Learning a second language is never easy for the simple reason that it is exactly that a second language. Ninety-nine percent of the time and, of course, barring the existence of congenital speech defects, the difficulty of learning a new language is brought on by the learner's adherence to the conventions and practices of his first language, his native tongue. Conflicts in pronunciation, vocabulary, usage, intonation, manner of expression, even understanding of concepts, therefore arise. A perfect way to test this fact is to have a simple statement in English read by a Frenchman, an Italian, a Russian, a Japanese, a Portuguese and a German.
See how many versions of the same statement in English you get!
The best thing to do in learning a new language, therefore, is to start fresh. Try, even temporarily, to suppress whatever conventions you are used to with your native tongue, and learn from scratch. While this is easier said than done, it is crucial to the process of learning a new language.
You may also apply the following proven techniques:
1. Understand the languages basic sentence structure. Regardless of what language it is, its basic unit of thought will always be the noun-verb combination we know in English as the sentence. Learn some nouns and verbs to convey your thoughts and youre on your way, but do not concentrate on learning the rules alone.
Remember, to know a language means to be able to speak it.
2. Read, read, read! Reading will help you get acquainted with common terms and expressions used in a specific language. Read simple materials like newspapers and magazine articles that you easily understand which can help you slowly build your vocabulary. Your goal is to be conversant in this language one day so learn new words as you go along. Bear in mind though that, to be effective, your vocabulary must be made up of words you can understand and use and not just words that you recognize and understand but cannot use.
3. Write, write, write! As you acquire more confidence, start writing down your thoughts on paper. Write about things you have read or any experience you may have encountered. The best way to practice your writing skills is to maintain a personal journal of things going on within and around you. This will also hone your skills in narrating and describing events.
4. Learn the art of listening. The best way to acquire skills in correct pronunciation and intonation of a language is to listen to how a native speaker speaks it. It is necessary for anyone who wants to be an expert in any language to develop his listening comprehension.
5. Learn to use the dictionary. Whether you are writing, reading or merely listening, it will serve you well to study the dictionary. This will not only help you widen your vocabulary, it will increase your confidence in choosing the correct words for particular situations.
Japanese is a language spoken by more than 120 million people worldwide in countries including Japan, Brazil, Guam, Taiwan, and on the American island of Hawaii. Japanese is a language comprised of characters completely different from the western alphabet that makes up such languages as English, French, Italian, and German. If you are required to learn Japanese for business reasons, or if you are planning a vacation to the Asian island, it might seem intimidating to learn a language so different for your own.
If you are required to learn the Japanese language for your job, consider jumping into an immersion program. There are immersion programs that are available for enrollment that do not require you to travel to Japan, but are held in the United States. Master instructors who are native Japanese speakers will provide a short and highly intensive program in which you will live and breathe Japanese. Do not be intimidated. Immersion programs are known to be highly effective in very short periods of time. You might surprise yourself with how much you learn in such a short period of time. Not only will you come away with a firm grasp of conversational Japanese, but you will also understand the alphabet, and gain a little insight into Japanese culture. At the end of your course, you might be tested on your newly acquired knowledge.
The Japanese government provides standardized tests that measure written and conversational understanding, the most common known as the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). There is also a test available that measures comprehension of the language in business situations. It is known as the Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJPT).
Learning the Japanese language will certainly help to enhance your career. If your organization has offices in Japan, or you do business with other Japanese firms, you will not only will be able to communicate with your Japanese business associates, but you will also be able to better represent your organization in your business travels there.
If you want to learn Japanese in order to vacation on the island, and if you have the time and the financial resources, you might opt to learn the Japanese language through an immersion program where you travel to Japan.
This way, you will not only learn the Japanese language, but you will also experience the fascinating Japanese culture. Learning Japanese where the language has its origins, you will plunge yourself into the life and culture, and you will learn the language quickly. You will learn the conversational and colloquial styles of the language. You will interact on a daily basis with indigenous Japanese people, who probably wont be willing or able to communicate with you in English. You will be immersed into the everyday life of the island nation. You will grow to understand and appreciate the Japanese culture, including the history, the art, the architecture, the food, and the people. You will attend courses in which you will learn the alphabet, how to write it and read it.
Learning the Japanese language through immersion is a fun and ideal way to go.
Whether you want to learn the Japanese language for pleasure, or you are inclined to do so for work, learning to speak, read, and write Japanese gives you the potential to further develop you career by working abroad and make a good impression with overseas associates. Learning Japanese will also enhance your travels in that you will be able to appreciate the lives and culture of the Japanese people. Learning the Japanese language is an intellectually and personally enriching pursuit that will provide you with career opportunities as well as an awareness of a culture other than your own.
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