guess meaning based on keywords
- Note down important phrases and sentences and listen to them many times
- Participate in conversations with native speakers to practice listening and reflection
5. Should I hire an online tutor to support self-study of Japanese?
Hiring an online tutor is a good option to support self-study, especially when you encounter difficulties or want to improve your communication skills. Tutors can answer questions, correct mistakes and provide timely feedback to help you progress faster. However, consider your financial ability and choose a suitable tutor to ensure effective learning.
6. How should I choose Japanese learning materials?
When choosing study materials, consider the following factors:
- Suitable for your level and learning goals
- There is diverse content, including vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills
- Well designed, presented clearly and easy to understand
- Interactive, comes with practice exercises
- Well-rated and widely used by the learner community
Some popular documents include Minna no Nihongo, Genki, Japanese for Busy People, Marugoto.
7. How do I know my current Japanese level?
To evaluate your Japanese language level, you can:
- Take online proficiency tests
- Refer to international standard assessment scales such as JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) with 5 levels from N5 to N1
- Self-assessment based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) with 6 levels from A1 to C2
- Ask for reviews from teachers or experienced people
Clearly defining your level will help you choose materials and build an appropriate study plan.
8. How much time should be spent learning Japanese every day?
The ideal study time is 2-3 hours per day, divided into many short sessions. For example:
- 30-60 minutes in the morning to review old lessons and learn new vocabulary
- 30-60 minutes at noon to practice listening, speaking or writing
- 30-60 minutes in the evening to study grammar, do homework or read documents
If you're busy, even 30 minutes of studying a day will bring significant results if maintained regularly. It is important to create regular and quality study habits.
Nguyen Trung Khang - Talented interpreter and translator, passionate about translation
Nguyen Trung Khang is a talented interpreter and translator, with many years of experience in the field of translation and linguistics. He graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, majoring in Linguistics in 2015.
After graduating, Mr. Khang participated in a professional interpretation and interpretation training course at the University of Foreign Languages - Hanoi National University. He achieved a high-level certificate in interpreting and interpreting, and was also awarded a master's degree in linguistics.