The Best Way to Learn Japanese Online: A Comprehensive Guide Introduction

Learning Japanese online has become more popular and accessible than ever before.

With the rise of digital tools, virtual classrooms, and self-study resources, learners now have an incredible array of options at their fingertips.

However, having so many choices can also make it challenging to determine the best approach.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into the main approaches to learning Japanese online, comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Whether you’re a beginner looking to master the basics or an advanced learner aiming to refine your skills further, this guide will help you find the perfect strategy for learning Japanese.

Main Methods for Learning Japanese Online

There are various ways to learn Japanese online, each catering to different preferences and circumstances. Let’s take a closer look at these methods.

Learning Japanese Through Self-Study Tools (Apps, Textbooks, Online Communities, Video Tutorials)

Self-study is one of the most accessible options for beginners and casual learners.

By leveraging tools like Duolingo, Wanikani, YouTube tutorials, Japanesepod101, Reddit, or Anki flashcards, you can progress in your Japanese learning journey at your own pace. These platforms offer a wide range of content, including vocabulary lists, basic grammar explanations, and kanji practice.

Advantages of Self-Study Tools:

1. Affordable or Free:Many apps and resources are either free or available at a very low cost.
2. Flexibility: You can study whenever and wherever you want, offering great freedom in learning
3. Beginner-Friendly:Apps like Wanikani and Duolingo make it easy to learn hiragana, katakana, and basic vocabulary
4. Variety of Resources: With tools tailored for visual learning, pronunciation exercises, and gamified lessons, there are plenty of options to suit different learning styles and preferences.

Disadvantages of Self-Study Tools:

1. Fragmented Information: A lack of consistency between resources can make it challenging to develop a comprehensive understanding of Japanese.
2. Limited Depth: Most apps don’t go beyond the basics, leaving gaps in grammar and nuanced expressions.
3. No Expert Guidance: Without experienced instructors, there’s a risk of unknowingly adopting unnatural Japanese or incorrect grammar. Without professional feedback, these mistakes can become habitual, significantly hindering overall proficiency.
4. Difficult to Improve Speaking Skills: Apps often lack real-time interaction, making it hard to practice speaking and listening in real-world contexts. Cultural aspects are also challenging to convey through apps and are often missing entirely.
5. Time-Consuming: Sorting through inconsistent or low-quality resources can take a lot of time. You might spend considerable effort searching for reliable tools, risk learning incorrect information, and reduce your overall learning efficiency.

Self-study tools are excellent for their convenience and cost-effectiveness, making them a good choice for beginners or hobbyists. However, their fragmented nature, lack of depth, absence of expert guidance, and difficulty in achieving practical Japanese skills make them less ideal as a standalone approach. They work best as supplementary tools and should be combined or replaced with other learning methods depending on your goals and learning stage.

Learning Japanese at Language Schools in Japan

For learners who want to immerse themselves in the Japanese language and culture, attending a language school in Japan is an excellent option.

These schools offer in-person classes, group learning, and cultural activities, giving students a chance to experience Japan firsthand. Below are the advantages and disadvantages of studying at Japanese language schools:

Advantages of Language Schools in Japan:

1. Cultural Immersion: Living in Japan while learning Japanese provides invaluable exposure to the language and culture.
2. Social Interaction: Group classes foster peer-to-peer learning and friendships. A collaborative environment encourages healthy competition and improves student participation and support.
3. Real-Life Practice: Schools often teach practical conversational expressions and etiquette useful in daily life.

Disadvantages of Language Schools in Japan:

1. High Costs: Tuition fees, travel expenses, accommodation, and living costs can make this option financially burdensome for many.
2. Rigid Schedules: Classes often follow strict schedules, with little flexibility to accommodate individual or group needs. For instance, semester lengths, the number of weekly class days, and class hours are typically fixed. While alternative schedules might optimize learning speed and efficiency for some groups, most schools are unable to provide such adjustments.
3. Inflexible Teaching Methods: Many schools adopt rigid curricula focused on workbook assignments and progressing through textbook chapters. This approach often results in students learning “textbook Japanese” rather than practical Japanese useful in everyday life.
4. Limited Individual Attention: Like many traditional schools, Japanese language schools tend to place students with varying skill levels in the same class. This often leads to overly generalized lessons where some students feel bored and underchallenged, while others struggle to keep up.
5. Variable Teaching Quality: The quality of education depends heavily on the school and its instructors, and some teachers may lack sufficient experience or skills.
6. Limited Online Options: While some schools offer virtual classes, many prioritize in-person lessons, leaving high-quality online options scarce.

