Article by Billy Buchanan
If you want to learn how to speak Japanese, you may be wondering which way is the best way to do it. You don’t need to take a class or learn from a boring textbook. These next 5 tips are some creative ways you can start your study of the Japanese language.
The first thing to do would be to check out some Japanese cartoons called “Manga”. Japanese cartoons can be for kids, but Manga is also made for adults as well. You will see businessmen read their favorite manga on their way to work. You could possibly see some businessman get their copy of their favorite Manga on the subway and read them on the way to work. Manga can improve your casual Japanese skills and it is full of informal Japanese words that you would otherwise not learn from textbooks.
Second, try some Japanese restaurants. Eating at a Japanese restaurant will let you exercise your skills in reading and speaking Japanese. The menu is usually written in Japanese and you will be able to test yourself by reading the words in Japanese. You’ll impress your server when you order your food in Japanese. You can practice some words simple like “Thank-You” (arigatou) if you cannot order in Japanese.
Third, read some local Japanese newspapers. There are free Japanese newspapers or magazines in large cities around the world where there is a Japanese community. These are directed at the local Japanese neighborhood. Even if you only know some characters in hiragana, katakana, or kanji you could possibly understand some advertisements and articles. If you can understand a few words and symbols to see them used in real situations, it will feel great!
Fourth, learn Japanese on your PC. Having a computer is great because it could help you learn the language and pronunciation. You can find games or other methods to help you learn or you can buy Japanese language software. You will find popular applications for learning Japanese on the iPod or iPhone.
The very last thing and best thing to do is to go to Japan in order for you to experience Japanese language and culture. You will be astonished at how quickly you’ll be able to master the language once you are in the actual country. A terrific way to meet the locals and force yourself to speak Japanese is in a homestay.
You can take a crack at these five ways for learning Japanese. I hope you are able to fun other ways to continue learning Japanese in a fun way.
If you found this article helpful and would like to discover more great resources, to help you learn Japanese, check out the Japanese grammar lessons on my website and my Rocket Japanese review.
About the Author
Billy Buchanan has studied Japanese since 2000 and enjoys helping other learn Japanese for school, business, and pleasure.