Learning Japanese by himself vs with a teacher

Michael
Apr 26, 2023
Australia
Michael Photo

As with many other Japanese learners that come to Japademy, Michael-san had tried learning the language by himself in the past without making a significant progress. Nevertheless, he decided to start learning with us and now he feels impressed about how much he has been able to accomplish.

What motivated you to start learning Japanese?

I liked how it sounded and thought it would be fun. I wanted to be able to communicate with more people and consume more Japanese media.

Was it a hard decision to get started learning Japanese? (any doubts or constraints)

I always thought it would be too hard to learn to read Japanese due to all the kanji but thought “never know till you try” and decided to give it a go.

How long have you been learning Japanese for?

I’ve been taking lessons for about 2 years now and not so seriously for a few years before that. I never made much progress by myself, but I’m impressed with the progress I've made so far since I started learning with Japademy's teachers.

What is the most challenging thing about learning Japanese?

Not having any other things from other languages to stand on when using Japanese. The writing system, how the language is structured, grammar, and words are all different. For example, if I was learning a European language, I would already be able to read and sound out the words (to varying degrees of success).

What have you enjoyed the most while learning Japanese?

The fun people I have met on this journey - Michael has some Japanese friends with whom he practices his Japanese -.

How do you keep motivated to continue learning?

Having regular lessons really helps. But also, my desire to be able to communicate without an interpreter continues to drive me.

What advice would you give to people who would like to learn Japanese but haven’t started?

Believe in yourself and give it a go. You’d be surprised at how much you can do when you apply yourself.

Are you planning to live or work in Japan in the future?

No concrete plans yet but I would like to be able to keep my options open should the opportunity present itself.

What is your favorite thing about Japan? (food, anime, history, etc.)

Probably the anime. A lot of the other English media I consume just doesn’t give the same feeling.

Why did you choose to learn Japanese with Japademy?

I just happened to come across Japademy but I'm glad I did.

Would you recommend Japademy to other people interested in learning Japanese? (yes or no, why?)

I would! The teachers are fun, kind, and good at teaching. Every lesson is fun and interesting, and I look forward to them each time.

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