掲示板 Forums - What’s the best way to learn Japanese for free?

Be born in Japan.

The best way to learn is to set a consistent schedule, which includes both immersion practice and some form of flash card practice.
There are many fantastic guides out there, but they all boil down to these basic points.

1) Learn Hiragana and Katakana. It doesn't really matter how, but this is always the first step.

2) Begin learning basic vocabulary and kanji with the assistance of a flashcard system like Renshuu. Using a deck like N5 or Genki is a good start but there are many beginner decks.

3) Spend time immersing in the language. Reading, listening, both will help you see the language being used and will help you to understand the language as it was meant to be used.

4) Use a grammar guide. There are many, and Renshuu has a nice one built into it.

I'd recommend you do 5-20 new cards a day (5 being slow, 10 being average, 20 being intense). Give it a few years and you'll be fluent! The more you immerse, the less time it will take, but remember the key is consistency NOT cramming in a day and then doing nothing.

Good luck!

I've written about this once before, but listen, listen, listen! Go on YouTube, there are literally countless channels who dedicate their videos to Japanese learners. Check out Cure Dolly (Organic Japanese with Cure Dolly), Jouzu Juls (上手ジューズ), Trenton (トレントン）and more! These channels post about learning Japanese in non-textbook based ways. Also check out channels that help with listening, some of which are curated for specific learning levels (N5 to N1). There are even channels who provide (free!) transcripts for you to follow along.

And no, you don't *need* to pay for or purchase anything to learn the language, though of course that's up to your own discretion. If you're serious, consume as much content in Japanese as possible- listening to Japanese artists, podcasts, YouTubers, interviewers or watching TV shows and movies- anything and everything! There are countless Japanese YouTubers who post their videos (gaming, cooking, makeup, whatever!) just like anyone else, so check out any of these niches! Focus on things you enjoy, otherwise you won't want to put in the effort to learn.

Do start at a level you can partially understand though- yes immersion is great, but only when you are sufficiently challenged, not overwhelmed. There's a sweet spot to learning, but you really have to find what works for you. That being said, renshuu is a great supplementary tool, but you should be committing to learning a language as you would learn anything else in school- you often don't succeed by only "studying" in one way!

Money shouldn't be a big factor. There are countless free resources if you have eyes open for them! Subscribe to Japanese YouTubers, follow Japanese podcasters/interviewers/public figures, listen to Japanese bands/artists etc. to create an environment of exposure to the language. Little by little, your understanding will grow and you'll overcome challenges left and right!

Others have mentioned earlier steps, like hiragana and katana which are non-negotiable. Learn kanji, yes it sucks just take it slow and make steady progress. Grammar is important, but please check out some of the channels I mentioned (specifically Cure Dolly!) because textbooks aren't always pragmatic. Also, find a schedule (literal schedule, where you have specific goals etc.) and stick to it! If you aren't motivated, then that specific method of learning isn't going to help you. In all of my studies (and if psych/cog sci has taught me anything), rote memorization is not a gold standard- it's not even bronze. Learning and *understanding* the material is far more beneficial. Generate your own sentences, let others correct them and seek out areas for growth. Learn how Japanese kids learn! Focus on methods employed in elementary, middle, and high school to get a more "fluent" or "natural" understanding of the language. 頑張って！🌟

Hard to say what is the "best" when in reality, it tends towards the YMMV territory. I'm in the same boat though.

When I started, I got lucky getting into some free stuff that is otherwise paid. But I have also found free alternatives anyway partly to start with. This is pretty common.

Renshuu is one of them. Others are similar, but block the rest behind a paywall (bleh).

Over time, I came across listicles of resources. Some have common recommendations. Since I mainly don't have the conventional textbooks and grammar dictionaries, I make do with the resources that are offered. Even the textbook-like guides.

Fortunately, there's also some grammar guides that you can use. There's actually a trio that kind of basically are the same thing, one of them is at least intentionally a reworked copy of a previous one. The first one, the OG one is famously Imabi. The second one is Sakubi. The third, working one, is Yokubi. If you can guess the pattern here by now, you'll see what I was talking about.

Now, I've said clearly I don't have the conventional textbooks (since we're talking what's for free here), I recently also discovered one that is a digital worksheet for some of them. It's designed by Seth Clydesdale. I'm unsure of what it's called, as it's kinda centralized do you can access different workbooks designed to match each lesson for the respective textbooks. Clearly I don't know exactly what is taught in it, but despite that, there's a guide for these points that would give me a good idea of what I'm dealing with. The one downside to it for me personally is that there's a technical limitation to using it offline on an Android device since it is web-based, but otherwise accessible online, and either state on a computer.

Other than that, I'd keep looking. There are still some apps that you can use, and gamified stuff to practice. Many of them are free. There are free books to practice rrading. Lots of things. It's all up to your preference.