How to Learn Japanese On Your Own (Fast!)
Summary
TLDRThis video offers an in-depth guide for self-taught learners of Japanese, covering essential topics like building a strong foundation with 'Genki' textbooks and Andy's video guides. It emphasizes the importance of listening, speaking, and reading resources, introduces the Jarvis Translator 2 for real-time language assistance, and provides strategies for learning kana, kanji, and vocabulary. The video also suggests using 'Anki' flashcards, 'Satori Reader' for reading practice, and various podcasts for listening skills. It touches on the JLPT test system for setting learning goals and offers tips on mastering grammar, concluding with advice on writing kanji and the benefits of handwriting practice.
Takeaways
- 📚 The best way to start learning Japanese is by building a strong foundation in the basics such as everyday vocabulary, verb usage, and sentence structure.
- 📖 The 'Genki' textbooks are recommended for beginners due to their well-structured and practical content, with many libraries carrying copies.
- 🎥 There's a free video playlist by Tofugu's Andy that offers extensive guides for each chapter in Genki, which can be very helpful.
- 🚫 After completing the Genki curriculum, it's suggested to stop using textbooks and focus on listening, speaking, and reading resources.
- 📚 For those who prefer textbooks, the 'Motoko' series is recommended starting with level A2 B1, which includes free video guides and covers reading, listening, vocabulary, and grammar.
- 🔍 The Jarvis Translator 2 is a dedicated language translator device that can be beneficial for learning Japanese, offering high accuracy and ease of use.
- 📝 Learning the three writing systems of Japanese, Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji, is essential, with resources like Tofugu's free PDFs and Anki flashcard decks available for practice.
- 📚 'WaniKani' is a platform for learning Kanji, though it's not necessary if the focus is on speaking rather than reading.
- 📚 Vocabulary building is crucial and can be effectively done using Anki with flashcard decks like 'Japanese Core 2000' and 'J-Lap Beginner'.
- 🎧 Listening resources are abundant for learning Japanese, with podcasts like 'Nihongo Con Con' and 'Japanese with Shun' being beneficial at different levels.
- 📝 JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) provides a structured way to measure and improve Japanese language skills, offering clear goals and a sense of achievement.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video?
-The main topic of the video is the best way to learn Japanese on your own, covering major topics to build a personalized learning plan.
What makes learning Japanese different from learning English according to the video?
-Learning Japanese differs from English in almost every way, thus building a strong foundation in the basics such as everyday vocabulary, verb usage, and basic sentence structure is crucial for beginners.
Which textbooks are recommended for absolute beginners in learning Japanese?
-The video recommends the Genki series as the best textbooks for absolute beginners due to their well-structured and practical content.
What is the significance of the free video playlist from Tofugu and how does it complement the Genki textbooks?
-The free video playlist from Tofugu provides extensive video guides for each chapter in Genki, explaining every grammar point in detail with helpful examples, which enhances the learning experience.
What is the Jarvis Translator 2 and how can it assist in learning Japanese?
-The Jarvis Translator 2 is a dedicated language translator device that can instantly translate phrases from the user's native language to the target language with high accuracy, aiding in language learning by providing quick translations.
How does the video suggest learning the three writing systems of Japanese?
-The video suggests starting with Hiragana and Katakana as they are phonetic syllabaries, using free PDFs from Tofugu for quick memorization, and then moving on to Kanji, which are more complex and require gradual learning through context.
What are the recommended resources for building vocabulary in Japanese?
-The video recommends using Anki with flashcard decks such as the Japanese Core 2000 deck and the JLab beginner deck for building vocabulary.
How does the Satori Reader app help with reading skills and vocabulary expansion?
-The Satori Reader app provides a collection of short stories and dialogues voiced by Japanese actors, allowing users to tap on individual words or sentences for explanations and add new words to a flashcard system for review.
What are some of the listening resources mentioned for learning Japanese at different levels?
-The video mentions resources like the Nihongo Con Con podcast for beginners, Japanese with Shun for high beginners, Yuu Noni Honto for intermediate learners, and various content for advanced learners based on personal interests.
What is the purpose of the JLPT test system in learning Japanese and how does it benefit learners?
-The JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) system provides standardized tests that range from N5 to N1, offering clear goals and specific learning objectives to help learners overcome plateaus and maintain motivation.
What are some tools and resources suggested for mastering Japanese grammar?
-The video suggests using Takemichi's guide to Japanese grammar for beginners, Miku's Real Japanese YouTube channel for specific particles and word endings, and Imabi or Nongo Tootabi's playlists for advanced grammar.
How does the video address the importance of learning to write Kanji by hand?
