If one day you wake up looking for something new, why not take the big leap and learn a new language? We already know how awesome Japan is, their culture, beautiful tourist spots and a lot more! It’s time to take your love for Japan to the next level!
Language is Art.
Art is an expression of our thoughts, emotions but sometimes it can be deeper than that, art is also about sharing the way we experience the world. In this way, language can also be a form of art. The more we understand it the more we appreciate its beauty. What better way to understand Japanese Culture than by learning the language itself?
Learning the Japanese Language “Nihongo” starts very simple and you don’t have to be a genius to learn the basics! We start with learning how to read and write. For those who did not know the Nihongo Writing System consists of three:
Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji.
Hiragana and Katakana are not hard to learn. They are both used to represent the sound syllables that make up the Japanese language. Each has 46 basic characters. To make it simple the main difference between the two is Hiragana is usually used to represent Japanese words and grammatical elements, while Katakana is usually used for words of foreign origin.
Trust me you can learn Hiragana and Katakana even with no Japanese background in a week or even less!
Kanji is a lot different from Hiragana and Katakana. These are Chinese characters that the Japanese adopted a long time ago in order to write their language. These represent meaning and usually has two or more readings.
After learning how to read and write we continue by memorizing simple words, forming simple sentences by learning grammar patterns and then slowly level up one by one. The teachers (called “Sensei” in japanese) at Unmei are passionate with their work and the language and will do their best to guide their students and make sure that they learn and level up!
As the module continues, skills are tested through exams and other activities like listening and reading comprehension. Learning is a continuous process and there’s always room for improvement so don’t be afraid to make mistakes and be open to accepting comments and criticisms.
Frequently asked Questions:
Q: I want to learn but I am not good at memorization, especially Kanji.
Sensei Tips: You can take it one day at a time, make it a habit to at least memorize 3 or 4 Kanji per day, then reserve a day to review the ones you already memorized so far. Start with the most simple ones then level up, slowly but surely you will ace those Kanji!
Q: I am a busy person who works Monday to Friday, can I still study Nihongo?
Sensei Tips: Definitely! Unmei offers flexible schedules for their students.
Q: I am serious about learning, I want to pass JLPT. Is Unmei reliable?
Sensei Tips: Of course! Unmei has produced a lot of JLPT passers over the years. Still, always remember that as a student you have to do your part as well. Study and work hard!
Q: Will it be worth it?
Sensei Tips: Speaking on a personal level, when I was a student at Unmei I always felt accommodated and welcome. My teachers would always entertain my questions because I always ask a lot as I am a very curious person. Japanese Language seemed like a whole new world for me to explore but having Unmei to guide me made me succeed and is still helping me learn a lot more. It was all totally worth it!
Language learning is a skill and like any other skill, to be a master you must be patient, dedicate your time, effort and practice a lot! And always remember, you can do it!
This 2019, don’t settle for less, don’t settle for common goals, make your goal learning the Japanese Language at Unmei Nihongo Center!
Written by: Patricia Joanne O. De Guia (Patricia Sensei)