How Much Time Can You Commit to Studying? In fact, you don't have to worry about reaching fluency at all! Saying that, we'd still recommend learning some basic phrases and words to help you get around and remain polite. If you're only learning Japanese for travel purposes, you don't have to worry about learning keigo or learning to read kanji (more on that later!).
So, if you have to learn keigo on top of everything else, it's going to take you a lot longer to learn Japanese.Īre you interested in finding out which other languages are great to learn for business? Check out our article! Travel Opportunities With that comes the difficult question: should I learn keigo? Keigo is the ultra-formal register in Japanese, and it is essential if you are going to be working there. If you are looking for a change of occupation or being transferred to Tokyo, you will need to be fluent in Japanese. There are plenty of work opportunities in Japan. Now when you go with your friends to their favourite Japanese restaurant, you will be able to wow them with your ordering skills! Learning a Language for Business Learning a language for someone offers the best motivation and reaps the most rewards. Perhaps it's not the culture, but it's your partner or friends who motivate you to become fluent in Japanese. Learning Japanese is one of the best ways to understand the culture deeply, and the best way to learn the language is by immersing yourself.in Japan! Maybe you want to be fluent in Japanese to enjoy the culture? We don't blame you! Japan has an exciting and enriching culture. Decide Why You Want To Learn JapaneseĪfter you’ve figured out what fluency means to you, it's a good idea to set yourself some goals to help keep up your motivation during your studies. For an untrained ear, these languages probably sound identical to each other. Both languages also share a fair amount of Chinese words in common, and phonologically the two languages are very close too. Both languages share a similar syntax, meaning you could “think in Korean” and translate word-for-word to Japanese. If you speak Korean, even just a little bit, you will find Japanese easier to learn. Unfortunately, it is considered an endangered language by UNESCO, as more people are shifting to learning only Japanese. Structurally speaking, Ryukyuan is identical to Japanese, however, it’s their vocabulary and pronunciation that make them mutually unintelligible.
Ryukyuan is spoken across the Japanese archipelago, and both Japanese and Ryukyuan are a part of the Japonic language family. If you don’t speak English as your mother tongue, you better hope you can speak Ryukyuan. Although the list isn't extensive, it will save you some time! Ryukyuan However, interestingly enough, Japanese does have some borrowed words from English, such as kiss – kisu, butter – bata, and computer – konpyuta. This means, if your native language is English, you may have to put more time and effort into reaching fluency in Japanese. However, even if you only speak one language, don't worry all it takes is motivation and hard work! What’s Your Native Tongue? EnglishĪccording to the FSI ( Foreign Service Institute), Japanese is in category four: “languages which are exceptionally difficult for native English speakers.” The FSI estimate that, as an English speaker, you will need around 88 weeks of studying, or 2200 class hours, to master Japanese. You will find it easier to study new grammar, memorise vocabulary, and even manipulate your lips and tongue to produce new sounds. Studies have shown that those who speak at least two languages will find it easier to learn a third. If you were raised in a bilingual family or learned another foreign language in the past, you might find it easier to gain fluency in Japanese. Let's take a look at a few factors that can influence how long it takes for someone to become fluent in Japanese. How Long Does it Take to Become Fluent in Japanese? It Depends. However, you can still have a strong degree of proficiency without being fluent. It can be overwhelming to reach language fluency it comes with a ton of self-doubt and stress. I mean, everyone has to look up a word in the dictionary every once in a while, even native speakers! It is possible to learn a language and never reach fluency, but that doesn't mean that you can't speak it comfortably. Most people associate fluency with their native language and perhaps one or two others.
Our Final Thoughts on the Question: How Long Does It Take To Become Fluent in Japanese? Figure Out What Fluency Means To YouĪccording to the Cambridge Dictionary, fluency is “ the ability to speak or write a language easily, well and quickly”.
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