Find Japanese Lessons Near Me in Sacramento

Japanese Lessons in Sacramento, California

The Japanese language is known for being the fastest-spoken language worldwide especially when comparing the rate of syllables per second to that of the English language. However, it’s also considered one of the most unique languages in the world with no direct derivative language that birthed it. Whether you are interested in learning how to speak it for traveling in Japan or indulging in the culture and food, studying Japanese can get you far in many ways. It’s also a great way to get introduced to other Asian languages!

In fact, first-generation Japanese immigrated to Sacramento, found work, raised families, and developed roots in their communities. By the 1930s, Sacramento had one of the largest Japantown in California. At its height, the community became the fourth largest and most vibrant Japantown on the West Coast. So not only will you learn about all culture and traditions of Japan, but you’ll also immerse yourself in the Japanese history that was once woven into your city of Sacramento. This is a fun idea since a lot of languages have been greatly influenced by the culture of their speakers, so learning about history will help you gain a diachronic perspective. 

The Hardest Part About Learning Japanese

It’s no secret that Japanese is a difficult language to learn, so we are going to share the top five hardest things to learn when studying the language.

• The Writing System: The Japanese language has not one but three different writing systems known as hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Hiragana is used for Japanese words, katakana for foreign, scientific, or emphasized words, and Kanji for complicated Chinese characters.
• Context: English is a low-context language whereas Japanese is a high-context language. Meaning that certain information is left out of sentences because it is assumed that both the speaker and listener already understand the context of the situation. So this makes it difficult to follow conversations and comprehend the meaning of what is being said and unsaid.
• Counting Words: Counting words is complicated in Japanese because there are generalized counting words, then regular counting numbers, and a different set of counting words. It all depends on what exactly you are counting, so it’s different if you’re counting floors, minutes, or paper. So we suggest you focus on using regular numbers and general counting words for everything.
• Speed: Japanese is spoken faster than other languages, since it has the fastest syllabic rate; however, the slowest information density. This means that you have to say a lot more words than that in the English language to get your point across.
• Fewer Possible Sound Combinations: Certain words don’t exist in the Japanese language, so there are only about 100 possible single-syllable sounds. Whereas English has about 10,000 or more! The good news is that it makes it easier to learn.

Learn Japanese in Four Years

As mentioned before this is not an easy language to learn, so you can expect to be studying it for at least three to four years. Even then you won’t necessarily be fluent, but you’ll be past the basics. Of course, it’s possible to learn in just two years, but it also depends on how many hours you are putting into your lessons. If it were your full-time job then you’ll perfect it in no time, but it is a tedious language that will require a lot of dedication and motivation. At an intermediate level, however, you’ll begin to understand your teachers or even be able to follow along with Japanese tv shows. But the average learner gets to the advanced level in three or four years, which is still great timing for a foreigner.

Tips to Learn Japanese Quickly

If you really want to make quick progress with your Japanese lessons we have a few recommendations. You want to make sure you start with the basics such as learning the Japanese alphabet and establishing a regular studying routine.  When learning a new language consistency and repetition is key! You also have to forget everything you know about English grammar and start fresh since they are so different. A great way to start a successful studying journey is by learning a list of common words and expressions such as “hello”, “how do you do?”, and, “nice to meet you!”

Setting up a studying schedule for you to follow is also a great strategy for seeing fast progress in your studies, since this way you’ll make sure you are practicing every single day! Lastly, you can always turn to apps such as DuoLingo to help you stay on track in a fun and interactive way. Most importantly, don’t underestimate the power of real-world interaction!