How to Learn Japanese on Your Own

Here's an overview of the learning process and key elements.​

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1. Get Started
Use Duolingo or YouTube videos for an introduction.​ 

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2. Listen to Japanese

Find audio-based content to get used to listening, such as JapanesePod101.​​ The more Japanese you can hear the better, but anything is fine as long as you enjoy it.

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3. Practice Simple Conversation 

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4. Learn Hiragana and Katakana

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5. Understand Sentence Structure

Use a textbook or website to grasp language structure and essential vocabulary.​​

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6. Read short stories 

Simply learning grammar isn't enough; it's also essential to understand how to use the language in real-life contexts. The keyword to find suitable books is 'Tadoku'.

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7. Learn Kanji

Discover methods for mastering Kanji.​​

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• Should I learn Hiragana and Katakana?

It is important if you want to join a class or use a textbook to learn grammar. These scripts are phonetic so they help you match sounds to words more easily in the long run. However, memorising 46 Hiragana characters is not so easy and there's Katakana. If your goal is conversation or travel, it’s okay to focus on speaking skills.​​

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• How long does it take to learn Hiragana?

You will learn five characters as a unit. If you’re a working adult or in full-time education, 5–10 characters per week is a realistic pace. It will take about three months to complete Hiragana, or less if you can dedicate more time to it.

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• Milestones for Beginner Level and Next Stage

After about 1.5-2 years of studying the basics, you will be able to read short articles and write a diary. Mastering the past tense and negative forms of verbs and adjectives means that you have completed the lower beginner level. If you are considering taking GCSE Japanese, you should start preparing at this point and plan to study for an additional year or two.​

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Are you ready? Let's find out the resources suitable for each stage!​

• Japanese Self-Study Recommendations and Programmes