Question:
I'm currently a graduate student at the University of Kansas
and would like to take a beginner's Japanese language class next
semester. Does anyone out there have any advice for a native English
speaking person trying to learn Japanese? I'm a bit apprehensive right
now since I heard it was rather difficult to learn.
Answer:
if you've "heard" that Japanese is difficult to learn if you happen
to be an adult native speaker of English, what you've heard is true.
You ask for "advice" and I notice you are a graduate student. That means
you are already pretty far along in your education. Since this is the
case, I would suggest that you begin by asking yourself the question,
"What is my objective and purpose in attempting to learn Japanese?" The
reason for this question is not to discourage you, but to determine the
best course of action to achieve your objective.
To give you a rough comparison of the difficulty of Japanese vs. say
French or German for an English speaker, one needs a PhD in Japanese to
emerge from an American university with about the same language
competency as could be had by a BA in French or German. Of course, this
depends also on one's natural abilities in learning languages. Some
people are gifted in this area, others must struggle.
I don't know hat your objective is, but if you really want to master the
Japanese language there's really no better way than to go to Japan and go
through one of the intensive courses taught there for foreign students
who are seeking a degree from a Japanese university. In other words,
mastery requires "full imersion."
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