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This article is contributed by Japademy

 

Japanese can feel like an intimidating language to learn, but the truth is, it is achievable! Despite being intimidating, Japanese is a beautiful language that captures the hearts of millions of learners around the world. Maybe you would like to live in Japan someday, or maybe you are trying to fully understand your favorite anime or manga. Whatever your reason is, a question that most likely lives in your mind is: How long does it take to become proficient in Japanese? 

The answer is not simple. It depends on the individual and its learning habits but don’t worry because you can learn from the experiences of those who have taken this path before. In this article, you will hear from previous and current students and teachers of Japademy, an online Japanese language school with hundreds of students worldwide, who’ve taken the plunge in learning Japanese so you can get a clearer picture of what to expect on your journey to fluency. So, let’s now delve in!

Understanding the Basics: How Long to Get Started?

For most students, learning the fundamentals of Japanese takes around three to six months, with 2 ~ 4 hours of study time a week. During this time, they focus on learning the two phonetic scripts which are the hiragana and katakana, as well as a basic vocabulary of roughly 300 ~ 500 words. This gives students sufficient command of the Japanese language to introduce themselves, construct basic sentences in common scenarios such as ordering food, asking for help, talking about their family, job occupation, nationality and hobbies.

Maria, a language enthusiast who began studying Japanese during her university years and a Japademy student since 2022, claims that the first few months were the most difficult. She also added, “At first, learning every character by heart—especially the Katakana—seemed really difficult. However, as I developed a learning routine, it began to seem less difficult to learn and master.”

Kanami Iwasaki, the founder and lead Japanese teacher at Japademy, indicates that around 57% of students who start learning Japanese are able to progress from the beginner to the intermediate level in just over six months. She also comments that “Based on our experience at Japademy, a significant percentage of people who decide to start learning Japanese will stop doing so after their first three months, mostly due to not having enough free time to continue learning, while a minor percentage will do it because of finding the language too difficult to learn”.

The Role of Kanji in Learning Japanese

When it comes to learning Japanese, Kanji is the major challenge. With more than 2,000 Kanji used every day, these complex characters frequently overwhelm foreign students. It's crucial to remember that learning Kanji is a gradual process. With regular study, many students discover that during the first year, they can recognize about 50 Kanji.

John, who attained an intermediate level in roughly two years after completing Japademy’s online courses from the Beginner 1 to Pre-Intermediate 3 level, says, "Kanji can be tough, but using some memorization apps and knowing which Kanji to learn first, really helped me.", "It's less about trying to learn all of the Kanji but more about choosing the ones that are most commonly used in the daily use of the language".

While learning Kanji can definitely help you in mastering the language, the truth is that you don’t need to learn Kanji at all unless you are planning to learn to read and write in Japanese. For those Japanese language learners who just want to learn to communicate verbally, Kanji is not necessary.

Reaching Conversational Fluency

It usually takes 18 to 24 months of dedicated study time to get to the point where you can carry on a basic conversation in Japanese. You can comfortably ask questions, make small talk, and engage in basic daily activities at this point. Many students suggest immersion methods to regularly practice speaking, such as language exchange partners, apps like HelloTalk, and most importantly, learning with a native Japanese teacher.

Several students said that beginning to think in Japanese marked a turning point in their learning process. After eighteen months, Lisa, who had become conversationally fluent, said, "I found myself automatically using Japanese phrases when thinking about simple things, like what I wanted to eat. And that made me proud of myself."

Achieving Proficiency

When it comes to learning Japanese, it usually requires 3 to 5 years of dedicated study before you can comfortably read newspapers, watch Japanese dramas without subtitles, or engage in more in-depth conversations. Achieving this level calls for a deep comprehension of Japanese grammar and vocabulary, in addition to cultural background and nuances.

After attaining an advanced level, you might feel as though you have reached an endpoint. You might think “What will I do next? Should I stop learning since I can now understand and speak Japanese? Or do I want to really master the language?” Well, it really depends on what you really want to achieve. If you want to master Japanese, then using more difficult resources, such as reading novels or watching Japanese news, can be beneficial for you.

Based on the experience of Japademy, while about 92% of their students start learning Japanese with their 10-week Japanese online course or their Japanese online private lessons, only less than 5% of their students have reached such high level of proficiency in the Japanese language so that they can live and work in Japan comfortably.

The Impact of Immersion

Immersion is one thing that can greatly quicken your learning process. Living in Japan, or at least exposing yourself to Japanese media and conversation, enhances your understanding of Japanese nuances that aren't always addressed in textbooks.

"I had been studying Japanese for about two years, on and off in my home country, but my skills really took off when I stayed in Japan for about 3 months to visit a relative," says Sarah, a Japademy student since 2020 who traveled to Tokyo in the summer of 2023. "It was a game changer for me to be surrounded by the language every day and hear it in natural settings."

Tips From Proficient Japademy Students

So, how do you make the most of your Japanese learning experience? Here are some tips from previous Japademy students who’ve successfully gone from beginner to proficient:

Consistency is Key

Even if it's just for 15 to 30 minutes each day, set aside time for Japanese study and practice. "Practicing every day, even in little amounts, adds up." said Maria.

Focus on Listening and Speaking

There are numerous levels of politeness and nuances when expressing yourself in Japanese, so it's important to listen to conversations in real life to pick up on minor and major differences.

Immerse Yourself in Japanese Media

Watch Japanese shows, listen to podcasts, and try reading simple books or manga to expand your vocabulary. The teachers at Japademy have created a large collection of Japanese vocabulary memorization flashcards that can help you build up your vocabulary in weeks.

Learn with a Native Japanese Teacher

Most students agree that having a native Japanese teacher to guide them is one of the most effective ways to achieve fluency in Japanese. So, make sure to find native Japanese teachers who have credentials, such as Japademy’s Japanese teachers, and that will make your learning journey fun and full of information. 

Final Thoughts: The Journey Is Yours

Most students agree that learning Japanese is a long-term process that calls for patience and consistency, even though there is no hard and fast estimate for how long it takes. Depending on how much you immerse yourself in the language and how intensely you study, it could take three to five years to become proficient in the Japanese language.

But as many students will say, the payoff is well worth the effort. You will be able to communicate in a beautiful, culturally rich language and discover a whole new range of experiences, from easily visiting Japan to developing close relationships with Japanese speakers all over the world.

The journey itself is just as important as the objective of learning Japanese. So, go slowly, enjoy the process, and don’t give up.

Where To Find The Best Native Japanese Teachers Online?

If you’re looking for the best Japanese teachers online who can guide and help you achieve your Japanese language goals, check out Japademy. What sets their Japanese teachers apart is that they are all fluent native Japanese speakers with years of expertise in teaching foreign students. Through their online Japanese classes, they will provide you with exercises, real-life examples, and concise explanations of how to use the language to help you become fluent in Japanese. Japademy covers everything from grammar to vocabulary to pronunciation to cultural awareness. So, if you’re interested, make sure to check them out!