They won’t help you any unless you open them…

Do you have trouble learning?  Were you always the student snoozing in the back of the class drowning in their own drool?  I spent many a wishful day gazing out from the classroom window, yearning for the days when smelly books and tortuous lectures on Hamlet were no longer…  My language grades were so bad, in fact, that several of my teachers gave it to me straight, “You have absolutely no talent for language and you should stop while you’re ahead.”

Perhaps it was that harsh criticism that drove me onward. Fast forward seven years and I am the only student from my High School graduating class to continue with Japanese study. Despite having the smallest chance of a language-oriented career, I am now a successful free-lance translator, living in Tokyo – the place of my dreams — and stuffing myself with yomogi-mochi and green-tea ice cream every night. ‘Tis the good life.

You too can unleash your inner language beast! Be amazed to discover that anyone can learn a language, no matter how hopeless it seems and despite all your past failures.  You will use those failures to carve a path to success.  Here are some tips based on my experience:

Study every day:

“No!  I don’t want to hear it!” you holler.  We all repeat this mantra to our teachers when leaving class, but how many actually bite the bullet and take action?  Even if it’s only for 30 minutes per day, stick to it.

Reward yourself:

When (not if) you study every day, reward yourself with a scrumptious treat.  This little trick not only tastes good (if you choose ice-cream), but unites your mind and body.  You will need both to learn a language.

The best reason to live in Japan

Stick to a schedule:

Studies have shown that those who study at the same time every day retain more information.  We all know that life is busy, but if you possibly can, try studying in the morning before work or in the evenings when you return home.  Even bath time can be a great chance to catch up on those Kanji!

Build a cave, stuff it with yummies, and dwell happily:

Basically, find a place where you can study and return to the same location every day.  This will limit distractions and help to retain information.  I cannot tell you how many times I’ve said, “Oh, I’ll just go to a café to study,” and then I end up wandering around window shopping for two hours instead.  Have a venue in mind before you leave the house, and return there each day.  Or, if you stay home then your wallet will be happier – just make sure you devote a certain area of your home to “study only” (no games, no sleeping, etc.).

 Gizmos don’t make James Bond:

James Bond has lots of cool toys, but he only is awesome because he knows how to use them.  You can have lots of fancy dictionaries, textbooks, Rosetta Stone software, etc.  All this may cost you a pretty penny and just end up collecting dust (as you glance to those unused books on the shelf).  The fact that you have so many resources available and are still not a master of the language can only mean one thing: you have no study plan…

Even James Bond has too many nice things…

Write a study plan:

Actually write this out on paper.  It’s too easy to envision a land of rainbows and melon-soda waterfalls, but we all just know that talk is cheap.  I can’t tell you how many times I have said, “I will study 50 kanji this week,” only to perhaps study 3 or 4 on Monday morning and then stare at my wall on other days.  Write a plan, make it realistic, and print it out to post somewhere close to where you study.  This small thing will make you take your studying more seriously.

 Eat your veggies:

There is a reason Ma always shoved peas down your throat.  A balanced diet leads to a happy smile.  The same is true with language.  Don’t restrict yourself to books and flashcards; you should be seeking as many active ways to learn as possible.  Language is not a dead animal you can stomp on and kick around.  It is a living, breathing thing and requires multiple inputs to acquire mastery.  Some ideas for different input may be:

• Music:  Go out for a night of Karaoke and try singing Japanese songs for once!  I have sung “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes” enough for my lifetime with my English class.  Why do most schools use songs for kids?  They work – that’s why!  Singing in your second language can do wonders for pronunciation, reading speed, and word retention (depending on what you drink I suppose).  Meh, it seemed like a good idea anyway…

• DVDS: Anime is a good choice because conversations are often simplified.  A good idea is to watch the same short portion of the DVD several times.  First watch with no subtitles, and write down what you think the sentence is about, including any words you may not know.  Secondly, turn on subtitles and look up unknown words.  Use the words you learned and make flashcards for that evening.  Come back the next day to watch the same DVD portion and be amazed at how much you can comprehend!

• Conversation parties: There are several Japanese/English meet-ups around Japan.  A good place to start is www.meetup.com.  Most of these groups are free, you can make some life-long friends, and practice both listening and speaking.

• Video games: This is a legitimate way to study and has helped me improve immensely.  You don’t know the kanji on the screen?  Well drink that potion anyway.
  

  Perhaps the most annoying and useless thing on the planet

  Ooops!  Your character is dead and your useless Airu is either dancing all over your face or sleeping somewhere.  Looking up the kanji after the fact, you find that it was indeed poison – not the genki health drink you first thought…

• Find a hobby: Researchers agree that you learn language much more effectively when you are genially interested in the activity.  So, what we need is to find you a new hobby.  Join a golf club, begin the slow self-torture that is Japanese tea ceremony, or perhaps take up Shogi (Japanese chess)?  Whatever your fancy, you will likely have a group of Japanese people (and perhaps other foreigners) who not only help you master your new hobby, but also will be teaching you valuable language skills (even without your realizing or conscious consent).

• Move to a guest-house: Are you living alone that eerily quiet apartment of yours?  Why not move to a 5×6 foot closet, complete with an obstacle course of drunken strangers for that extra challenge making it into your room at night, spontaneous shortages of hot water to put hair on your chest, and tap-dancing neighbors who give private performances in the wee hours of the morning?  In all seriousness, not only are Guest houses cheap, but they usually come with the added bonus of free Japanese lessons (aka. Your delightfully polite and considerate neighbors).

For the sake of overwhelming you, let’s wrap it up here.  If you even implement a few of the above suggestions, you will improve if you are persistent and want it badly enough. Remember: anyone can learn a language – even one as nightmarish as Japanese. Think outside of the box, work hard every day, and develop a strategy for learning beforehand. If you have any more tips that have made you an awesome language learner, please be a Care Bear and share below.