8 tips for BEGINNERS self-studying JAPANESE-watch this before starting 🇯🇵👩‍💻

[@AllisoninTokyo]

Learn languages with quality native-speaking teachers on italki🎉. Buy $20 get $5 for free on your first purchase using my code ALLISON2023: Web: go.italki.com/allisonintokyo App: italki.app.link/allisonintokyo

[@julesposada]

Bullying works y’all, that shirt is CUTE and I’m glad you kept it 👍🏻

[@AllisoninTokyo]

LMAO thank u

[@okancihan2414]

I personally started hiragana when i was around 15 years old and didn't touch anything else except the basic self introduction everyone knows. Then around 2020 i started with katakana and some simple words and apps. Around fall 2021 is when I took studying it a lot more seriously and I would follow vocabulary lists for the jlpt levels. This really helped me bring structure to my learning instead of finding random words to learn. Around this time I also started with grammar videos online that covered the textbooks. This way every grammar point was quickly explained and I could move through the grammer much faster than if I studied myself with the book alone. This also was a free way to learn so its a good entry point for everyone that finds buying a textbook too much of an investment. I would also do jlpt reading and listening tests which would help a lot with understanding japanese at a good pace, slowly moving towards the higher levels as I understood more grammar, vocabulary and kanji. By self study I basically achieved N5 and N4 and was around N3. Then in early 2022 I had my japan university exchange (online unfortunately) but it really helped with my japanese comprehension and communication. Every class was in Japanese and by then I was around N3 level. We had to write essays regarding different topics and speaking back to fluent Japanese speakers really helped in immersion of the language. Since the summer I haven't had the opportunity to speak with Japanese speakers (I forgot about Italki) but I focused on vocabulary grammar, listening and reading. I am now around N2 level, I do have a bit of a gap with kanji but for me speaking and listening and vocabulary (with kanji, just not individual kanji) was the most important. I did study basic Chinese for around 1.5 years in a classroom setting which mostly helped with being able to learn and differentiate kanji quickly. During these years I studied stroke order so nowadays I never actually write the kanji or vocabulary but learn the reading. Other than that I recommend being consistent and being proud of yourself. 15 yr old me would be shocked to see how much I have progressed. Also make the process fun, play some games in Japanese and watch dramas or read manga. Anime is also good but it has a lot of exaggerated expressions and voices so incorporate some normal listening for fluency. Good luck everyone!

[@maccody8022]

こんにちは, Allison. I've been studying Japanese since mid-August last year. I've enjoyed animated television and movies, including anime, for many years (like watching Astro Boy after elementary school back in the late '60s). I also see learning a challenging language as a way to help keep my brain young-ish! I started with learning by Hiragana, mastering that by early-November. I followed that by learning Katakana, which I completed in mid-December. Yes it was easier for me. I've also picked up a very small amount of kanji along the way. I've also read and watched lots of content I found on the Internet (websites, anime, KZbin), picking up words, grammar, phrases, and culture along the way. I really enjoy your channel, as well as Japanese Ammo with Misa Sensei, Yuko Sensei, and Let's Ask Shogo. I'm currently working through Japanese for Busy People I, Third Edition. Probably not the best book out there, but it is a start. One thing that I've done that has been a lot of fun was going to the local Diaso Japan and Mitsusa Marketplace and picking up Japanese snacks to share with my co-workers. While the snacks certainly are enjoyable, the best part is the fun packaging and interesting blend of Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji that I get to translate! I remember laughing at myself when I found that the aromatic はな のど あめ that I bought were not キャンディー but were throat lozenges!😄

[@hannahgreen681]

Katakana is sooo hard for me. Idk why but I think it is because many of them are so similar to each other. As for kanji I really think that learning them as you go is the best way because you have context and a word with that kanji you will know and will better be able to pick it out from new words. As for text books I recommend Japanese from Zero. You can get the first book free on line and videos on KZbin that work with the book from the author.

[@DJIdntkwtwict]

外国の言葉をしゃべれるってホント尊敬するよ♬ 熱意が凄い

[@ThuyKieuTuyetXuan]

I personally like to self-study Vietnamese using Immersive Translate. I use it to watch Netflix every day, and have already vastly improved my language skills. By combining my entertainment time with my language learning, I’m able to save a lot of time. It’s been working out great so far for me, and I’ve already learned a lot.