-The video mentions that while learning to write Kanji by hand is not essential for fluency, those who wish to do so can use a Fude pen, Ooshi notebook, and the textbook 'Remembering the Kanji' for proper stroke order and mnemonics.
Outlines
📚 Learning Japanese: Textbooks and Resources
The script introduces the best way to self-study Japanese, emphasizing the importance of a strong foundation in basic vocabulary, verb usage, and sentence structure. It recommends the Genki textbooks for beginners, available in many US libraries, and highlights a free video playlist by Tofugu's Andy to supplement learning. The script also suggests moving away from textbooks after Genki to focus on listening, speaking, and reading. For those who prefer textbooks, the Moto series is recommended. Additionally, the Jarvis Translator 2 is introduced as a secret weapon for language learning, offering high-accuracy translations in various languages, including Japanese, Mandarin, and Arabic.
🌐 Vocabulary and Listening Skills for Japanese Learners
This paragraph discusses the use of Anki flashcards for vocabulary building, with specific decks recommended for beginners, such as the Japanese Core 2000 and the JLab beginner decks. It contrasts the formal and traditional approach of the former with the casual and slang-focused approach of the latter. The Satori Reader app is introduced for intermediate and advanced learners, offering native voice recordings, word/sentence explanations, and a built-in flashcard system. The paragraph also covers listening resources, starting with the Nihongo Con Con podcast for beginners and progressing to Japanese with Shun and Yuu Noni Honto for intermediate learners, emphasizing the importance of looking up unfamiliar words and phrases.
📝 Kanji, Grammar, and Writing Skills in Japanese
The script addresses the three writing systems of Japanese: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. It suggests using free PDFs from Tofugu and Anki decks for quick memorization of hiragana and katakana. For kanji, the Genki series is recommended for gradual introduction, with Wanconi as an alternative for focused learning. The importance of JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) is discussed, with advice on when to take these tests to maintain motivation. Grammar resources include Takemichi's guide for beginners and Miku's YouTube channel for specific particles and word endings. Advanced learners can use imabi and playlists from Nongo Tootabi. The paragraph concludes with the option to learn kanji writing by hand using a Fuda pen, ooshi notebook, and 'Remembering the Kanji' textbook, though it clarifies that this is not essential for fluency.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Japanese Language
💡Genki Textbooks
💡Listening, Speaking, and Reading Resources
💡Jarvis Translator 2
💡Hiragana and Katakana
💡Kanji
💡Anki
💡Satori Reader App
💡Listening Resources
💡JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test)
💡Grammar
💡Writing Kanji
Highlights
The best way to learn Japanese on your own is introduced, covering major topics to build a personalized learning plan.
Core learning in Japanese requires a strong foundation in basics such as everyday vocabulary, verb usage, and sentence structure.
Genki textbooks are recommended for beginners due to their well-structured and practical content, widely available in US libraries.
Free video playlist by Tofugu's Andy provides extensive guides for Genki chapters, enhancing understanding of grammar.
After completing Genki, focus shifts to listening, speaking, and reading resources rather than textbooks.
Moto series textbooks are suggested for those who prefer continued textbook learning, starting from level A2 to B1.
Jarvis Translator 2 is highlighted as a secret weapon for learning languages, offering high-accuracy translations in various languages.
The Jarvis Translator 2's ability to replicate spoken language and provide instant translations is emphasized.
Learning Hiragana and Katakana quickly is essential and can be aided by free PDFs from Tofugu and Anki decks.
Kanji learning is gradual and contextual, with resources like Wanikani suggested for focused study.
Anki is recommended for building vocabulary with community-created decks like Japanese Core 2000 and JLab Beginner.
Satori Reader app is praised for its comprehensive approach to improving reading skills and vocabulary for intermediate learners.
Nihongo ConE and Japanese with Shun podcasts are recommended for immersive listening practice at different levels.
Yuu Noni Hongo podcast is highlighted for its wide-ranging topics and entertaining host, beneficial for intermediate learners.
JLPT tests are discussed as useful for setting clear goals and motivating learners to progress.
Takeki's guide and Miku's YouTube channel are recommended for understanding Japanese grammar at beginner and intermediate levels.
Imabi grammar database and Nongo Tootabi's playlists are suggested for advanced grammar study.
Writing Kanji by hand is not essential for fluency, but resources like Fuda pen, Ooshi notebook, and 'Remembering the Kanji' are provided for those interested.
The video concludes by emphasizing the value of the Japanese language and the resources provided for self-study.