Examples:

1. Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute (SNG)
2. Tokyo Central Japanese Language School (TCJ)
3. Akamonkai Japanese Language School

Studying at a Japanese language school is a great fit for those who value cultural immersion and in-person learning environments. However, the high costs, lack of flexibility, and challenges in acquiring practical Japanese skills may make it less suitable for all learners.

Learning Japanese Through Private Lessons

Private lessons, often facilitated through platforms like iTalki and Preply, are a popular choice for learners seeking individualized instruction.

These lessons are customized to fit the learner’s goals, offering flexibility to focus on specific areas of interest.

Below are the advantages and disadvantages of learning Japanese through private lessons online:

Advantages of Private Lessons:

1. Personalized Learning: Lessons are tailored to individual goals, learning pace, and schedules.
2. Wide Range of Options: Online platforms connect learners with teachers worldwide, making it easier to find the right match.

Disadvantages of Private Lessons:

1. Inconsistent Quality: Teachers range from relatively experienced tutors to complete beginners, requiring time and trial-and-error to find a suitable instructor. Many online teachers lack formal training in foreign language education or Japanese instruction, leading to challenges such as:
   • Ineffective teaching methods
   • Difficulty creating tailored lesson plans or optimized learning programs
   • Inability to provide advanced Japanese instruction
2. Inefficiency for Beginners: While online instructors can be helpful for conversation practice or answering questions for students already with some Japanese speaking ability, they often struggle to effectively teach foundational concepts to beginner or intermediate learners.
3. High Self-Motivation Required: Learners are often responsible for creating their own lesson plans, which can lead to wasted time and effort. Without proper guidance, students risk learning impractical or irrelevant content.
4. Limited Results: Common problems with private online lessons include:
   • Lack of Practical Skills: Even after months of lessons, students often see minimal progress.
   • Failure to Correct Mistakes: Teachers may hesitate to correct errors or fail to provide constructive feedback, sometimes avoiding corrections for reasons like “I don’t want to discourage them” or “They’re not going to use Japanese practically anyway.”
   • Inadequate Honorifics Instruction: Many teachers neglect to teach the proper use of casual, polite, and honorific speech. As a result, students may develop an overly casual and inappropriate speaking style, creating negative impressions in social, professional, and romantic contexts.
5. Limited Scope: Many private lessons lack cultural context or systematic progression, leading to gaps in knowledge.Challenges with Free Conversation Practice:
   • Used as English Practice: Language partners often use the sessions to practice their own English instead of teaching you Japanese.
   • Lack of Expertise: Untrained conversation partners most times fail to provide meaningful guidance or corrections.

Examples of Platforms for Private Lessons:

1. iTalki
2. Preply
3. HelloTalk
4. Busuu

Learning Japanese through private lessons offers the benefit of personalized learning and flexible scheduling. However, inconsistent instructor quality, inefficiency for beginners, and the need for strong self-motivation make it a challenging option for many. Additionally, the lack of structured guidance and insufficient focus on honorifics and cultural aspects can make it difficult to acquire practical Japanese skills efficiently. For those who want a strong foundation in Japanese, private lessons alone may not be the best choice.

Learning Japanese Through University Programs

University-level Japanese courses provide a traditional learning route, offering a solid academic foundation.

These programs often combine language instruction with cultural studies, providing a comprehensive approach to learning.

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of studying Japanese through university programs:

Advantages of University Programs:

1. High-Quality Instruction: University professors are generally well-qualified and provide systematic lessons with access to extensive resources.
2. Comprehensive Curriculum: Programs cover all levels, from beginner to advanced, in a structured manner.
3. Additional Resources: Students benefit from access to language labs, libraries, and academic support services

Disadvantages of University Programs:

1. High Costs: Tuition fees for university courses are very expensive and often lead students into debt.
2. Fixed Schedules: Programs adhere to rigid timetables, making them inconvenient for working professionals or part-time learners.
3. Limited Online Offerings: Few universities provide robust online alternatives, and even when they do, these options often lack interactivity.
4. Academic Bias: Programs may focus heavily on theory and grammar, sometimes neglecting conversational fluency and practical application.