[@susanma4899]

My Japanese learning has always been very spotty. One thing that's motivated me is the desire to learn Japanese songs. The first song I learned, I decided to listen to the song enough so that I could read the lyrics in Japanese (I already knew how to read hiragana and katakana). I didn't always understand exactly what the words meant, but I could read along and sing along, and sort of get the gist of it. I'm back in Japan now, and I still haven't done ヒトカラ! Now that it's so hot and rainy, it'd be a good way to spend an afternoon.

[@lizknauel8727]

I studied Japanese years ago when I lived in Hawaii and needed to learn a 2nd language (and Spanish in Hawaii was not a real option). I learned a lot watching Kikaida, Kamen RiderV3 and others, all telecast in Japanese with English subtitles. I also got interested in the then current popular music, as my collection will attest. It’s been a long time, but I think remember more because of that. I want to get back to it just because I’m more “fluent” with it than any of the others I’ve tried to learn. Please keep speaking occasionally in Japanese with the subtitles so I can brush the cobwebs off my vocabulary.

[@sontyp8271]

When it comes to whether you should learn all the kanji first or not, I think it depends a lot on what your goal is and how much time you have. In itself, it sounds absolutely logical to me to learn kana and all the kanji first and then start with the vocab and grammar. That is originated in my learning experience with English and French. The alphabet is completely identical (at least in English). This means I was able to read it even if I didn't understand what I was reading at first. So I only had to learn the grammar and the meaning of the words. That's why it was quite easy for me. The idea of first being able to read completely and then learning the rest is not so far-fetched. Actually, it just feels like it takes longer because you learn to speak quite late, but actually it isn‘t. Though I understand that it can be quite demotivating that way. Ultimately, it doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you do something that works for you. Pesonally I would find it rather annoying to keep learning kanji in parallel, because I would always feel slowed down and that I‘m falling behind. But, I have a lot of time, because due to University and stuff it will take at least four years until I will at least have the opportunity to visit Japan. Everyone has their own preferences. Anyway. What counts in the end is the result and not the path to the goal. Do it or do it not. There is no try.

[@leanneland]

I saw a person mention once that they started writing parts of their grocery list in Japanese. As a beginner I thought that was a good way to start using words as you learn them.

[@Suki022]

This is such a great idea! 😊 I will start doing this from now on!

[@patriciad2416]

Hi, I started to self learn last year (I'm in my 40s). I have all the hiragana and katakana memorized during the summer holiday with the help of mnemonics. It helps to have fun mnemonics. But also another thing was the text book. I think it help me a lot because I started using the Japanese Beginners text book Minna No Nihongo and I choose the one all in Japanese...just dive head straight. So..if I didn't know any of hiragana our katakana I couldn't read it. :) I'm making great progress and I still can't believe at my age I'm doing this :) My biggest problem is of course the speaking. Than you for the suggestions. And also my first language isn't English so added stress!!!

[@milkandbread]

Thank you for motivating me daily 😭🥹

[@AddriBlack]

Being someone who doesn't learn well with apps/flash cards, I went straight for more physical means. You don't actually have to buy the big (expensive!!!) textbooks for book learning though! I bought a *bunch* of workbooks and smaller textbooks published by Tuttle, which gives me ample opportunity for writing practice (repetitive note taking is one of the best stufy methods for me), and also covers a lot of the basics of grammar while introducing vocabulary at the appropriate level. It's given me a much better idea of which of the (expensive!!!) textbooks I would do best with, and for much cheaper than buying even two of the different big textbooks to try (got most of them from ebay for very cheap, but even the prices on the tuttle website aren't horrific). Fairly confident that after going through all the books, mixed with copious amounts of youtube listening practice and conversation practice with my coworker, who is fluent, I'll be firmly at the early N3 level.

[@beans7979]

I totally feel you on the Katakana. All my friends in my college Japanese course also had a much more difficult time remembering it compared to Hiragana lol

[@lynnz7501]

Yeah, I learned Hiragana a few years ago in 9th grade and still remember it even now but Katakana never stuck so I'm going to have to re-learn it before studying Japanese seriously lol

[@falafelbrincess]

I've heard a lot of people say that about katakana. Even though I "know" katakana, whenever I have to read it I freeze up, like when I have to do math. It's like it's brand new to me every time I look at it. I don't have this problem with hiragana at all!

