TOP 10 tips on how to learn Japanese on your own from scratch

Japanese is one of the oldest and most complex languages ​​in the world. Its composition and structure are fundamentally different from European languages ​​and from Russian. Due to the peculiarities of writing, it will, of course, not be possible to learn it in a month - most likely, it will take at least a year and a half. There are several recommendations that will make the learning process more effective and efficient.

Features of the language

Languages ​​in which letters are represented by hieroglyphs are complex. Speech itself, pronunciation, and writing have to be taught separately. Japanese grammar and language in its construction are represented by two systems. This hiragana, as well as katakana, act as syllabic components of the alphabet. Hiragana prescribes grammatical relationships, the connection between spoken words, katakana is necessary for writing, denoting foreign terms, borrowed phrases. Mutually complementing each other, they form a complex system of grammar and vocabulary.

Minna no Nihongo

Despite the shortcomings that each textbook has, I like them more than the same Minna-no-nihongo , which is compiled for foreigners in a somewhat average manner with some even more unnecessary vocabulary and sometimes strange expressions.

In our textbooks we see translations, analogies and explanations precisely for our understanding. Of course, the explanations, especially in plowing, are quite difficult, but fortunately they are full of examples, so in principle, it is possible to understand.

Actually, now we move on to Japanese textbooks. In the very first video, I limited myself to only the Russian-language base, but this time we will also touch on textbooks with English translations, thereby our circle of choice greatly expands and is not limited only to the Russian-language version of Minna-no-nihongo .

Actually, my opinion about Minna-no-Nihongo has not changed, and as I said in the very first video, the textbook is overloaded, there is quite a lot of unnecessary stuff.

BUT! If you live in Japan and need to speak here and now, then Minna no Nihongo is ideal. This is a classic!

In addition to Minna no Nihongo, there are 2 more textbooks that should definitely be recommended - Try and Dekiru nihongo .

Let's hear about these textbooks.

Me: - What textbooks do you recommend?

Take: — I recommend 3 textbooks: Minna-no-nihongo (みんなの日本語), Try (トライ) and Dekiru Nihongo (できるにほんご).

— I think that in Russia the most popular is Minna-no-nihongo, but the good aspects of this textbook... . Hm… . Which ones are interesting?..

Me: Are there any weak points?

Take: Yes, of course. If you use only it, then it’s a little... . Since this textbook is for those who work in Japan, then if you live and work in Japan, then this textbook will work very well, but there are very few expressions for everyday life. There are a lot of useful expressions to work with, but if you only use this, I think it won't be enough.

Take: - Is the Kansai dialect in the textbook?..

Take: - Ahh, yes! For me, as a person from Kanto (the region where Tokyo and other prefectures are located), sometimes I come across very strange expressions.

- Because this textbook was made by teachers from Kansai (Kansai is Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, etc.), then for me such expressions are a little... But I wouldn’t worry so much about this. If you study it with a teacher, then everything will be fine!

Me: - So what if you study it on your own?

Take: - Well, if you study on your own, then you can remember such strange expressions. In the end, you can memorize this way, and then ask the Japanese to correct it (if necessary).

Me: - Thank you!

Me: - What next?

Take: - Then... Try textbook. This is a new Japanese textbook and there are no outdated expressions.

In addition, there are a lot of expressions that are used in everyday life. Then... there's a pretty good explanation of the grammar. This textbook is headed by grammar, so everything is clearly explained there.

There are very few exercises in the Try textbook, and only because of this, Try alone is not enough to fully study Japanese. This textbook can be used not only to prepare for Norek Shiken, but also as a simple study of Japanese. But you definitely need to find some exercises for it (since there are very few of them there).

Me: - Thank you!

Take: - Next comes the Dekiru Nihongo (できるにほんご) tutorial. Here everything is the other way around, unlike Try, there is very little grammar and it may be difficult for one to understand, but instead there are a lot of scenes from real life, for example: “What is the best answer here?” etc.

Dekiru Nihongo is a textbook that is full of good exercises. It may not be suitable for preparing for Nihongo Norek Shiken, but for real life it will be perfect! For example, talking with friends, going to a store or restaurant, etc.

Me: - Thank you!

Me: - Do you have any opinion about Russian-language textbooks?

Take: — I haven’t had a chance to use them, so I don’t have any opinion. But when I saw several textbooks, the first impression I got about them was that there were a lot of errors (of various kinds). Then, I was confused by the Japanese font. A little strange... some kind of Chinese or something... Unnatural for the Japanese.

Strange font... But for beginners they are suitable.

Me: - What if you learn Japanese on your own?

Take: — If it’s on your own, then I think it’s Minna-no-nihongo. There is also Russian language. And there are a lot of exercises. If you study alone, then textbook No. 1 - Minna-no-nihongo!

