How I'm Learning Japanese

Over the last 4 years I've spent thousands of dollars, watched hundreds of hours of "How to Learn a New Language” videos, and tried dozens of apps. I've gained a respectable proficiency in Chinese and now I'm going to begin learning Japanese. With my accumulated knowledge, I will approach Japanese very differently than how I approached Chinese. Most importantly: I'm going to share with you my super secret plan for you to apply to your language as well.

The Plan

1. Get to reading as fast as possible

2. Read as much as possible

3. Practice speaking and/or writing (after 3 months of reading)

4. Repeat 2 & 3 for 24-ish months

5. Fluent?

Context

It's important to note that this isn't my first attempt at learning a foreign language.

I studied French for 7 years in school - and can only say the most basic of phrases.

I studied Spanish for 4 years in college and went on a study abroad to Argentina where I actually learned to speak Spanish.

After my first 11 years of language learning, I had a deep-seated belief that I was very bad at learning languages.

In French the phrase that rings in my ear, the loudest is: "Fais attention, Christophe (my French name)".

While learning Spanish I was by far the worst speaker in my study abroad cohort. I was overly praised after finishing a phone call in Spanish with a director at the end of the program. And, was a far cry from the other students who were working with doctors in the Buenos Aires city hospital.

When I began learning Chinese, I still had this belief:

"I was talentless when it came to language learning."

Yet, I was embarking on Chinese- a max-level difficulty language for native English speakers.

I knew I had to find a better way to take this on.

I tried and deleted many apps like Duo and Pimsleur. They are wonderful apps to get started. But, I found my progression slow and shallow.

Then I found the Comprehensible Input (CI) Theory. I've already talked about CI in my other writing, so I'm not going to go too deep into CI.

Comprehensible Input Theory is a linguistic theory that says "we acquire a language by listening and reading that language -- a lot". Our brains are pattern-recognizing machines and all languages are patterns created by humans. So, if you expose yourself to enough of the language your brain will eventually decode and integrate it.

Imagine a baby. Babies observe the world and listen to the language spoken around them. Their brains are rapidly absorbing everything, learning how to decode the world. Eventually, they start attempting words. The adults around them correct their pronunciation attempts.

When learning to read, a child begins with an adult sounding out letters and then words. They may read together, with the adult reading aloud while the child follows along.

By the time the child goes to school to "learn language arts", he or she has already acquired and internalized the language.

Back to Chinese - Building input, grammar foundations, and habits

Much like a baby, when I started learning Chinese I began by listening to Chinese conversations -- a lot. After 3 months of listening to Chinese conversations for at least 1 hour a day, I hired a Chinese tutor.

The tutor walked me through HSK vocabulary and grammar -- teaching me the rules and providing a space to practice.

The tutoring provided me an anchor in my learning progression: The 3 sessions a week were a fixed time that I'd be progressing forward whether I felt like it or not.

Despite doing all of the above, progression slowed. With comprehensible input in mind, I sought to level up my reading in Chinese. I found an app called Du Chinese which provided simple stories in Chinese, instant translation, and voice articulation. I dove into the app and my Chinese understanding and expression-ability soared.

Bingo.

So what?

When learning anything -- but especially a new language-- find ways to:

- Get as much input per day as possible. Measure in hours not "streaks".

- Build a strong foundation. Building the foundation of your knowledge is always the most boring but most rewarding over the long term.

- Find ways to keep going. The goal is to turn an action into an identity. If streaks help, you try the app Streaks. Habit stack or connect the activity you want to do with activities you'll always do - like reading before bed.

- Discover how you best learn and double down on that.

Leveling Up

I recommend everyone adopt Reading While Listening for language learning to some degree.

I did a little research. It turns out that what I stumbled upon is a well-documented learning approach in Linguistics.

Reading While Listening (RWL) is dope.

Many, many, studies show that RWL improves:

- vocabulary acquisition

- comprehension

- reading speed

and is cognitively easier compared to reading only. Bonus: for those who struggle to stay focused while reading -- RWL promotes more focus over reading or listening only.

It's honestly a little wild that we haven't integrated this into academia. Anyways--

Reading While Listening comes in many flavors. It can be:

1. reading and listening to a novel

2. reading target language subtitles and listening to TV shows or movies

3. reading lyrics of a song in another language while you listen to it

Some apps support RWL. These are the good ones.

I used Du Chinese (for Chinese) and it was very helpful. Even though I no longer read stories in Du, I'm still subscribed as a way to say thanks to the creators.