[@lesliewolf5995]

Mango is a language app that's available (for Free) through my local library. Mango offers many, many languages, but the Japanese element has been excellent for me. It really concentrates on speaking. Immediately. But gradually. Word by word. Words are spelled out in Hiragana and Romaji. Kanji are not used at all, so it's probably not suitable for people who plan to live in Japan. But my goal is to be able to be polite, ask simple questions (like directions), eat in restaurants, and go shopping. I'll never be fluent; I'm 80 years old. So I don't worry about making mistakes. I just want to be understood and to understand the answers to my questions (if spoken slowly). Anyway, Mango is an excellent resource and might complement other approaches quite nicely. And did I mention that it's Free???

[@amandasteven1400]

this is a fun vid' and the advice 'here-within' opened my sleepy-lil-eyes! seriously, i had an epiphany... the 1st tip, JUST START, made me realize, if i spent as much time actually studying as i did watching KZbin vids on how to study i would probably be fluent in Japanese :)

[@tiffany2709]

Hey Allison! Thanks for the video:) I just moved to Japan last week to work for an eikaiwa and I now see how poor my listening and speaking skills are! I've been using resources like WaniKani, the Bunpo app, etc. to help with reading but I think I'll make one-on-one speaking lessons a priority this year. I am glad I have a foundation of reading however, because I can read katana fairly quickly on signs and such.

[@idabowles1430]

Great video love your channel

[@Sentient_Goose]

I really have no idea why i want to learn Japanese, but i have a little bit of formal education in the language now. Sometimes the reason is, just cuz. Hiragana and Katakana were not that hard. I love letterforms and alphabets, but Kanji, oh dear. It's like scribbles in my mind. I do find that Katakana is harder to keep in my brain long term without practice though, but I love the shape and form of the letters. Oddly enough, I find japanese easier than Spanish or French, and I'm a native English speaker. There's WAYYY more rules to the Grammer, but they are almost like a programming language. Romantic languages are so random to me.

[@klarastefanovicova2066]

Hello Allison! I do not really write comments but I really, reeeelly like your videos! 💛So I would like to leave a comment :3 Now I am in a language school in Tokyo (3rd month) and I would say that making mistakes is also a good way to learn or remember something... especially with speaking, even though the embarassement that comes with it :) + thank you for your videos, I watched them before I went to Japan and also now, you are so sweet and I think you have a good sense of humor too 😁 I am looking forward to another video! 🌷

[@AllisoninTokyo]

Yesss so important, great advice!! Making mistakes = faster learning 🥳 and thanks 😊🤗

[@hegaukatze1599]

Thank you for the Tips!

[@ailblentyn]

Good advice. Substantive and supportive!

[@erniesandoval9669]

Me and my little sister will be going to toyko Japan in the next few weeks.

[@asuranrocks]

yea i took the longest time to learn katakana but it's my favourite character type now, coz you can katakana-ize any english word

[@elkeyes]

I've been doing Duolingo almost every day for over a year now, and though they've made some changes it just doesn't click with me. They will ask for a sentence, I try something, it says it's wrong and gives me the correct answer, but not WHY it's wrong. It does help for practicing hirigana and katakana at least, and some kanji. I will have to give Italki a try! We went to Japan back in November and I was able to get through some questions/conversational Japanese with my lessons but still felt unprepared, so I'd love to learn more if/when I am able to go back :) PS the shirt looks really nice! :D

[@stoicoincidence]

Oh, you're so right about katakana! I just started learning japanese (once again) and so far it has been the hardest to memorize. I am not giving up this time, though!

[@blackburdy5261]

these tips, except for the one about hiragana/katakana, can be applied to learning any language.

[@jerometsowinghuen]

I taught Japanese myself through anime and action shows, then taking a Japanese extra curricular activity in my entire high school years. Not just katakana and hiragana, but also the use of the phrases and words. In addition, informative and educational to know basic Japanese language learning from you, Miss Allison.

[@turtleinjapan]

Glad I’m not the only one having a hard time with katakana. For me, I use an app every single day to practice kana and I’ve seen the benefits. I also use a website and book-after every chapter, I spend some reviewing all previous chapters. Did you keep the green sweater?

[@Gankoittetsu]

You can also search videos about how to remember similar characters like シ ツ ソ ン there's a lot of tutorial videos about it.

