Admission- I have not used these methods to teach on Instagram. These are only reserved for my online classes in which I have full control (I work for some institutes in that case I follow their method of teaching)
I am assuming that if you are reading this blog, you are an absolute beginner. So, I would like you to take a moment and think of what you believe is a good method. The reason? Intuition. I like to believe that when you are learning a language as complex (but beautiful) as Japanese, making a customized plan by listening to your heart ❤ is the best.
So, this is what my heart has whispered to me over the years and therefore, I believe that this would work. For me. You can give this a read and decide for yourself if your ❤ agrees with mine.
In India, most of the institutes follow the same method. Lure the students, fool them into thinking that they are learning Japanese when they are actually just reading and re-reading the romanized version. Now, this is still OK if they have introduced Hiragana and Katakana. But they haven't. Anyway, I am not here to point fingers. Instead, I am here to assist you in pointing your fingers in the right direction.
So, I think I have made it clear that reading romaji (romanized script) for months and considering yourself a Japanese language student is not advisable. Why should you do then? I would say start learning Hiragana and Katakana along with reading your romanized books. How will this help? Well, if you are curious fellow, you would start making small words using the alphabets that your are learning.
Let's assume that you have already learned あ、い、う、え、お
What combinations can you make out of there 5 ?
Even if you don't know the meaning, go ahead and make some combinations, find them a dictionary app later!
あい
あう
あえ
あお
You would be shocked but all of these words that
I have just written by combining あ with the rest, have a meaning.
Reading romaji for a month and then suddenly switiching to Hiragana and Katakana or even worse switching to books that don't have romaji anymore will discourage you. Believe me it will. I have seen this. I am seeing this. Reading romaji is just like spoon feeding yourself when in reality you should be using all your limbs to dissect the monster that is Japanese (beautiful though ❤🤷♂️)
Romaji makes everything so easy. I agree. Sometimes could be useful too!
Just don't make it a habit! ok?
Next tip is for when you have already crossed the romaji war.
Now it's a fight between what comes first, Katakana or Hiragana?
If you have been asking this question to yourself and/or others,
stop right now✋🏻!
Why? Just learn both!
Why? The latter one would always seem difficult.
I have taught a decent number of students to have understood this pattern. Some people learn Hiragana first. Result? They still can't read Katakana in the same flow as Hiragana. Even after reaching at an overall higher level of Japanese. 😒
The best practice is to learn Hiragana and Katakana together. If you have already managed to learn them separately, I would suggest that you practice them together, again. Make a chart. Download here.
This method is so helpful initially since it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between Hiragana and Katakana. If you study using such a chart, it would be easier to point out similarities and differences.
There are not a a lot of Katakana words. So how should you hone your Katakana reading? My suggestion- Whatever you write in Hiragana, write in Katakana too. Just for practice of course. This would help in sound identification and Katakana reading ,both! Talk about smart work !
So these are some tips that I have for you today. Even if you think that you want to disagree with me now, just give this a chance! You can always go back to your own method 👍🏻.
Quick review-
Do not depend too much on Romaji
Do not learn Hiragana and Katakana separately
Make a customized plan for yourself
Listen to your❤
Thank you for reading!
Till next time
Love
Indu
so helpful....especially the smart work for learning hiragana and katakana together💛
Thank you! 💖💖
nice blog about the common mistakes of Japanese institute in india and how they should rather approach thankfully we have you we can learn the correct way to learn Japanese
eagerly waiting for your next blog