You’ve saved up the money, you’ve been in contact with an amazing travel agent, and you have everything planned out. In just a couple of short months, you are going to be on a plane, flying out for an international vacation to Japan. All the different foods you get to try, beautiful buildings, and wonderful people you will get to meet probably have you just shaking with anticipation. The only problem, however, is you don’t know where to begin with learning the language. Of course, there are people in Japan who know and speak English very well, however, coming across them is very rare and it can be hard to get around the country without knowing just a bit of Japanese.
Luckily some tips and tricks can help you learn the language pretty quickly. Will you be an expert in it by the time you leave? Of course not, in fact, many native Japanese people don’t know every single word or phrase in their language. Here are some tips that will help you with learning the language.
Why Learn Conversational Japanese?
There are several reasons. Would you like to make friends or experience romance when you try women dating on Hily? You need to learn some minimum words and phrases at least. What about navigating your way around? Better learn to read some signs and understand directions. Finally, when you have a basic handle of the language, you will be able to appreciate the sights and sounds even more.
Watch Shows In Japanese
There are many options such as anime with subtitles. However, if you aren’t a big fan of that genre you can also check the language settings for your favorite shows on streaming platforms and see if Japanese is listed as an option. By watching shows in the language you get used to hearing the language and may even subconsciously pick up certain words or phrases without realizing it.
Print Out Language Worksheets And Books Made For Children
The biggest issue with language learning materials for adults is the fact that they try to teach too much at once. Meanwhile, materials that are made with children in mind often focus on one or two things at a time. Too much information at once can make it hard to absorb what you are learning and you may end up forgetting what you learned by the next time you reach your next lesson. Songs for children can also help you to learn the language as things are much easier to remember with music No matter how you may look at it, when it comes to language learning materials for children are superior in every way.
Get Into The Habit Of Studying
Many people say that apps such as Duolingo don’t actually help much with language learning, however, what they do is help you to establish a habit that revolves around learning the language. By getting into this habit you will find that you can better retain the language as you learn it.
Set Realistic Goals And Expectations For Yourself
Remember to not get stressed out about learning the entirety of a new language in a short time. After all, Japanese is known as one of the most complex languages in the world and is constantly changing and evolving. In fact, different generations may even call the same items by completely different names. Don’t expect to learn the entire language, instead give yourself a reasonable goal that you know you can achieve.
Above Everything Else; Make Sure You Learn The Following
Of course, you don’t have to learn the entire Japanese language, however, there are some key phrases that you should learn how to use properly before you go. The following list just barely covers a portion of those basic phrases, but this should be a good step in the right direction for learning Japanese.
Counting And Numbers
Numbers are used a lot no matter where you go in the world. Telling the time, making sure that you get on the correct train or bus, reading the price for and paying for items. All of these are necessary pieces of knowledge that help you to navigate the world in every language.
The Basic Alphabets (Hiragana And Katakana)
Japanese has three different writing systems. Hiragana is used primarily for Japanese words and phrases and is seen as the most basic form of the alphabet for the country. Children as young as two years old start to learn how to read Hiragana through toys and play, and most signs and places use Hiragana to advertise. Katakana is slightly more advanced and is often used for “borrowed” words. Or words that come from another language. This is why when you listen to Japanese you might hear phrases that sound a lot like words that are similar to you. Such as “Keki” (cake) or “Guramu” (gram). Just remember that even though both sets of alphabets use the same sounds the symbols can lead to words having completely different meanings.
Other Basic Phrases
Sadly we can’t fit every single necessary phrase into this article, though, there are many more key phrases that you should take the time to learn. Asking for directions, giving basic responses to questions, being able to ask for the dish you want, asking for the toilet while out in public, and so much more. All of these are prime examples of things you should know how to ask for while traveling through any country. A simple search for “Key Phrases to Know in Japanese” will help you get to a great start in your language learning journey.
Better Travels With Better Language Understanding
No, you won’t become fluent before your trip. That’s okay, nobody expects you to be. Still, if you dedicate time and effort to language learning, you can develop some conversational communication skills to make your trip to Japan more enjoyable.