Summer is in full bloom now. I can’t say it’s “finally” here, because between me and summer there is the “heat problem”. I have a very hard time doing anything during the hot summer, my concentration is low and I rather focus on surviving. This is one of the reasons I’ve been very absent from the blog lately.
Rather than concentrating on being productive, I have tried to find ways to enjoy summer. I used to hate summer because I used to associate it with extreme heat. Nevertheless, I found ways to enjoy it in my own way. I still hate the heat, but I found that nothing is completely bad. Thank you mister Einstein sir!
However, this is a subject for another time. Today I want to share with you some resources I found extremely useful in my journey of learning Japanese.
I’ve been studying Japanese for 2 years now. My level after two years is not what you might expect. I still struggle with Katakana at times, and Kanji make for a separate project. I recognize some Kanji from when I was studying Korean Hanja, but I can’t read texts that contain Kanji without furigana (phonetic notation of Kanji using Kana).
I decided to learn Japanese because I loved so much how it sounds and because I like the culture. I was already watching animes, so I knew that for the original content part, I won’t have any issues to find content that I actually enjoy consuming.
I knew Japanese was going to be difficult to learn, even the basis. I already had experience with learning an Asian language, Korean, but Japanese has its own particularities like any other language. It’s been very difficult and it still is.
One of the biggest issues for me was making time to study Japanese while trying to maintain my level in the other languages I know. This is one of the reasons my progress has been a slow one, something I expected and embraced from the beginning.
Learning the alphabet was really difficult for me. Unlike Korean that has only one script, Japanese has 3 scripts: Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. Hiragana and Katakana are 2 different scripts for the same sounds. Katakana is still a mystery for me, but my friend told me this happens a lot among Japanese learners. It gets better with time, so don’t be discouraged.
When studying a new language, there is always a possibility to feel at some point overwhelmed by how difficult it gets. If you get past that point, you are going to be fine. And to overcome that moment, you need to have fun. Having fun with my studies is what made me continue this journey even when I had a hard time. And now, I think it’s time to delve right into the actual ressources.
1. Writing system
When it comes to the script, I used 2 ressources. The first one is more structured, the NHK charts. You can find a lot more lessons on their website, so take your time and have fun navigating.
The second one is for when you become a bit overwhelmed and want to make it fun. I loved the cute videos from Cyber Bunny, and they help more than you may think.
2. Dictionaries
At this point you should be prepared and find some good dictionaries to help you with all the new words you are going to learn.
I use 2 dictionaries. The one that every Japanese learner knows is Jisho. It’s super well designed and you can use it with ease after you get used to its features.
I also use the Naver Japanese Korean dictionary when I feel like doing a mixed languages type of study activity.
3. Renshuu app
I tried many other apps to help me build a studying routine, but Renshuu is the one that I still use and that really suits my needs and my learning style. I will leave their website here, so go check their app if you are interested. It’s free by the way.
I was very overwhelmed with what the next steps should be after learning the Hiragana and the Katakana (the first two writing systems in Japanese). Renshuu helped me to do spaced repetition for both Hiragana and Katakana, and I also used it as a start to learn vocabulary and basic grammar. They also support Kanji study.
Another thing that is a plus for me on Renshuu is the fact that they have different games that will help you to master the writing systems in a fun way through drawing games. They also have crossroads, but what I like the most are the Shiritori games (building new words using the ending syllable of the previous word).
4. Vocabulary and Grammar
I simply love JLPT Sensei. I started to use this website because it’s well structured on levels, helping learners to prepare for the JLPT exam (JLPT = Japanese Language Proficiency Test). I want to take this exam one day, so I started to use the website working on the resources for the first level, the N5.
They also tell you what you need to know to pass this exam which is great for people like me who need structure. JLPT Sensei along with the Renshuu app helped me to stay organized and not get lost among the plethora of resources on the Internet.
5. Reading
Reading is very important even if you are still a beginner. Reading was a more advanced technique to get used with the writing systems. You already know the benefits of reading, like understanding how the language is used in different contexts, learning vocabulary and grammar. I jumped in excitement every time I could understand short stories from context, which is crucial for building a strong base.
I was so grateful to find a website that provides free books, many of them having also the audio feature. This site is called Tadoku. Moreover, you can find books sorted on the level of proficiency, which I find very helpful.
6. Listening
For the listening competence I use Spotify and YouTube. I listen to podcasts on Spotify, and even if I don’t understand much, my ear gets used to the pronunciation and I learn to understand from context. My favorite podcasts are Tanaka Radio and Nihongo con Teppei.
On YouTube I watch videos on vocabulary or grammar. I don’t have a preferred channel, because I find so many good ones, so just choose the one that fits your needs and learning style.
I also watch animes and dramas, but even if I understand some words and expressions, I actually watch them for fun, and not intentionally for studying purposes. However, this activity helps with improving your listening and understanding from context even if you don’t realize it. So go and watch as many as you wish.
I didn’t include resources for writing, because for now, my objective is to understand written and spoken Japanese. This is why I focus mostly on listening and reading. When I get to a more advanced level, I plan to keep a journal in Japanese.
This concludes the list of resources I use to study Japanese. I hope you find this post helpful and encouraging.
Keep learning and stay cool this summer.
Until next time.
Slow productivity 
Leave a comment