The problem with Du, however, is two-fold:

1. Many of the stories aren't interesting (to me)

2. The stories are very short.

I like reading about entrepreneurs, history, and sci-fi.

I like my information in long form.

Surprisingly - before LumiReader there was nothing that helped.

How I'm applying these lessons to learning Japanese

Remember the plan?

The Plan

1. Get to reading as fast as possible

2. Read as much as possible

3. Practice output (speaking / writing)

4. Repeat 2 & 3 for 18 months

5. Fluency

If you're a hardcore language learner you may look at my plan and have some questions.

Q1: "Wait J, Japanese has Kanji which is super hard. How are you going to take that on?"

Great point. Kanji originates from Hanzi or Chinese characters. So, I plan on taking Kanji in the same way I did Chinese characters - by reading them. While this sounds like circular logic (you have to know the characters to read, but read to learn the characters), it isn't.

An AI voice reads the characters aloud so I know what it is supposed to sound like in context (which is very important for these characters).

Also, I can just touch the word and get an instant translation. In time, I don't have to pull out some cumbersome dictionary. I know what the meaning is and how to pronounce it, instantly.

Q2: "Are you planning on using James Heisig's Remembering the Kanji method?"

I have nothing but the utmost respect for James and his work on mnemonics. Regarding learning characters, his method must've been a godsend when it was created in 1977.

I attempted his process for learning Chinese characters. It was useful in learning how to break apart characters to recognize them and character stroke order. Both benefits can be internalized after a week of studying his method, but his process demands 2-3 months of intense study.

Even after 2-3 months of the Heisig method, you’ll be able to recognize characters, but you still have to learn how to pronounce them which takes even more time.

My goal is to start reading as quickly as possible. RTK is great but not necessary.

Since 1977 we've developed the internet and with the internet a wide plethora of tools. These tools are how I learned Chinese characters. After being exposed and translating a character over and over again - I simply acquired them.

Plus because I learned Chinese first, I can already recognize many characters.

Q3: Are you going to use Anki or some other SRS (Spaced Repetition System)?

Anki and other SRS tools are tech-enabled flash cards. They use an algorithm that predicts when you'll most likely have forgotten a piece of knowledge and then reminds you of that knowledge. This is optimal for knowledge retention.

Typically these tools have pre-made "decks". These decks are usually an optimized collection of knowledge like "the most common 2000 words" in a language.

SRS tools are powerful and incredible learning devices.

And.

SRS tools are boring.

SRS tools are unnecessary (with my approach).

Why?

Because books are the original SRS.

For language learning, SRS tools are designed to provide you with regular exposure to the most common words until you acquire them.

They work.

There's a lot of science to support that they work.

However, books are organized to provide you with regular exposure to the most common words until you acquire them.

Wait - what?

The more words you read, the more frequently are you exposed to common words.

If you were focusing on learning vocabulary for a test like the HSKs or JLPTs then Anki decks are marvellous tools.

But, I’m not. I’m just reading.

Let's reflect on the plan. We're looking at an investment of at least 24 months.

This is a learning marathon, not a sprint. Any extra weight should be dropped.

That's enough of strategy, let's talk about tactics.

Month 1: Learning Hiragana and Katakana on Duolingo

My first step to quickly learning to read is learning the two phonetic alphabets in Japanese - Hiragana & Katana.

I looked at what could efficiently help me learn Hiragana & Katakana (two phonetic alphabets used in Japanese). I choose Duo.

The reason is that Duo has a great program to learn the basics: of Hiragana and Katakana and mastering them is essential for reading.

I used Duolingo to practice Hiragana and Katakana daily. The app's gamified approach made learning fun and engaging - I loved getting #1 on the leaderboards 4 times in a row. But, now it is time for me to let the bird out of its cage and move on. I’m deleting Duo for fear that just doing 1 lesson a day will make me feel like I’m working on Japanese but will trap me on level 1.

Month 2: "Learn" Japanese Grammar Rules

Some people love learning grammar. I don't.

It is crucial to have a basic understanding of grammar rules to be able to understand the language.

Different people take this on differently.

Most famously is the hyperpolyglot Cardinal Mezzofanti. One of the first things the Cardinal would do when learning a new language is to have a native speaker translate the Lord’s Prayer or the Apostle’s Creed. These texts were incredibly familiar to him and contained a wealth of simple and complex grammar as well as key vocabulary words.

Today, language learners will often create "grammar maps". A set of key phrases that illuminate grammar differences in each language.

