Most people think that learning Japanese is very difficult. Indeed, it is not simple, it is nuanced and lyrical and has many subtleties that are not readily apparent to a western language speaker. After a while, though, you will start to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of this language. Sadly, some people never make the effort to learn Japanese, assuming that it will be too hard. You should know, however, that learning languages is a natural ability that we all have! You just have to be willing to work hard and put in the time. There's no reason why you can't become fluent in Japanese if you are willing to give it your best effort. There are some proven strategies to speed up your progress.

A complete immersion in Japanese is the most effective way to learn it. If you can afford it, take a trip to Japan and let yourself wander without a translator. Whatever you've learned up till now may come back to you, and you will quickly increase your knowledge just to get by. For most people, there is no better way to be exposed to a new language than to go to the country where it's spoken. Being in another country puts you in a situation where you have to learn another language, and it opens your mind to its ability to do this. If you don't have the time or funds to travel to Japan, the second best thing is to spend time in a Japanese neighborhood where you can hear the language being spoken. There is another way that does not involve any travel to immerse yourself in Japanese; for a month or so, watch only Japanese programs and films; don't choose the option for subtitles, as you don't want to give yourself this help. You'll start to pick up on vocabulary pretty quickly.

A tutor can be a great help. Even if you sign up for classes, you should make sure to work with a tutor.

Japanese is a difficult language to learn and being able to work with a fluent speaker and writer one on one, will help your learning process quite a lot. When you have a tutor, you will be able to more quickly correct the inevitable mistakes a newcomer to the language will make; you will especially appreciate this when you want to speak on your own to native speakers of Japanese. You will also most likely learn some additional strategies for learning Japanese from your tutor.

You can also learn subliminally, by playing Japanese language programs even when you aren't focused on studying. Yes, there is quite a lot to be said to learning a language directly through lessons and practice drills. But you can also learn by using the subconscious mind. Let your vocabulary lessons play in the background as you drive to work, do chores around the house or even as you shop. Even though you aren't trying to learn, your mind is hearing the words being repeated. This is the way your mind works; a lot of what it takes in is automatic, so why not use this to your advantage? There is also a theory that you can even learn while you are sleeping, so you could try learning Japanese in your sleep!

It takes a certain amount of ambition and even courage to start learning Japanese. There is no denying that Japanese can be a hard language to learn, but once you do you'll have a lifelong skill! Think of the cultural opportunities it would open for you! If you enjoy Anime, you could watch it and not even need subtitles!

That's one fun use of your new language. Traveling in Japan won't be as difficult as it would have been otherwise. You might also have an easier time learning other Asian languages if you decide that is something you want to do. There is no doubt that learning another language can expand you in a variety of ways!