Tips for ALTs learning Japanese 

Immersing yourself in the Japanese Language is very important if you wish to stay in Japan long-term. It is a necessary basic skill and may be mandatory for some ALT companies. However, you can start with basic Japanese and work your way up from there. 

Japanese in itself is a hard language. There are more than one meaning to the same word, 3 different written forms and a plethora of mixed tenses. It might be daunting to start, but slow and steady is your best way to go. 

Here are some tips to learn Japanese: 

1. Listening: 

Many people come to Japan for the anime culture. It is a very good starting point to understanding the flow and dialect of naturally spoken Japanese. You can watch childrens anime like Doraemon, Yokai Watch, Anpanman. These shows use simple Japanese. Also, try turning on the news in Japan as background noise. It is especially good to note down interesting words and phrases that you can use daily. 

2. Writing: 

Writing is a very daunting task for any Japanese learner. It is good to use a textbook, but I find it to be a little too much and too fast sometimes. For writing, I would recommend doing it how first graders do it: writing exercises. At any of your local bookstores, you will see thin writing books appropriate for each age group. There are hiragana, katakana and kanji writing exercises that help students write strokes in order. 

This is much easier than using a textbook. The exercise books have a small exam in the back plus a QR code that can help with memorization. Most students in Japan learn this way and it is also a great way for you to learn as well.

3. Conversing: 

Practice makes perfect. If you don’t speak the language, your language won’t improve. At school, you can converse in both Japanese and English to your HRT and JTE for prep work and daily meetings. It might be hard to understand what they are saying, but if you meet them halfway, they’ll do the same for you. The language barrier is one of the hardest hurdles that ALTs in Japan face. 

Also, if you are an extrovert type, go out and meet the locals! Japanese are a little shy and not willing to talk, but they are actually very enthusiastic when approached. It helps if the setting is where everyone is comfortable like an Izakaya or cafe. Even with broken Japanese, they will be happy you approached them. 

4. Set a goal: 

You will always wonder where the finish line is when it comes to language learning. Luckily, there are exams in Japan that are so challenging, your eyes will light fires in consternation. These are the JLPT tests. They are very common amongst foreigners living in Japan that need certification for a job or just trying to further their Japanese level. Although this might not be your goal, it is something to look forward to if you are confident in your Japanese. 

You can also set daily, weekly or monthly goals. These set ups are usually from Japanese language apps like LingoDeer, Obenkyo, and Duolingo. 

These apps are great for when you’re on a commute or have a break in between lessons. It’s also a great motivator for you as you learn at your own pace. 

All in all, Japanese is difficult, but with the right attitude and a commitment to learning, your Japanese proficiency will skyrocket.