Learning Japanese and kanji is really difficult for many of us native English speakers because it such a different language. At least with other languages, the grammar structure is similar and words depict the same meaning. This is not true of Japanese. To further complicate things, Japanese uses Chinese characters - kanji. But this is also WHY I LOVE TO LEARN JAPANESE. It's opened up the way I think to look at ideas from a different perspective. Realizing how difficult English is learn for Japanese people and the benefits of learning, Japanese is equally useful to learn even if you don't live in Japan. In this deck, we'll introduce you to strategies that we KNOW work well. People learn at a different paces. Some people want to be thorough and some people want to just understand the gist of things. So read this deck and see what style fits you best. Then go learn Japanese or any other language and watch it really benefit you in ways you wouldn't have imagined.

1. How To Learn
Japanese
Start Here Guide on Learning Japanese

2. Reasons for Learning
❖ Communicating for Meeting People
➢ Learn more conversational Japanese. Textbooks
do not teach conversational Japanese.
❖ Reading
➢ Textbooks are great for learning to read. Many
young Japanese gain fluency through reading
manga.
❖ Business Communication
➢ This is almost a different language. Pick up a
good textbook and tutor.
❖ Watching Television
➢ Another method where textbooks will be minimal.

3. Learning
Strategy
● Vocabulary is the first step in learning a language. You don't need to know a lot of words to actually start
communicating in a language. Just a handful of words can help you begin communicating right away.
Words such as "I" and "want" can help you communicate with people at a caveman level.
● Grammar is the next important step for learning a language. This is very important if you are learning a
second language because you need to understand how the language is different. For example, "I" and
"want" are not always sufficient for expressing want in Japanese.
● Communicating is the final step. You can learn all the grammar and vocab you want, but you don't really
know the language until you can communicate. This does not mean you have to speak to people. Some
people simply want to learn a language to read books, so reading is a one-way communication that works

4. Online Resources
- http://jisho.org/ (amazing dictionary)
- http://JapaneseVideocast.com (beginner lessons and vocabulary
decks from anime/dramas, also mobile games and apps)
- http://JapanesePod101.com (great for listening to people talk
about Japanese)
- http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar - great guide to
Japanese grammar
- http://ankisrs.net/ - great spaced-repetition flashcard program -
works great for anything
- http://quizlet.com/ - fantastic flashcard tool that has voice
audios and games - great complement for other tools.

10. I Know What You’re Thinking...

15. 頑張れ！
Let’s just start learning a little bit at time. This word
above is pronounced “gan-ba-re” and we use it
almost everyday. According to Jisho.org, it means:
hold on; go for it; keep at it; do your best
So we leave you with this word which is the
equivalent of “good luck” in Japanese.