What is the fastest way to learn Japanese?

Many language experts recommend that the fastest way to become fluent in Japanese is to move to Japan, live with a host family and have all your contacts in Japanese. As a general rule, the more you are exposed to the language, the faster you can learn it.

How long does it take to learn Japanese fluently?

Learning Japanese properly requires thousands of hours of study, ranging from 2-20 years. How quickly you learn a new language depends on many factors. Some people find language and learning easier than others. As Japanese belongs to a completely different language tribe than English, it takes much longer than for someone who is fluent in a related language. As a general rule, the more you are exposed to the language, the faster you can learn it.

Learning Japanese in the City of London

One must learn, if one is to see the beauty in Japan, to like an extraordinarily restrained and delicate loveliness.
Mary Ritter Beard

Japan is a futuristic yet traditional country with high morals, food and scenery; visitors fall in love with its eccentric culture and good-hearted people.

A trip to Japan is not complete without sipping on a bowl of ramen at a typical shop, eating delicious pieces of sushi at a local fish market, watching a sumo wrestling show, buying a few animes, seeing Mount Fuji, and learning a few Japanese words to fit in with the locals.

Konnichiwa, arigato, sayonara!

The previously mentioned aspects of Japanese culture have mesmerised foreigners and inspired them to learn the Japanese language.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that learning Japanese is no easy feat, especially for English speakers.

However, have no fear, Superprof is here to guide brave language learners through the acquisition of Japan's language. In today's article, curious polyglots situated in London will discover where they can learn the fundamentals and develop a certain level of proficiency in Japanese at a language school or with the help of a private tutor near them.

Course Name	Institution	Location	Duration	Price (GBP)	Level	Schedule
Japanese Language Course	SOAS University	Russell Square, London	10 weeks	280	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Weekday evenings
Japanese for Beginners	City Lit	Covent Garden, London	10 weeks	219	Beginner	Weekday evenings
Japanese Language & Culture	Cactus Language	Holborn, London	10 weeks	225	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Weekday evenings, Saturday mornings
Japanese Language Course	Westminster College	Victoria, London	10 weeks	250	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Weekday evenings, Saturday mornings
Japanese Language and Culture	International House	Covent Garden, London	10 weeks	240	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Weekday evenings
Japanese Language Course	The Japan Foundation	Russell Square, London	12 weeks	Free	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Weekday evenings, Saturday mornings
Online Japanese Course	Lingoda	Online	3 months	523	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Flexible schedule, online classes

The best Japanese tutors available

The Best Language Schools Offering Japanese Courses in London

According to recent estimates, many Japanese nationals are residing in the city of London for a wide variety of reasons. Business professionals and international students are the two most popular demographics of Japan immigrants represented in London.

Some Japanese immigrants stay for only a couple of years while others decide to make London their permanent residence.

As a result of the significant presence of Japanese culture in modern-day London, various Londoners have decided to learn the Japanese language. Therefore, to meet the needs of curious citizens in the city of London, the following are the best language schools to study the basics of Japanese in London:

International House London: one of the most well-known and established language institutes in London, the International House has over fifty years of experience teaching foreign tongues and welcomes over 8,000 language students from 150 countries each year. Interested pupils can decide to study Japanese through one-to-one classes or group lessons depending on their unique needs. In-company training is also provided for individuals working at enterprises who need to have a firm grasp of the Japanese language to improve trade with Japanese companies

We want to help you find the best place to study Japanese wherever in the United Kingdom you might be located.

The front of a restaurant somewhere in Japan. — The beauty and intrigue of Japan make many British citizens consider learning Japanese. Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

SOAS Language Centre: part of the University of London, SOAS is situated in central London and offers Japanese language tuition for the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Courses are open to pupils studying at the University of London and to the general public. Language courses are tailored to the needs of individuals, organisations, companies, and government bodies. Classes are conducted on weekday evenings or weekends by highly qualified teachers who have a mastery of the Japanese language. Check out their informative website to learn more and see if SOAS Language Centre is the right fit for you,
Japanese Lessons London: Japanese language course training programmes are offered to private individuals or public corporations by a native Japanese speaker that has been teaching interested ones in the London area since 2001. The website features glowing testimonials from satisfied students who are pleased with their Japanese lessons in London. Fees for one-to-one and group classes are competitive and worth every penny. Check out the website to see if the hours currently offered by the teacher match your busy schedule.

The three previously mentioned language schools come highly recommended for citizens of London wanting to take face-to-face Japanese lessons from a qualified language school.

