The ubiquitous Japanese language classes have two different effects: it’s either confusing or appealing. With many options available, it becomes tricky to pick which one fits you best. Worry not; these are 5 qualities of high-quality Japanese classes you can use as the parameters to perfect one.
Structured levels
Some courses jump from one random material to another. All is done without taking into consideration the level of difficulty and the linear progression level. High-quality Japanese classes have structured levels, starting from the most essential and fundamental elements of the Japanese language – kanji, hiragana, and katakana. Therefore, the materials are more comprehensive and suitable for both beginners and more advanced students.
Covering all 4 major skills
Some Japanese classes focus solely on one language skill which is not very effective. To be able to master and use a language, we need to master all 4 major skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing in different Japanese writing system (kanji, hiragana, and katakana). Even if you have a bunch of practical vocabulary in your hand, it doesn’t do much when your sentence structure is all over the place.
Resemblance to real-life situations
What’s the point of learning a language when you’re not able to use it in real-life situations? Understanding a language isn’t only about understanding the theory but also about knowing when and how to use it based on a particular context. Therefore, paying attention to cultural reference is also important to find out whether a certain expression is appropriate in a certain situation.
One way to understand not only the literal but also understood language is by exposing yourself to authentic language materials. You can find them in the form of news, podcasts, reality shows, movies, songs, stories, and many more.
Communities
As language learners, we need to practice the theories in daily life. However, if you’re learning a language that is rarely used in your country, it’s very unlikely to use it for daily use. Therefore, joining a language learning community will help! Not only that you can find conversation and language practice partners, but you can also find the ideal teachers and tutors for you. This is how you can hone your Japanese language conversational skills without having to fly to Japan.
Various learning methods
Language learners are unique. Sometimes a particular method fits one student better than the other because each person has different learning styles. High qualities Japanese classes cater for their student’s learning needs, including various learning styles. Therefore, the classes don’t stick to one single method.
Some well-known learning methods are using stories, mimic—especially for practicing pronunciation, watching real-life videos, flashcards, words or phrases drills, color coding words or phrases, and match them with the English translation in order to learn how some words might have a different meaning when it’s paired with another word, and many more.
Whatever the learning method you’re taking, make sure that it fits you perfectly and still feel fun and relaxed for you.
Those are the top 5 qualities you need to look for in high-quality Japanese classes. Hopefully, you can find the right one for you. Happy hunting!