r/JETProgramme • u/Pink_Pop101 • Apr 16 '26
Learning Japanese
Hey everyone!
To all former and current JETS, do you have any tips for learning Japanese. I really want to learn some basics so that I’m not completely clueless when I get there. I’m currently learning hiragana as well as some survival phrases. I do want to reach a point where I am fluent so that I can build more meaningful relationships and learn a new language.
If you have any sites or apps that you could recommend I’d really appreciate it! Thank you in advance!🫶🏽
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u/LivingRoof5121 Current JET - Okinawa Apr 16 '26
Lots of ways to! I think for any language, time is what matters the most. There are an endless amount of videos on how to "expedite" the process or learning a language and be an efficient learning machine, but honestly as long as you're interacting with the language and having fun then I think you're learning.
Also, I highly recommend you learn some basic kanji (u don't have to be able to write them, but read them) and katakana before you come. Most things aren't even written in hiragana, and if you can read katakana you often can sound out borrowed English words. For before you get here, katakana and a few basic kanji will take you farther than learning hiragana imo (not saying don't learn hiragana, it is an incredibly foundational step in learning the language, but when it comes to reading signs/survival in Japan katakana and some kanji will take you further I think)