The city of Leeds also has highly recommended language schools to learn more about Japanese.

Online Resources to Find Japanese Tutors in the City of London

Since the rapid development of modern technology, the learning process has become more virtual, and sadly textbooks have been pushed to the side. Nevertheless, there is a silver lining since people all over the world, even those in impoverished countries, can now learn more about the basics of any language or academic discipline using an application or software on their smartphone or computer.

Night lights in a street in Tokyo. — Academic assistance from a private tutor when learning Japanese can be done face-to-face or online via Skype; the choice is yours! Photo by Jezael Melgoza on Unsplash

Private tuition online Japanese course with an accredited tutor is all the rage and is constantly used by people all over the United Kingdom.

Without further ado, we will now consider some of the best online resources for finding qualified private Japanese tutors in the London area. Here are the best sites available to Londoners:

Superprof: one of the best online resources available for finding qualified academic tutors in the London area. According to their website, there are currently eight Japanese tutors working in London and its surroundings. Hourly prices range from £20-40 depending on the qualifications and experience of the tutors. Many have repeat students and glowing testimonials featured on their profiles from past students,
First Tutors: one of the top-rated online resources to find trustworthy and highly qualified tutors working in London. According to the website, there are currently eight hard-working Japanese tutors featured on the First Tutors site. Learners can rest assured that their Japanese instructors have the correct credentials since the experts at First Tutors conduct reference checking and ID checking to ensure that there are no frauds offering lessons on their site.

Thanks to the three previously mentioned websites, learning the basics of Japanese with the guidance of a private tutor has never been so accessible in the city of London. Students of Japanese in Cardiff benefit equally from these online resources, as well as local Japanese teachers.

The best Japanese tutors make learning about a new language and culture an unforgettable experience; they also can adapt their teaching methods to fit the needs of beginners, intermediate students, and advanced pupils.

Since language learning can be difficult at times, especially in Japanese, enlist the help of a private tutor to start learning Japanese today correctly!

It is important to note that Mancunians can also find private Japanese tutors near them.

Helpful Tips to Correctly Learn Japanese

So you've decided to learn Japanese, now what's next? It is important to state that becoming fluent in Japanese is no walk in the park. According to recent estimates from language experts, it takes approximately three or four years to become an advanced Japanese speaker and is one of the most difficult languages for English speakers to grasp.

The Unbabel Blog lists the Japanese language as the third hardest for English speakers to learn right behind Mandarin and Arabic since thousands of characters have to be learnt before being able even to write anything interesting.

Japanese text written in white on a blackboard. In front of it are pink cherry blossoms. — Choosing a modern and interactive learning textbook will make all the difference when learning Japanese. Photo by Galen Crout on Unsplash

Nevertheless, the great feat of becoming remotely fluent in Japanese should not discourage one from learning since nothing worthwhile comes without an earnest effort.

If you're not currently living in London, it's also possible to find places to study Japanese in Glasgow.

Without further delay, we will consider some of the most helpful tips to learn Japanese effectively from past learners:

Invest in High-Quality Learning Material: this is even more important if you are teaching yourself since it will help you pick up new vocabulary words, expressions, and grammar rules more effectively. Many months may be wasted, and the whole experience of learning Japanese may become negative if your learning material is out of date and dull. Take time to shop around and find a Japanese learning textbook or other resources that fit your learning style. Many online experts recommend the books, Genki and Japanese for Busy People as great resources to learn Japanese engagingly. Investing in a solid Japanese-English dictionary is another great way to learn new words on the spot. Learning a new language is an investment that is worth every penny,
Find a Conversation Partner: if you are an English speaker learning Japanese find a conversation partner to practice with and offer them English conversation lessons in exchange to cut down on costs. Listening to your partner and hearing yourself talk greatly improves your Japanese pronunciation. If you are not currently living in Japan or near Japanese speakers, there are many sites online to practice conversational skills.

By putting into practice the previously mentioned tips, learning Japanese can become a gratifying and enjoyable experience. It is also important to state that Japanese people and very kind-hearted and patient individuals and this makes the learning process a positive experience.

A particularly good example of that aforementioned kindness can be found in Edinburgh; taking Japanese lessons there is more of a celebration than an arduous learning process...

Language learners can correctly learn Japanese and improve their language skills in London since there are many options available to every type of learner. Start learning today to be able to speak like a local in the future!

Want to study Japanese in another major UK city? The following are links to articles written by Superprof to review Japanese in Birmingham and Belfast for example.

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