Me: - Thank you!

Me: — What textbooks do you recommend when preparing for Nihongo Noreku Shiken?

Take: - I would advise...

And you will find out this in the next issue.

So, from this conversation we learned that there are such wonderful textbooks as Try, Dekiru Nihongo and the well-known Minna no Nihongo .

But as you already understand, there is no ideal textbook or self-instruction manual for Japanese, however, you can take something as a basis and combine it with other textbooks.

Now I will tell you how my students and I act, and you personally decide for yourself what is convenient for you. By the way, if you have already decided, write in the comments which textbooks you will use or which ones you already use? Very interesting read.

I still take the textbook by Strugov and Sheftelevich as a basis: “We read, write, speak Japanese,” because I think that the base there is simply wonderful, with the exception of some mistakes that we change as the training progresses, introducing more lively “non-book” expressions and supplementing the vocabulary.

Also, in addition, we take some points from the Try and Dekiru Nihongo and, as a test, we take points from the Genki textbook , because there are also good “live” expressions that perfectly complement Strugova.

Now let me express my personal opinion on some of the textbooks that Suzuki-sensei spoke about earlier.

What is Katakana

The order of each word in the Japanese language in the construction of a sentence is simple, even for a beginning student it is difficult to learn. You need to remember - the predicate comes at the end of each completed sentence, the definition - immediately before the defined itself. It is often omitted in the structure of a sentence if the context itself makes it clear what exactly, what object, or person is being discussed. These foundations will allow you to correctly construct a sentence in the future and speak like a real resident of the Middle Kingdom.

To summarize, we have 2 sets of textbooks.

Suzuki Sensei has this:

Minna no Nihongo (base), Try and Dekiru Nihongo.

I have this:

Strugova and Sheftelevich (basis), Try (extra), Dekiru Nihongo (extra).

It’s difficult to say which textbook to choose specifically for you, because absolutely all textbooks have strengths and weaknesses, but I would advise starting with Strugova and Sheftelevich or Nechaeva , and then gradually taking in addition more modern Japanese textbooks, which are full of “live” expressions and real-life situations such as Dekiru Nigongo and Try.

Hiragana

How to learn Japanese from scratch? In the process of independent and group study, different forms of words are not assigned. The latter do not change their own shape according to persons, taking into account their belonging to the defining genders and numbers. Plural in a word - the corresponding particle is placed at the end of each word being changed. Having learned this rule, the plural form will be easy for you in the future.

Language has no ending, no forms indicating the future tense. There are three different degrees of politeness in spoken language:

• friendly communication between interlocutors - the appeal is on You;
• official conversational speech between interlocutors - the address is addressed exclusively to you;
• The rules also provide for respectful treatment in everyday communication.

The phonetics of the language and speech sounds are often reminiscent of Russian, with a number of nuances. The difficulty for teachers and students in learning a language is writing, represented by hieroglyphs.

Set motivating goals and realistic deadlines

Learning any foreign language “for yourself” will not bring any results except disappointment.
This rule especially applies to Japanese. A clear understanding of the specifics of your goals is the basis for building an effective training plan. Tourism, obtaining a unique education, developing international business, a passion for traditional and modern Japanese art, professional immigration - whatever you choose, this will become your main motivation and driving force for immersion in the Japanese language.

Setting specific deadlines will help set reference points throughout the training. For example, your goal is to pass the Japanese language exam “Nihongo Noryoku Shiken” at the basic level (N5) in eight months. The list of words, hieroglyphs and grammar required for the exam can be viewed in advance on the relevant websites and a step-by-step plan can be drawn up for the entire period of study.

Brief instructions for getting started learning Japanese

Speaking of how to learn Japanese, follow the short instructions.

• Study hiragana and katakana at the very beginning of the course.
• Include the Japanese layout in the language learning program.
• It is optimal to watch Japanese films and animation, at least 20-60 hours, choosing films with Russian translation and subtitles.
• Read the grammar textbook - this item in the course is mandatory and important.
• Install the Rikaichan Japanese dictionary add-on on your computer or mobile phone. Place italics over a word, the addition itself finds its end, gives a translation, and tells you in what form it is pronounced.
• Use dictionaries, look through 100 - 150 aces of film and anime. This point was repeated in this list, but repetition is the mother of learning.

Strugova and Sheftelevich. We read, write, speak Japanese.

My favorite Russian-language textbook, “Read, Write, Speak Japanese” by Strugova and Sheftelevich, is still relevant.

Having completed Chapter 1 and having prepared a little in specialized literature, you can safely take N5, and after completing Chapter 2 - N4. Those. These 2 textbooks almost completely cover the base of the Japanese language .

