Japanese can be learned in as little as 90 days. There are a lot of students who started conducting in-depth Japanese classes around this time. You will get there quickly if you use the appropriate tactics; a lot relies on your educational objectives. The duration takes to learn the language depends on whether you want to learn Japanese by watching videos or to speak natively. You will need lots of hours of practice to sound like a native Japanese speaker. Learning basic Japanese to visit the country for tourism will take a few days.
Who Can Learn Japanese?
Another factor that influences the time it takes to learn Japanese is how close or unlike it is to your native tongue. Japanese is exceptionally different from what you are used to if you are a native speaker of a European language. It has another writing system than your original language, distinct syntax, and sentence structures, and you will have to acquire most of the vocabulary from scratch. Naturally, these factors will lengthen the time you take to learn Japanese. Certain aspects of the writing system, such as Hiragana, the basic Japanese letters, are not too difficult to understand. Unless you already have experience with an East Asian language before, be aware that it is time-consuming to master the language completely, as it has a steep learning curve.
Prerequisites To Learn Japanese
You must be familiar with a variety of writing systems and elements of the language. Unfortunately, these factors might cause uncertainty when deciding how and where to begin learning the language. Learning Japanese requires a systematic approach. It is recommended that you begin with hiragana, which is the most widespread and widely used writing system in Japan. Following that, you should study katakana and kanji. Pronunciation and vocabulary are the next aspects you should work on. Finally, study some important phrases and learn Japanese words to make things easy for yourself. If you can stick to this method of learning Japanese, you will be able to master the language quickly and easily.
Benefits Of Learning Japanese
There are so many advantages to studying Japanese that you should begin immediately. Particularly if you intend to work in Japan. It’s a valuable talent to have in your job resume. We have compiled the benefits of learning the language,
- Opportunities for employment
- Increasing your intelligence
- Making new acquaintances in Japan
- Recognizing the Japanese culture
- Job opportunities that require Japanese language capabilities
Japanese Course Levels
N1, N2, N3, N4, and N5 are the five levels of learning Japanese. N5 is the easiest of all the levels, while N1 is the most difficult. N4 and N5 are qualifiers that indicate how well you grasp fundamental Japanese that you learned in class. N1 and N2 are scales that assess how well people use Japanese in various situations. Between N1/N2 and N4/N5, N3 is a bridging level. Language skills, such as vocabulary and grammar, are also required to successfully complete these levels.
N5 – Basic level:
The N5 level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test is the most basic, requiring only a basic understanding of Japanese. The N5 level essentially guarantees that you can understand basic sentences and common expressions written in hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji, as well as through spoken discussions.
N4 – Elementary level:
While N4 is a little more complex, it has the same goal of understanding some fundamental Japanese. The N4 section, on the other hand, concentrates on more common daily encounters.
N3 – Intermediate level
The intermediate level N3 is defined as the capacity to understand Japanese in everyday situations. This level is slightly more advanced than the previous ones, where spoken interactions must be understood at a near-natural speed rather than slowly, and more everyday writings, such as newspaper headlines, must be understood.
N2 – Pre-advanced level
N2 is where things get a little more tricky, and it’s defined as the capacity to understand Japanese in everyday scenarios and under a range of conditions. You must understand not only several general themes but also understand the intent and narrative behind them.
N1 – Advanced level
N1 is the most advanced and, thus, the most challenging level, and it is defined as the capacity to understand Japanese in any situation. You must be able to read and listen with logical complexity at the highest level. In order to learn how to read and write Japanese, you must read written texts with substantial content.
Time Required To Complete Each Japanese Language Levels
| Level | Time required (in hrs) |
| N5 | 150 |
| N4 | 300 |
| N3 | 450 |
| N2 | 600 |
| N1 | 900 |
Tips To Learn Japanese From Home
Japanese notes:
The easiest way to learn Japanese is to take notes in Japanese or put down daily reminders in Japanese. This is a fun test for your writing skills, and you will pick up a lot of essentials every day. Furthermore, you will require a thorough understanding of what it says when you learn to write Japanese.
Change your gadget language settings:
Switch the language settings on all your devices to Japanese, including your tablet, smartphone, computer, GPS, e-reader, etc. You may now control your calendar, set alarms, check your voicemail, and receive notifications in Japanese rather than English. You can also practice speaking Japanese with Alexa. Use platforms like Curiotory to get assistance in learning the language.
Listen to Japanese music or J-Pop:
Get rid of your English-language music and embrace J-pop. In addition to J-Pop, Japanese rock and roll, reggae, punk, hip-hop, and just about every other genre are available. You may access a list of Japanese pop charts online and then use YouTube to search for the songs. You can also listen to live radio from Japanese stations on the internet.
Change your TV habits:
The best way to learn Japanese is to watch movies and series in Japanese. You can easily access Japanese TV programs on the Internet. An easy way is to use YouTube. There are still a lot of options available online to watch programs in Japanese. OTT platforms are a boon nowadays, and users have the advantage of watching Japanese programs within a single click.
Speaking to self in Japanese:
Get into the habit of talking to yourself in Japanese. People often encourage you to share what you are doing in your native language. Even though it is difficult to express feelings in a new language, try doing the same to learn the language quickly. Even the dialogues you think in your mind can be written in Japanese for you to read later.
Read Japanese blogs:
Check out some Japanese blogs online. There are many Japanese blog networks available on the internet where you can find blogs on all kinds of topics. Searching for a topic on your site requires some reading ability, but that is another great learning opportunity. You can even start your own Japanese blog for the practice.
Browse online in the Japanese language:
Change your language settings in your internet browser and get into the habit of browsing the Internet in Japanese. If you want to find out something on Wikipedia or other major websites, try the Japanese version of the same website. Most websites have their own domains for each of the languages in which they operate. For most major websites, you can substitute .co.jp instead of .com to get the Japanese version. Set the Japanese website as your homepage so that the Japanese page is displayed immediately every time you go online. Next, change the keyboard settings so you can type in Japanese without problems. Another idea is to create and use a Japanese email account on Yahoo Japan or a similar service. This account can be used to communicate with online Japanese exchange partners.
Takeaways
When it comes to learning Japanese, there are so many variables. However, with good learning habits, effective time management, and consistent dedication, you can learn to speak Japanese in just three months. People have lesser time than before to master the language as they rely on platforms like Curiotory that help them learn from the comfort of their own homes.
