Three Mindset Shifts that will Fast-Track your Japanese Language Learning
Put the the textbook away and get ready to communicate
Mindset Shift Level 1: Learning Japanese > Practicing Japanese. A lot.
“Learning” is a misnomer. You don’t so much learn a language as practice it.
Becoming fluent in a foreign language has less in common with academic study and more with learning a sport, a dance, or a martial art: it’s not just some knowledge that you acquire; it’s a skill that you become familiar with, both physically and mentally.
In order to become fluent, you have to practice. A lot. Sure, you might be able to neatly write out conjugations of Japanese verbs into the past tense of the causative-passive form in your study session in the quiet of your bedroom today, but can you remember them tomorrow? How about the week after? More importantly, can you use them when you’re in the izakaya, when both the conversation and the saké is in full-flow?
It’s like learning to play tennis. You don’t just read a book about tennis; you pick up a racket and get practicing. A teacher is useful because they can teach you correct technique, and if you want to progress you’re going to have to put in a lot of practice hours until it…