Everything is well structured and laid out . I won’t list all the advantages, I’ll just say that it’s good.

In this video, I want to focus on the disadvantages of textbooks, so that you know in advance about the weak points of a particular textbook. Because All the textbooks that we will list below are excellent , just with their own shortcomings.

This textbook, like all Russian-language manuals, is a little poor in terms of vocabulary; there are some outdated words, for example: ビデオカセット.

It's 2021, and they're all talking about videotapes and dandy consoles. This is a little strange, because... The textbook is constantly being republished . Fortunately, there are not many such words, but still.

Such words can be easily replaced with modern analogues without changing the essence. This is done in 2 minutes without exaggeration, I don’t know why this hasn’t been done yet and whether it will be done in principle. It's a shame for such a good textbook.

Study methods

The basics of studying the grammar and words of the Chinese language include several methods - you can study it independently, using a self-instruction manual as a basis, in a group lesson, or together with a teacher. For beginners, the choice of method of learning the language of the land of the rising sun is purely individual. The main focus is motivation.

Group classes

Each city has a linguistic center, courses on learning the language from scratch, practicing in a group. Experienced teachers will help you learn the language and help you master methods of memorizing words.

The main thing to remember. When attending a class, you need to duplicate the material at home. Not just by studying in class. But also work through it every day on your own. The downside is that the level of language knowledge of each student in the group is different, and accordingly the speed of mastering and memorizing the taught material. Are you lagging behind others or ahead? You adapt yourself to the rest of the group.

Individual lessons with a teacher

When compared with group training, individual programs and lessons are optimal. They will help you study at a pace that suits the student. The teacher adapts exclusively to your pace, the frequency of lessons is regulated taking into account the needs of each student. The downside to teaching classes is the high cost of each lesson and course of study.

Self-paced study programs

You can learn the Japanese language on your own for free, but not so quickly - you make up the schedule and intensity of the lessons yourself. The downside is that it’s easy to relax here and give up studying.

At the very beginning, choose textbooks and manuals. The following textbooks receive positive reviews:

“Reading, writing and speaking Japanese” by E.V. Strugova, you can opt for “Japanese for Beginners” by L.T. Nechaev.

The only negative is the vocabulary is unsatisfactory. The latter does not correspond to modern realities and demands. Accordingly, you take expressions, phrases and phrases from other textbooks, preferably a Japanese edition, for example, Try or Genky. They feature lively and varied dialogue.

First, it is important to master the syllabary alphabet - Japanese contains 146 syllables, after which it is easy to move on to mastering hieroglyphs and grammar. To communicate freely in the language of the Land of the Rising Sun, it is worth learning 2000 hieroglyphs. It's difficult to remember them. Teachers advise practicing imaginative thinking. But not a different way of thinking.

How to learn Japanese on your own? TOP 10 tips

Here are recommendations from teachers, linguists and people who independently learned Japanese at home. Many of them may seem standard, but they will definitely help you systematize and optimize the learning process, making it more comfortable and enjoyable. Use the recommendations provided to avoid mistakes at all stages of the educational process.

1. Learn living Japanese

The language of manga, anime and films can hardly be called “living” - ordinary people don’t speak like that. Therefore, simply viewing/reading and translating is not enough; you must use textbooks, teaching materials and practice communicating with real people as much as possible, take tests, try yourself in writing essays for competitions, and so on.

2. Start by learning syllabaries

Learning katakana and hiragana is the first step to mastering the Japanese language. In total, you have to study 92 characters, which can take from several days to several weeks. Remember that we are individuals and always demonstrate different performance in learning. Difficulties and significant time costs should not cause a loss of motivation.

3. Don't try to memorize all the kanji at once

Memorizing almost 3,000 hieroglyphs is almost impossible. Don’t be surprised, but even native speakers don’t know 100% of kanji, just as Russian speakers don’t know 100% of Russian words. To understand about half of everything spoken and written by the Japanese, knowledge of 1000 kanji is enough, to pass the test at a high level - 1,500-2,000 kanji.

4. Constantly practice your pronunciation

You will have to hone your pronunciation and work on problematic sounds and accents. It won't be so easy at first, but over time you will get used to it and most phonemes will no longer be a shock. Try to listen to Japanese radio and watch Japanese talk shows as often as possible - this will help you find the ideals of “live” pronunciation of words.

5. Don't forget about grammar

It is worth starting to study grammar in the first stages of learning. However, you don’t need to memorize all the rules - start by mastering the manuals for beginners unfamiliar with the Japanese language. Gradually continue to study, and most importantly, understand more complex grammatical basics. Be sure to do this in parallel with expanding your vocabulary and practicing pronunciation.