Transcripts
in this video I'm going to show you the
best way to learn Japanese on your own
we're going to cover each of these major
topics so that you can build a learning
plan that meets your goals and needs
core learning Japanese differs from
English in almost every way so when you
first start learning you'll want to
build a strong foundation in the basics
everyday vocab how to use verbs basic
sentence structure things like that and
the best way to build that understanding
is by using the gky textbooks there are
dozens of Japanese textbooks out there
but in my opinion these two are the best
for absolute beginners they're well
structured they're practical and most
Library systems in the US carry at least
a handful of copies so you can save some
of that hard-earned dough but there's
yet another good reason to use the gkey
series and it's this free video playlist
from tokini Andy Andy is a fantastic
Japanese teacher and he's created
extensive video guides for each chapter
in genkei he explains every grammar
point in detail and offers lots of
helpful examples and by the way I'll put
links to everything I'm talking about in
the description box below so I would
recommend that you get the gany books
and then follow along as you watch the
videos by the time you finish the series
you'll basically have completed two
years of college level Japanese
Su once you finish the Ganky curriculum
I would personally recommend that you
stop using textbooks altogether and
instead focus on the listening speaking
and reading resources that I'll talk
about later in this video however if
you're the type of person who likes
using textbooks great for you I would
recommend the Moto series starting with
level A2 B1 this book again there are
tons of options to choose from but I
like mototo because at the lower levels
every textbook comes with a free video
guide and it's a good mix of reading
listening vocab and grammar now before
we move on I want to share with you guys
my secret weapon for learning Japanese
the Jarvis translator 2 it's a dedicated
language translator and it's awesome
here's how it works you fire up the
device select your native language and
your translation language I use the
Jarvis and translator for Japanese
Mandarin and Arabic but there are
actually 108 different languages and
dialects to choose from and it's super
easy to use you tap here say a phrase in
English and within a half second the jt2
will translate that phrase into your
target language where is the nearest
pharmacy translations are 96% accurate
which is very high and unlike Siri or
Google translate the jt2 is designed to
replicate spoken language the way people
really talk to one another and I like to
use this device in two ways if I'm
listening to a podcast or watching a
show and I hear a phrase that I don't
understand I hit this red button repeat
the
phrase
juki artificial snow and there it is I
get an instant translation and number
two if I'm speaking with someone in
Japanese either in person person or
online and I'm doing that thing like H
how do I say uh I'm allergic to
cats and obviously there are tons of
other uses if you're traveling if you're
doing business if you're making new
friends from around the world the Jarvis
translator 2 makes communication much
easier and it comes pre-loaded with 2
years of free mobile data worldwide so
you don't need Wi-Fi you don't need a
cell connection you just turn it on it
connects automatically and you're good
to go the battery lasts around 10 days
on standby and works for 6 hours of
continuous use so you'll have plenty of
time to translate anything you need to
On The Go the Jarvis and translator 2 is
currently available on Amazon and I'll
link to the page in the description box
below if you want to boost your Japanese
speaking skills or your skills in any
language it's a fantastic tool learning
Kan and kanji as you might be aware
Japanese has three writing systems
hiragana Katakana and kanji let's start
with hiragana and Katakana because
they're both phonetic syllabaries
kakik Co and as you'll see it's helpful
to learn them as quickly as possible
fortunately these free PDFs from tofugu
will help you memorize both these forms
in a matter of days and if you want some
extra practice I'll link below to this
free Ani deck as well kanji on the other
hand are based on traditional Chinese
characters they are most definitely not
ftic and most kanji have at least two
different readings for instance this
character can be pronounced ni he or be
depending on the word now don't be
scared off by that because the gy series
does a very good job of gradually
introducing useful kanji in context and
if you use the vocab and reading
resources that I'll talk about in just a
moment you'll learn all the kanji you
need over time that said if you want to
focus on kanji from the get-go I would
suggest using the website Wan coni it's
a very well-designed platform and it's
pretty comprehensive but if your
ultimate goal is to speak Japanese and
not just read it I personally don't
think it's worth the effort building
vocab if you've seen some of my other
videos you'll know that I'm a big fan of
using Anki to build vocabulary it's free
on your laptop or mobile browser and the
Ani Community has created some
phenomenal flashcard decks for Japanese
learners for beginners my favorites are
the Japanese core 2000 deck and the jlab
beginner deck but as you can see they're
very different the Japanese core deck is
pretty traditional and leans into more
formal speech similar to what you'd find
in a classroom setting but if you plan
on taking the jlpt exams which we'll
talk about a little later in this video
using this deck is a great way to
prepare for the first two levels jlpt 5
and four the jlab deck on the other hand
is completely different it uses Snippets
of real anime audio to teach more casual
and sometimes very slanging
Japanese whether or not you love anime
it's a fantastic resource and if your
