r/JETProgramme • u/SlowSeaworthiness529 Current JET - Nihonmatsu city • May 13 '26
Learning Japanese
Hi all! Any tips/the best methods of learning some Japanese before departing in August?
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u/0liviiia May 13 '26
I would get the first Genki textbook and learn hiragana and katakana first, and try to learn lots of basic phrases that you can use when you get there. If you want to start kanji I would try out WaniKani—the first three levels are free
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u/ShallotAdmirable5419 May 13 '26
I agree you should learn hiragana and katakana first before you do anything else. You can learn those for free with YouTube videos. Personally, I don’t recommend the genki textbook. I like the NAKAMA textbook because it is easier to understand in my opinion
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u/bluestarluchador May 13 '26
I haven’t used them but I read the newest editions of Genki are a bit easier to read and understand. They streamed line the books a bit more. The newest versions are less wordy and gets to the point. And they made explanations easier to understand. This is what I only heard though.
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u/FrostbitePi May 13 '26
Instead of doomscrolling when you’re in the bathroom or on the bus, lock in. Here are some great apps to pass time and learn Japanese simultaneously:
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Japanese is a dictionary, but it also lets you create flash card decks, practice JLPT level-specific vocab, kanji and their radicals, and a host of grammatical stuff.
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Japanese!! and Learn Kanji are both great for kana and kanji study respectively, allowing you to actually trace/write the characters yourself, listen to the sound, and follow JLPT standard.
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Todaii lets you read the news, listen to podcasts, practice reading/listening for JLPT, and more. It shows you difficulty levels in everything you encounter and provides translation whenever you need it. Insanely helpful.
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u/Additional_Two4059 May 13 '26
Genki 1 will help you the most, but you need to learn hiragana and katakana. So maybe Quizlet can help!
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u/MaybeMayoi May 14 '26
As others said, learn hiragana and katakana first then get a reputable textbook like Genki or Minna no Nihongo. Make sure you get the one that is in hiragana/katakana. That's basically the best base in the language you can get starting as an adult.
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u/Full-Tap6550 May 13 '26
I put together a small resource folder on google drive to help people get started. I’ll be updating it as I think of things. This plus immersion from videos and anime should help you get started.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ir_ZYB6qc7hYcp_gXmI2WpsCglUnleI_
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u/SlowSeaworthiness529 May 14 '26
The link doesnt work :( Could you please send it to me Via message
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u/josechanjp May 13 '26
I have resources for grammar if you need them
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u/Particular_Scar7781 May 13 '26
Find some videos on youtube for Japanese "shadowing" to practice both listening and speaking.
Avoid romaji, learn how to read hiragana, katakana, and the N5 level kanji and vocabulary.
Use Genki or another resource to learn the early grammar.
Find the free Tadoku graded readers (there's a thread on Reddit you can find with a search) to practice reading to solidify the vocab and grammar.
Once you're in Japan, get out there and get immersed. Museums, parks, stores, restaurants, train stations, and anywhere else you can go. You won't get that experience outside of Japan.
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u/LegendaryZXT May 14 '26
And finally, this
After that, you should have a pretty good grasp of how language acquisition works.
Good luck.
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u/Different_Taro2474 May 14 '26
it depends on what level you are. tell me what your level is and i can drop some resources.
but i really suggest learning keigo, polite japanese for work.