| If you want to know how to learn Japanese, you | | | | This is where the fun of association begins. You |
| should know that there are two basic methods- | | | | design an image to help you remember both the |
| immersion and association. Immersion consists of | | | | pronunciation and the meaning of your Japanese |
| immersing yourself in Japanese culture. You learn the | | | | vocabulary. In this case, for example, we'll imagine a |
| language by going to Japan or entering a Japanese | | | | cow buying something. Picture the cow clearly in your |
| classroom. Essentially, you learn the language the | | | | mind. Vividly imagine a strange scene - the cow, |
| same way a Japanese child would - by immersing | | | | walking on her hind legs, dressed up for the day. |
| yourself in the language and culture. Gradually, you | | | | She's walking through a grocery store, pushing a cart, |
| pick up the grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary. | | | | and buying groceries. See the connection? Cow = kau |
| But what if you want to know how to learn | | | | = to buy. You just learned your first Japanese verb! |
| Japanese quickly, without taking classes or traveling | | | | That wasn't difficult at all, was it? |
| to Japan? You may want to consider learning | | | | As you memorize your Japanese vocabulary, it is |
| Japanese through association. This practice involves | | | | helpful to note the visualization you used for each |
| linking a Japanese word and its pronunciation with its | | | | word next to the word on your vocabulary list. This |
| English meaning through pictures and memory cues. | | | | will help you to recall each image when you need to. |
| Using the association method, you can easily increase | | | | If you're having difficulty coming up with your own |
| your Japanese vocabulary by studying a few minutes | | | | mental associations, you could also find a teaching |
| per day. | | | | method or book that uses the association method. |
| Using the association method of learning is not | | | | These systems are designed to help you associate |
| difficult. To begin, find a Japanese word that you'd | | | | images with the vocabulary you need to learn. |
| like to memorize. For our example, we'll use kau | | | | Now you know how to learn Japanese. By choosing |
| (pronounced cow), which means, "to buy". To use | | | | either the immersion or association method, you've |
| the association method, we first pronounce the | | | | taken your first step. Now you need to put your |
| Japanese word, and link it to a similar sounding English | | | | choice into action, and begin to increase your |
| word. In this case, the association is obvious. But | | | | Japanese vocabulary. Learning Japanese has many |
| what in the world does a cow have to do with "to | | | | benefits, and will aid you in your knowledge of the |
| buy"? You may think this is confusing, and wonder | | | | English language. You'll also broaden your horizons and |
| how to learn Japanese this way. Relax, and let me | | | | learn about Japanese culture. Keep your mind sharp - |
| explain. | | | | learn Japanese today! |