Japanese is one of the most studied languages in the world. Even though it is dominant in only one country, it has enormous global importance and there are many reasons to learn it: travel for tourism, work necessity, cultural relevance or affinity, curiosity, and many others.
For a long time, Brazilians who wanted to learn Japanese faced great difficulties: they had to look for a language school or a private teacher with a quality in-person course, or try their luck with books and worksheets without any assistance.
Fortunately, technology has revolutionized language learning. There are effective methods for those who wish to study not only Japanese: for example, Hindi and Turkish are among the most sought-after courses in apps dedicated to language teaching.
If you want to learn Japanese, there are therefore several different ways. Below, we list some of the main ones. Just choose which one (or which ones!) you like the most!
Table of Contents
1. Traditional courses
Traditional Japanese courses are still available in language schools or with private teachers and are the best option for those who prefer an older method, with face-to-face interaction and a lot of conversation.
Many of the Japanese teachers in Brazil are either immigrants or Brazilians who have lived in Japan, as the strength of the migration movement between the two countries has always been very strong. This possibility makes the teaching much more complete and detailed.
2. Online courses
Those who want to save on transportation and prefer a computer or smartphone to learn can opt for an online course. Many teachers already offer this option, mostly with private lessons and rich materials.
According to the editors of the Meta Lecture distance learning platform, the demand for online language courses grew by 40% in 2020 and 2021. Japanese is part of this increase for both work and hobby reasons.
3. App-based courses
App-based courses are the fastest-growing way to learn new languages. Duolingo, Babbel, and Memrise, for example, offer quite comprehensive courses that allow mastery of vocabulary and grammar. They make learning fun through games, puzzles, tests, and various exercise presentations.
Although they are complete regarding these specific issues, app-based courses lack conversation practice. Therefore, our recommendation is that they be combined with a traditional model, with a teacher.
4. Other types of apps
Learning a language in direct contact with natives or with the local culture is a great option. And for those studying Japanese, there are excellent apps that allow everything from chatting with people living in Japan to intensely consuming products like anime, manga, movies, and series.
You can sign up for a Japanese social network and participate in conversations with natives, subscribe to a streaming platform specialized in anime, or even have on your smartphone the app of the largest news conglomerate in Japan. With each of these options, language learning is much faster than just with a course.
5. Studying in Japan
For those seeking a definitive immersion in the language, studying in Japan is the most transformative option. Exchange programs, scholarships, and specific courses for foreigners are offered by various institutions.
This method combines formal learning with practical experience, as the student needs to use Japanese daily in real situations, such as shopping, taking public transport, or making new friends.
The experience in Japan also allows one to learn nuances of the culture that are rarely conveyed in books: social behavior, implicit rules of coexistence, traditions, and local etiquette.
In addition, many schools offer extracurricular activities, such as tea ceremony, Japanese calligraphy (shodō), and martial arts, further enriching the learning journey.
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