To Learn Japanese

by Robin
(AL, United States)

I have been an avid learner of the Japanese language for nearly half of a year. It is the most interesting language to learn. To start out, I figured that learning Japanese would be very difficult, but instead have found that it is very simple. The Japanese sound system consists of only five possible sounds. You can add any consonant to one of the vowels and the sound always stays the same. It is much easier for a native English speaker to learn the Japanese language than it is for a native Japanese speaker to learn the English language. The English language is very complicated, but yet the Japanese language is very simple to learn. As a learner, I have found that it is much easier to read Japanese than to hear it and understand. With steady practice and the use of study guides, ability to pick up the meanings of words spoken will eventually strengthen.

Comparing Japanese to other languages I have taken classes in, such as French and Spanish, the Japanese language is much more interesting and appealing. When spoken, it sounds very energetic and authentic. I personally listen to many J-rock and J-pop bands to get a broader perspective on the language as I continue to learn it. I personally like Japanese made films more than American films. I have made a goal to graduate from college and either visit or move to Japan. This has given me more of a reason to learn the language. Overall, I would say that Japanese is a very beautiful language and I encourage anyone interested to try learning it as well. It is not as difficult as it sounds!