ultimate goal is to use Japanese for
everyday conversation
I think this is the better deck for most
beginners just don't go to Tokyo and
start saying things
like that's not going to be a good look
once you've got a handle on common
vocabulary you can also move on to the
Japanese core 6000 deck or the jlab
intermediate decks but in my opinion the
better option at this level is to use
the Satori reader app which is a
terrific resource for both intermediate
and advanced Japanese students basically
it's a collection of short stories and
dialogues each with their own style and
tone but there are three elements that
makes sat Tor reader genius in my
opinion one every segment is voiced by
Japanese actors so you can listen to and
then model native
pronunciation two you can tap on
individual words or complete sentences
to get an exact explanation of what
you're reading or hearing and three it
has a built-in flashcard system so you
can quickly add new words that you come
across to your long-term review list now
look sat Tory reader is for absolute
beginners but once you finish say all of
Yankey level one I highly recommend it
for boosting your reading skills and
expanding your vocabulary listening
resources Japanese has excellent
listening resources for Learners at
every level and once you reach chapter
five or so in gkey you should absolutely
check out the nihongo cone podcast this
is an immersive Japanese podcast there's
basically no English but the host speaks
very slowly and repeats himself
regularly so that even beginners can
start to make sense of the language
nongo cone has hundreds of episodes but
once you're at a high beginner level you
can also move on to Japanese with Shun
which is ever so slightly faster shunan
also reviews Advanced words at the end
of each episode which is very helpful
for building your vocabulary at the
intermediate level you should absolutely
be listening to yuu Noni hongo which is
one of the best podcasts for language
Learners that I've ever come across it's
free the topics are wide ranging and
most importantly Yu usan is a very
entertaining host with a great sense of
humor which makes it fun to listen to
long term for advanced Learners your
options are practically Limitless so
seek out content that appeals to you and
make a habit of looking up words and
phrases that you don't recognize look
them up where you ask well my favorite
Japanese dictionaries are g.org which is
a free website or shirish show which is
a free app they're both high quality and
comprehensive and they give plenty of
useful example sentences if however you
want to scan a Define kanji with your
phone's camera you can use Yoma which is
also excellent but costs around $30 the
jlpt test system as I mentioned earlier
there's a series of standardized tests
for Japanese Learners called the
jlpt the tests range from Level N5 which
requires that you know about 800 words
and 100 Kani all the way up to N1 for
which you'll need to know about 10,000
words and 2,000 kanji in order to pass
and if that sounds like a lot it is is
so should you take the jpts are they
worth it yes eventually because at some
point you'll probably find that your
Japanese starts to plateau and that for
whatever reason you're not really
motivated to keep learning and that's
when the JL pts are really useful in my
opinion because they give you clear
goals and lay out the specific things
you need to learn in order to reach
those goals so why not follow jlpt from
the beginning because in my opinion
there's so much more rich and
interesting material out there look you
don't want to learn Japanese just to
pass a test you want to learn it for the
culture the people
shingin whatever it is let your interest
guide you and take the tests when the
time is right mastering grammar Japanese
grammar is notoriously difficult for
English speakers for a number of reasons
syntax particles honorific speech etc
etc and you'll probably have all kinds
of questions about grammar especially
early on and when that happens I would
recommend using take Kim's guide to
Japanese grammar this is basically a
comprehensive free guide that breaks
down all the essentials of Japanese
grammar it's simple and straightforward
and it will probably answer about 90% of
your questions as a beginner and you can
also check out the YouTube channel Miku
real Japanese the host has tons of
useful videos that cover specific
particles and word endings in Japanese
so if you're struggling with say the te
form or how to use neit versus Deb this
is a great resource at a more advanced
level you can also use imabi which is a
free grammar database or these free
playlists from nongo tootabi that cover
jpt N3 N2 and N1 level grammar but FYI
tabian teaches exclusively in Japanese
so be ready now look as you continue to
listen and speak and read you'll develop
an intuitive sense for Japanese grammar
over time so I want to be clear that
explicitly studying grammar rules does
not need to be a part of your learning
routine but of course if you're feeling
lost it can be helpful to seek out
explanations writing contrary to what
some hardcore students of Japanese might
tell you learning to write kanji by hand
is not an essential part of becoming
fluent in Japanese reading kanji yes but
you could absolutely build that muscle
without learning to write by hand and in
fact you can use a phonetic keyboard on
your phone or laptop to type kanji
pretty easily that said if you're set on
learning to write by hand I would
suggest investing in a Fuda pen again
ooshi notebook and this textbook
remembering the kanji which will teach
you proper stroke order and offers
helpful pneumonics for remembering the
various forms and there you have it
everything you need to learn Japanese on
your own it's a demanding language for
learners but well worth your time and
effort if you have any questions or
comments please let me know and as
always thanks for watching
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