I've tried this a bit, but in general, I like grammar books. They explain why and can be used as a reference guide as I encounter more advanced grammar.

For Japanese, I plan on learning grammar through the book "Japanese the Manga Way" which teaches grammar by using manga excerpts.

Grammar is boring but manga is awesome so hopefully this portion isn't too draining.

Months 2-24: Reading with LumiReader.ai

After getting comfortable with Hiragana and Katakana, I'll focus on reading.

This is where LumiReader.ai, an AI-assisted e-reader, shines.

I'm starting with two categories of books:

1. Active learning - simple books that I'm studying to build comprehension

2. Passive learning - books that I find enjoyable but are very high-level

For the active learning book: I started with Aesop's Fables at a first-grade reading level. Aesop's Fables are full of wisdom and, although simply told, quite profound. It was enjoyable and I learned a lot of animal vocabulary (e.g. wolf, mouse, lion, etc.)

For the passive learning book: I finished the Hulu series, Shogun, in April and was HOOKED. Even after completing it, I wanted more. So, I bought a PDF version of the original Shogun (book) by James Clavell and uploaded it to LumiReader. I didn't simplify it. I wanted to read the book as-is in English and Japanese at the same time.

I didn't expect it but this has been my favorite use of Lumi so far.

My process is:

I read a page in English.

Then I listen to the storyteller voice read the same passage in Japanese.

Reading about an Englishman's experience with the Japanese language for the first time in the 1600s, and then reading the same page in Japanese, provides a cultural mirror that enhances the reading experience and theme of the book.

The experience is euphoric.

Going forward | The next 23 months:

While reading and listening (input) are crucial, practicing speaking and writing (output) is also important. Starting around month six, I aim to focus more on these skills. In the meantime, I plan on expanding Luna (the AI tutor) to support multi-lingual voice-to-voice chat. This will provide an always-on opportunity to practice speaking in a low-stakes environment for me and the Lumi Learners.

- Work with a Tutor: Allocate time in my calendar to regularly chat with Luna. Design Luna to provide personalized feedback and pronunciation support. Perhaps, work withh a Japanese tutor.

- Language Exchange Partners: I'll likely look for language exchange platforms where I could practice with native Japanese speakers. These exchanges helped me improve my conversational skills and gain confidence in speaking early in Chinese. Additionally, I often enjoy traveling to Japan so hopefully, I can find an opportunity for a trip.

- Writing Practice: Perhaps I’ll start writing short essays and diary entries in Japanese. My tutor can correct them, and this can help me learn from my mistakes.

Tips

- Pleasure Drives Consistency: Practice every day. Find what you enjoy — like Shogun— and find ways to integrate it into your learning. Enjoying the process is crucial for longevity.

- Immerse Yourself: Surround yourself with Japanese as much as possible. Watch Japanese shows, listen to Japanese music, and try to read Japanese content daily. Lingopie is a great resource if watching TV is more your jam. I'm looking into expanding Luna to also support listening and translating YouTube music videos for you -- if you're interested in this let me know! Reading - LumiReader.AI or Satori Reader are both great options.

- Manage Your Energy: If you're an endurance athlete you're probably quite familiar with finding and staying at your pace. The same is true for language learning. Find a learning cadence that works for you. If you do some learning activities that drain your energy, do some learning activities that give you energy. If there is nothing about language learning that gives you energy, associate something you love with language learning. Say you love walks through the park - listen to your target language while walking through the park. Or imagine you love chocolate, learn vocabulary about chocolate, and then when you're done give yourself a chocolate treat.

- Don't Fear Not Understanding: You may start looking at a text and think "Wow - I can't read any of this". That's the point. Focus on learning a word or two on each page and turning more pages. Trust the process and wade through the deep end. Eventually, you'll be swimming like Cullen Jones.

- Use Technology: Tools like LumiReader.ai, online dictionaries, and Anki, can significantly enhance your learning experience. Take advantage of these resources.

Conclusion

I know I’ve said many times now learning any language is a long journey. However, I hope that you can see from my approach it can be a lifestyle. Feels a lot less daunting that way. Test my approach for yourself. Take what works and leave what doesn't.

For me, my goal is simple. Get to reading as quickly as possible then read as much as possible.

For you, that may be watching hours of YouTube videos.

Or, it may mean crushing Anki Decks.

It could even mean spending one hour a day on Duolingo.

Find what works for you.

I hope my experience can inspire and guide you on your own language-learning journey.

Cheers, and happy learning!

-J