Examples:

Many universities offer Japanese as a major, minor, or elective subject.

Studying Japanese through a university program can be suitable for those seeking a strong academic foundation and a systematic, in-depth learning experience. However, the high costs, rigid schedules, and limited emphasis on conversational skills, as well as the scarcity of quality online options, make it less suitable for working professionals or those prioritizing practical, cost-effective Japanese learning.

Learning Japanese with Oku Sensei’s Japanese (OSJ)

Let’s explore learning Japanese through Oku Sensei’s Japanese (OSJ).

For those who want to learn Japanese effectively and affordably online, Oku Sensei’s Japanese (OSJ) offers an excellent solution. Founded in 2021, OSJ is an online Japanese school run by Oku Sensei, who has over 20 years of teaching experience at U.S. universities.

OSJ provides a comprehensive curriculum for learners from beginner to advanced levels, covering reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. It places particular emphasis on improving practical Japanese skills, such as everyday conversation and business communication.

Through interactive group lessons conducted via Zoom, learners gain a deep understanding of cultural nuances, social expectations, and conversation strategies that go beyond textbook learning. Flexible scheduling and affordable pricing make OSJ an ideal learning environment for busy professionals and students alike.

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of learning Japanese with OSJ:

Advantages:

1. Comprehensive Curriculum: OSJ offers courses that cover reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills across all levels. Lessons focus on practical Japanese in real-world contexts, such as daily conversation and business communication.
2. Expert Instruction: Experienced teachers guide students through each stage of their learning journey, ensuring steady progress.
3. Motivation through Group Dynamics: Group classes, optimized for the needs of each student, foster interaction and create a supportive learning environment.
4. Cultural and Practical Insights: Lessons include cultural nuances, social expectations, and conversational strategies often absent from textbooks.
5. Flexibility and Affordability: OSJ allows students to start or pause lessons as needed, offering high-quality education at a reasonable price.

Disadvantages:

1. No In-Person Classes:
   OSJ does not offer in-person lessons, which may make it harder to achieve a fully immersive experience. However, lessons provide practical insights into Japanese customs, culture, food, society, and perspectives, allowing students to deeply understand Japan before visiting. In addition, using OSJ’s unique visual language learning methods, learners can adapt to the language and culture even before traveling to Japan.
2. No Private Lessons:
   OSJ typically does not offer private lessons. However, this can be seen as a benefit for several reasons:
   • While private lessons offer flexibility, they require strong self-discipline and motivation, which can be difficult to maintain.
   • Private lessons often lack consistency, making it challenging to efficiently acquire practical Japanese skills.
   • OSJ provides specialized group lessons tailored to individual needs, abilities, learning paces, and personalities, maintaining flexibility while offering structured support.
   • Unlike many private tutoring or self-study programs, OSJ delivers structure, consistency, and personalized support, making it one of the most effective online learning options.

Summary

Learning Japanese with Oku Sensei’s Japanese (OSJ) is an excellent choice for those seeking to study Japanese effectively and flexibly online. With its comprehensive curriculum and expert instruction, students can steadily acquire practical skills, whether they are beginners or advanced learners.

While some may view the lack of in-person or private lessons as a disadvantage, OSJ compensates with its flexibility, thorough support for students, and lessons that deepen cultural understanding and awareness of Japanese society. OSJ is an ideal option for busy professionals or students who want to learn Japanese effectively and affordably.

Conclusion

There are countless ways to learn Japanese online, making it challenging to decide which approach is best.

This guide has explored the pros and cons of popular methods, from self-study tools to private lessons and university programs. While each method has its advantages, OSJ stands out as a comprehensive and learner-friendly solution.

Under the guidance of native Japanese instructor Oku Sensei, OSJ offers a structured Japanese learning program that helps students not only become conversationally fluent but also advance to a level where they can read and write in Japanese.

With courses tailored from beginners to advanced learners, OSJ provides one of the most inclusive and effective paths to mastering Japanese.

Ready to take your Japanese skills to the next level? Visit OSJ’s contact page and start your learning journey today!

We are currently offering a free 30-minute consultation at Oku Sensei’s Japanese. Be sure to check it out!