6. Expand your list of sources

Don’t limit yourself to the manuals, sites and applications you chose at the start, even if you really liked them. Constantly look for new sources of information. There are thousands of textbooks and websites on the Internet dedicated to learning the Japanese language. Try to trust most of all the resources created by professional teachers and those who have learned the language on their own.

7. Connect with like-minded people

Join communities on social networks - here they regularly share links to interesting educational materials, help you find the right textbooks, correct mistakes and give valuable advice. Moreover, you will gain additional motivation for learning, which will be a sense of community and a competitive effect.

8. Immerse yourself in the language environment

Surround yourself with the Japanese language - read news in local media, listen to Japanese radio, music and podcasts, read Japanese prose and poetry, find manga that interests you personally, watch anime. In addition, it is worth finding interlocutors from Japan who can point out your mistakes in pronunciation, word formation and grammar.

9. Be interested in Japanese culture and history

Japan has a rich culture and an amazing, dramatic history. The more interested you are in the life of the country in the past and present, the more motivation to study you will gain. In addition, you will be able to understand the logic of the language and understand the reason for the appearance of many words, which will greatly simplify their learning.

10. Look for opportunities to go on a language tour

Many language schools and even Japanese companies organize language tours to Japan. You can participate in some of them for free (as part of a competitive selection) or with a significant discount. Look for opportunities to go on such tours, write essays for competitions as often as possible. Even if you fail, the benefits from the very fact of searching and writing a resume will be more than tangible.

Tips for Beginners

Mastering the language you are learning is long and difficult; the main thing is to make the lesson interesting, without compromising your knowledge. It is important to take into account a number of tips.

1. They practice every day, without skipping a day. A language that has hieroglyphs in writing is memorized quickly, the main thing is not to take a break between lessons. Diversify your lessons - write in the morning, pronounce hieroglyphs, in the afternoon - make it a habit to watch films, read newspapers with a fan.
2. All methods are good. We download applications, educational programs, dictionaries and movies onto our smartphone. It is enough to allocate 5-10 minutes in the subway for such training and the result will soon be visible.
3. The main thing in the learning process is regularity. If you want to quickly memorize hieroglyphs, download applications with flash cards. Afterwards, look through cards with hieroglyphs according to the degree of memorability, and the program will determine the order and frequency of reproduction on a laptop monitor or phone screen.
4. Learn the given words, preferably not one at a time, separately - in the formed composition of even a short expression or sentence. If you make a specific sentence with a word, short or long, it will be much easier to remember and learn in a given context.
5. Communicate with a living native speaker of the language itself, even if not in person, at least via Skype or other messenger, with sound and video. It is better to live for some time in the country of the language you are learning, China.

The main thing to remember is that two components are important for learning and memorizing a language. Discipline and motivation are guaranteed mastery of the language, and choosing a method is selected individually.

Techniques for memorizing hieroglyphs

The most popular method is to write 1 hieroglyph in the copybooks. The auditory memorization method allows you to increase your ability to reproduce Japanese speech.

Cards

You can make cards with new words. They should definitely be accompanied by a transcription and an explanatory drawing.

Learning Japanese characters with flashcards.

Associations

Each hieroglyph is treated as a small story.

Replacing words

You need to find a word in your native language that is consonant with a word in a foreign language, then the first will become the key to remembering the second. For example, how to remember the word Mori - forest in Japanese: “forest” is a “sea” of trees.

How long does it take to learn Japanese?

How long does it take to learn Japanese? Each student learns the language at his own pace. For example, offline courses require a 3-year course. This is six months for each course. This is an average pace of learning - they master writing and reading, communication, and listening comprehension. But even here you will not get a 100% guarantee that you will know the language. Guarantee on basic skills - definitely. This will provide the basis for future independent mastery of the basics of the language. Living in Japan - the language itself, spoken language is mastered much faster.

Why not a tutorial?

We have already answered this question briefly. If we talk in detail about why you shouldn’t immediately take on this or that popular illustrated Japanese language tutorial, there are several reasons. Firstly, the information in them is often quite compressed. Such books either promise that you will learn Japanese in a day, a week or thirty days, or they themselves are small in volume - there are few pages, and there is not much information to be placed. Secondly, most tutorials do not offer a large number of tasks, and they often do not include listening at all. And these parts are very important for learning any foreign language. Thirdly, when writing textbooks, in principle, more attention is paid - after all, some people will have to teach others using them. Self-instruction books are simpler in this regard.

Naturally, we welcome an empirical approach and invite you, at your leisure, to open some Japanese language tutorial from scratch, which can be downloaded for free in pdf, and evaluate whether it suits you or not. For example, look for the self-instruction manual by B.P. Lavrentyev - he is often mentioned when listing manuals for learning the Japanese language.

Dialogue