Learning Japanese is one of the most important things that people living in Japan can do. And even if you don’t live in Japan, learning a foreign language can be fun and interesting. But language classes can be expensive and time-consuming. So… how can you learn Japanese, especially in Japan, without paying to go to a class?
Well, I’m not fluent, but I’ve done what I can, and I can tell you!
Local Language Exchanges
One of the best ways to learn English without paying is to visit a local language exchange. Or even a volunteer language group. When I was living in Nishio, in Aichi prefecture, the town hall would host a language exchange group every Thursday.
Not only was this a great way to learn Japanese first-hand, but it was also a great way to find events that would help one to learn Japanese. I was regularly invited to go to sushi restaurants, cafes, and even Noh theatre trips (though the level of contemporary Japanese you can learn there is limited at best).
It Is an excellent way to learn Japanese as a new arrival, and a great way to make friends — especially if you are new to a city.
Reading Manga
So, one of the first things I did when I was told that I would be going to Japan was read books that teach you how to read hiragana and katakana. One of these was a famous manga book that educates the readers not only what kana look like, but how to write them, in a fun and interesting way.
This is really important because, while kanji (or Chinese characters) are very prevalent in written Japanese, it is essential to learn these two basic writing styles (each representing 46 different distinct spoken sounds) that are used in everyday life and very rarely omitted from written sentences.
More than that, learning what the different characters say — but more importantly, how they sound — can help your spoken Japanese, as well. This will improve your pronunciation, and possibly even your accent.
Beyond this, once you learn how to read kana, you will be able to read many manga, including classics and new volumes from a convenience store.
I recall fondly picking up a copy of Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, in order to improve my kanji abilities and general vocabulary. The benefit of using manga to help you learn is that, like a child’s book, there are pictures. This helps to add context to the dialogue and even sound effects that are being shown.
It’s also useful if you’ve already read the manga in English, or even seen an anime adaptation, as you will be able to know about the story in general terms. For example, though I am quite familiar with Sailor Moon, I was trying to translate it by myself and, using my phone to recalibrate Japanese I didn’t know yet, I got very much the wrong conclusion, and had to ask a friend to set me straight.
On the other hand, I recall vividly learning a new verb as I continued to translate the book by myself.
Film and Television
This is a natural evolution of the previous concept, but since you’re in Japan, you can take the time to watch movies and TV shows. This is not only beneficial for watching entertainment originally broadcast in Japanese — although of course, that is a huge benefit, as it helps with both pronunciation and listening abilities. But you can also develop your reading abilities by watching movies and TV shows in your native language with Japanese subtitles.
This also works the other way: if you know a film in your native language well, you can put on Japanese subtitles. I’ve often seen surprised by the way that English-language films have been translated into Japanese. Sometimes there is no exact equivalent of an English phrase. Other times, the translation can even give the feeling that a character is feeling even more accurately than in English. In some ways, it’s like how Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” is considered to be better in its French translation.
Just… Go Out!
There’s no substitute for immersion than immersing yourself. If you are living in Japan, one of the easiest ways to improve your Japanese is to just head outside and do things like go to shops, bars, restaurants, and other places. Even if you don’t speak too much Japanese, just chatting with people, even over basic things, will improve your confidence.
Downsides
One thing about learning Japanese this way is that it can sometimes mean that your Japanese is… not standard. For example, when I was living in Aichi, I was working with the elderly, and many of my coworkers were women. As a result, lots of people laughed because my Japanese was a mix between that of a young woman and an old man. Some find this charming, however! It all depends on how you react. And remember: nobody is fluent at first.
In Summary
Learning Japanese in Japan is often done by attending language schools — and the students learn effectively. But it is also possible to get your language to a strong level through your own means, without a teacher. There are definite benefits to tried and true educational structures. However, experience can also be a great teacher. If you’re willing to put in some effort, then you will be able to improve your Japanese level even without a school.