[@Keirabug]

It took me two days each to learn both hiragana and katakana and it stuck forever. But kanji? Oh my goodness

[@AllisoninTokyo]

kanji is a lifetime commitment lmao

[@atb8660]

Thanks Alison! I was curious to see what you meant about number eight so I checked out some Japanese Reddit threads and yes the online Japanese learning community seems super toxic. I don’t understand why…

[@michelleslifeonrepeat]

Thanks. I’ve been so timid in learning and busy distracted. I have a new Daughter-in-law and her children and I want to learn their language. Thanks for letting me know there are apps. With my age, I never think app…I think textbooks. I appreciate you. Thanks

[@Jan-vv6fy]

Bullied into keeping…lol. It looks good! Great video!

[@sapphirecamui6447]

I started learning Japanese 10 years ago? hiragana was ok. kanji were interesting with all the readings and meanings. katakana....? put me off continuing T_T i also started learning Mandarin a couple of years ago? pretty easy considering i already knew some of the Hanzi. Now, at the end of 2022 i went back to Japanese on an app -duolingo, ooops not sponsored- and it was so much more easy to read the hiragana and the katakana. This app sure drills them into your brain. I also continue with Chinese. I also downloaded JPro that explains grammar better and stuff. In duolingo, i feel that if you ignore the romaji and use just the japanese scripts, you can learn easier how to read everything as well as how to form a sentence without an explanation. if i know the words, i can easily translate a short sentence into Japanese -i couldn't do this the first time i started. I also decided to translate some Japanese books i own, into English, just for practice. And just want to mention that everyone has their own learning style. Duolingo IS for absolute beginners. I didn't get the hang of JPro yet. Thanks for these tips!

[@mamodokod]

I got hiragana down pact, I got some katakana, I know a whopping 1 kanji which is watashi, but my problem is the particles and just the words themselves. I've been using duolingo, teas guide to japanese, and other stuff but none really teach you the words, I hate how duolingo STARTS with teaching you words then just freaking stops but will throw new words at you all the time, like Genki, it means like health, energy, but this was in a lesson where the sentence was how are you.

[@robertlackey7212]

I plan to open a product development office in northern Japan in 2-3 years , I generally avoid talking to people , but I need to be able to read signs and labels and use the postal system , pay bills , buy groceries , etc. I have 2 days a week for Japanese study so I have about 200 days of study to meet my minimum goals. I do have a study partner so I'm not doing this alone. Do you have any advice on how to best use my time ? Thank you. P.S. Do I have to bring gifts ? I am totally confused by this aspect of Japanese culture , I don't know anyone there , who would I give the gifts to ?

[@lizzie7929]

Thank you for this video!🌷🪷💌🇯🇵 At the moment, I use Skillshare and some KZbin Videos on JapanesePod101 which are free and helpful!💌🇯🇵 I enjoy watching dramas with subtitles or anime which I can pick up things! I have been doing that for years! I love language learning as it resonates differently then your own language! The way they speak, some language sound beautiful like a poem or a melody, that is why I have an interest in certain languages, such as Spanish, 🇪🇸💃Japanese 🗾⛩️and Korean🇰🇷🍜

[@JL_2046]

Thanks for these tips, and thanks for saying that any reason is a good reason! I'm hoping to visit Japan in 2024. I took a couple classes on Zoom, and I did study hiragana beforehand. I speak Cantonese, so I know a good number of kanji, but I have no idea how they're pronounced in Japanese! 😂 Well, at least I know what their meanings are! I've found they help me figure out the context for titles and signs in Japanese. 😊

[@ebifried]

"im wearing the shirt you guys bullied me to wear" LOL i forget how youtube breaks the fourth wall like that! and yesss italki is the best :') absolutely goals to be spons by them! also do people really learn all the kanji before grammar? feel liek that does nothing though bc even native chinese speakers don't have an advantage when it comes to actual fluency just bc they know kanji :o

[@AllisoninTokyo]

YESSS fSGUSHGUSf I've met a few guys irl who always bragged about it to me but then either dropped out of our college classes (lol) or literally couldn't speak at all it was painful

[@ebifried]

@@AllisoninTokyo thats crazy... rare breed LOL

[@la-nyarichardson483]

Katakana is harder then hiragana for everyone myself included. Literally everyone learning Japanese has said that

[@souichi7910]

It truly is! I can’t even seem to keep it in my head😢

[@runyalalla6913]

It is a good time to go to Tokyo on June?

