There are plenty of different ways to learn languages and since everybody learns differently, different approaches can work better for some than others.
While some may be dismissive of the potential of learning new skills online, don't forget that “learning online” isn't a single approach but rather many different ways of learning that are accessible anywhere there's a device with access to the internet.
When it comes to learning foreign languages and Japanese, in particular, you'll find that you're spoilt for choice. In this article, we'll see why you should learn Japanese, the different ways you can learn it online, and the advantages of learning a foreign language via the internet.
Why You Should Learn Japanese
Japanese isn't an easy language to learn for English speakers and will require many hours of study to gain any semblance of proficiency.
Since you'll be looking at thousands of hours of study and practice just to be able to hold a decent conversation with a Japanese speaker, you need to have a good reason to learn it. If you don't, you'll be far more likely to give up. Fortunately, we've come up with some excellent reasons to learn Japanese.
Develop New Skills
Language skills are useful and anyone interested in working on themselves and improving themselves might be interested in learning a foreign language.
As a challenging language, the potential for personal development by learning Japanese is huge and many people who learn Japanese find it incredibly rewarding and useful.
Discover New Cultures
The best and easiest way to discover a culture is by travelling and experiencing said culture first-hand. By speaking the language of said culture, you'll be able to fully appreciate everything.
If you want to learn more about Japanese culture or consume Japanese media, speaking the language will allow you to do so directly without having to worry about translations or dubs that have adapted Japan's most popular cultural exports for international audiences.
Get a Job
Employers love applicants with language skills. Naturally, companies that need Japanese speakers will have to hire people who speak the language, but even employers that don't directly need a Japanese speaker will be impressed with foreign language skills.
Having learned a foreign language tells employers that you're driven enough to put thousands of hours into learning a skill and can be resourceful and adept at solving problems, too!
Meet new People
There are around 128 million Japanese speakers around the world and by speaking Japanese, you could potentially meet and communicate with some of them.
Speaking a language gives you access to the community of that language's speakers and is a great way to make new friends or maybe even find “the one”.
Teach in Japan
Japan, like many other countries, is looking for teachers who can speak English. If you're interested in going to Japan to teach English (or any other subject for that matter), learning the language will help.
If you're teaching English, you mightn't be expected to speak any Japanese at all, but you will need some Japanese language skills to get by outside of school.
Travel to Japan
It's not just teachers who need to speak Japanese. Anyone travelling to Japan will get much more out of their time there if they speak at least some of the language.
There's a surprisingly low number of Japanese people learning English and even fewer speak it to a good level so don't be surprised to find yourself in situations where nobody speaks English.
Even having studied the basics can help get you out of tricky situations and avoid misunderstandings. It's also far more rewarding to visit somewhere and know what's going on because you speak the language.
Learn about private Japanese tutoring in Auckland.
The Different Ways to Learn Japanese Online
Hopefully, those reasons have you convinced and now you're considering learning Japanese. When it comes to online lessons, there's no such thing as a “typical” lesson so let's see the different ways Japanese students can learn online.
Language Exchange Platforms
Language exchange platforms help connect speakers of different languages so that they can arrange language exchanges.
A language exchange is a meeting or call when two people (or more) help one another with the language they want to learn. For example, you could have regular calls with a Japanese speaker who wants to learn or improve their English.
Generally, participants will spend half the time speaking one language and then the other. You could spend 30 minutes speaking Japanese with a native or fluent Japanese speaker and then spend 30 minutes speaking in English with them.
Generally, language exchanges are free because it's a quid pro quo, but if you find your language exchange partner through some platforms, you may have to pay to use the platform.
Learn about private Japanese lessons in Christchurch.
Live Video Lessons
You can learn Japanese online with traditional language classes. In this case, instead of being there in the classroom with the teacher, the teacher is filming and broadcasting their lesson to the students.
In some cases, these lessons will be for a limited number of students and in others, there may be no limit to how many students can watch along at the same time. In the former, it's more likely students can interact whereas in the latter, it's more a case of listening and taking notes.
Online Language Schools
Online language schools can offer a range of the different types of teaching we've seen so far plus private tutoring.
They may also offer multimedia resources, blogs, activities, and other approaches to learning a language.
Podcasts
While not technically online, since you have to download or stream a podcast to listen to it, we'll count it as an online way to learn Japanese.
You can listen to Japanese language podcasts almost wherever you like and there's something for everyone.
Private Tutoring
You can get private Japanese tutoring in person or online. There are private tutors all over the country and around the world who can teach anyone with a decent internet connection and a webcam.
When we say webcam, we don't even mean a standalone webcam. Any device with a forward-facing camera can be used for online Japanese tutoring.
When learning foreign languages, online tutoring can be as effective as face-to-face tutoring and is often cheaper since the tutor doesn't have to travel to their students and can schedule more sessions each week.
Streaming Services
Streaming services with Japanese-language content can be a useful resource for learning the language. While you're unlikely to become fluent in Japanese just from watching series and films on streaming services, they can complement other lessons.
Video Tutorials
You can find lots of video tutorials on Japanese grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation online. You can follow along, take notes, and practise Japanese and many of these video tutorials are free and can be found on platforms like YouTube, for example.
Websites
There are websites and apps you can use to study Japanese. These include lessons, notes, explainers, videos, podcasts, and almost any other resources you can think of.
Most of these rely on you to teach yourself the language and might not be ideal for certain students, but if you're motivated or want to use them alongside other Japanese classes, they can be quite useful.
Learn about private Japanese lessons in Wellington.
The Advantages of Learning Japanese Online
While these resources may seem helpful, you may be asking yourself why wouldn't you just learn Japanese in person.
Here are some of the advantages that learning online has over in-person learning.
Accessibility
For those with mobility issues or just anyone living somewhere that's quite a distance from the nearest Japanese lessons, being able to learn from the comfort of your own home or anywhere with a good internet connection makes online learning so much more accessible.
Broaden Your Search
If you can't find any suitable solutions locally, online Japanese lessons allow you to broaden your search across the entire planet.
Convenience
Since you can find online lessons from all over the world or access them via a website, you can learn Japanese at almost any time of the day and any day of the week.
For those with complicated schedules, learning Japanese online is far more convenient than organising face-to-face tutoring or attending a class on a set day and time.
Learn Anywhere
Within reason, you can learn Japanese online from anywhere provided there's a decent internet connection. For anyone living in the country or away from large urban centres where most language schools and lessons are offered, online lessons can level the playing field.
The Cost
Learning online is generally far more affordable than in-person classes and tutoring for both the student and the teachers. Since they don't need to travel to classes or their students, the lessons normally cost less.
Students don't usually need to travel, either, so they can save even more money.
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