[@AverageBot]

People were right, the shirt is great! If I could just go forward in time... to a time I already know N3-N2 Japanese T_T I am kinda happy that I didn't drop it completly (eventhough I'm still sooo bad x_x).I think that's my wake up call to subscribe to a service I put off for a while :/

[@AllisoninTokyo]

Thanksss 🙈 and yesss you can do it!!! Progress can be slow in Japanese but the end result is worth it 😭

[@Preschool4yo-7yo]

💛Awsome American live in Japan like that. COOL!(envious feeling) 💸🧒🎒-🙏 I can only read Hi-ra-ga-na. In Korean high-shool(age: 17-19), everyone! is divided others' language as extra subject that named「Second language」exactly. It depends on high-school(age: 17-19) and every school is different. ★In my case, in both my finished high-school(age: 17-19) and finished college were. Relevant with Japan, my mother had Japanese national cooking certificate and she used Japanese cosmetic brand SK2 during all my at the middle of 20s and beginning of 30s. Ahahaha I became 40s. I don't know any Japanese conversation. 💞 •°• I can only read Hi ra ga na.

[@katherinemantha1555]

Hi, I really love your videos and I just started learning japanese about a month ago. And I already know all my hiragana pretty well. Other that Italki, do you have any other suggestions for speaking with japanese people? I live in Canada, and where I am it's absolutely impossible to find japanese teachers even for a private lesson. I know I will eventually have to pratice speaking since I wanna move to Japan. Thank you and happy 2023 ^.^

[@AllisoninTokyo]

I really think sites like italki are going to be your best bet for exposure to native speakers! I also had the same problem in FL 😭 There are also sites where you can like...exchange conversation in English and Japanese for free with each other but I'm not sure what they are anymore 😭

[@lizzie7929]

There’s Skillshare and Japanese Pod101, I think there’s some free stuff or all free stuff there!

[@katherinemantha1555]

@@AllisoninTokyo Thank you. I'll keep Italki in mind until I have some basic to pratice speaking :)

[@katherinemantha1555]

@@lizzie7929 Hi, thank you. I'm already using Skillshares, but I didn't know you could directly talk with the teacher on the website. I'll look that up.

[@lizzie7929]

@@katherinemantha1555 No problem, I think there is a comment section on Skillshare or a page to speak directly to the the teachers! There is also Spotify where you can listen free to language learning on there!🎧

[@FighterXSoubi]

I'm weird, I actually find Hiragana a lot harder the Katakana! Kata has been going a lot smoother for me lol!

[@anthonut26]

I also have the same issue with katakana. Why does it seem to be so much more difficult to learn than hiragana? Is it because it is pretty much all angles vs. curves? I mean it's the same number and same sound as hiragana :)

[@lemonchanisrandom1531]

It took me to months to learn Japanese katakana in Japanese hiragana. I’m actually fine katakana easy it’s kind of straight and stuff like English I learned them both together and was scared kanji is kind of hard I know number kanji body parts an family members 🥲but wtf

[@lemonchanisrandom1531]

I want to learn Japanese because I’m bored. I just woke up one day I was like I want to learn. 😅 I've had classes by my school but at the time I was very unaware and didn’t care Just like understanding people

[@hajnalkahorvath7954]

I first learned hiragana and then katakana but when I got back to hiragana I totally forgot them and now its the opposite I know hiragana but forgot katakana😅

[@mamodokod]

YEAH WHAT IS IT ABOUT KATAKANA THAT IS SO HARD!?

[@melissahernandez6645]

I want to learn because after visiting Tokyo for only 3 weeks in 2018 and learning basic words, I found everyone there so kind and I think I want to move there but I want to be better prepared to speak to everyone as kindly as they did to me.

[@Lalalalala...]

Katakana is weirdly hard for me

[@katalyna_rose]

Yesss this is so much of my experience lol. Katakana SUCKS, speaking is integral but also sucks. My second semester Japanese class is just now starting to get serious about kanji beyond the most basic ones like days of the week and stuff like that and they are sooo hard. I can recognize them but remembering how to pronounce them is the worst! I actually really need more Japanese inputs tbh. I'm not that into anime. Anyone have good recommendations???

[@whiskeyii]

My Spanish language teacher from years ago would recommend Disney movies, especially your favorites. The idea was that you knew them so well, you basically understood the translation already and could focus on the words instead!

[@Mesmurize]

Can we get an anime tier list

[@ruthnoronha8206]

Learning Japanese is like learning Dutch. No one speaks it outside the country.