Learn Japanese

Notes

Japan is the world's second largest economy, and boasts an impressive 127 million Japanese speakers. However, only in the last two decades has Japanese become an attractive second language option for foreign students. This newfound popularity is largely down to the global speared of Japanese culture. Japanese food, martial arts, fashion and music has become a prominent influence on western youth culture, and as such the number of western students opting to further their education in Japan has grown rapidly in the last few years.

Japan has also experienced huge economic growth in the past five years. This has fuelled the growth of second language speakers, as an increasing number of western multinational companies expand operations into Japan. But it is the digital highway where Japanese has most dominant. Due to the sheer volume of Japanese people who use the web, an impressive one third of Internet users speak Japanese. Because of this, an increasing number of web businesses are offering onsite Japanese language translation, in a bid to engage a wider audience.

Whether your intention is to travel around Japan, work or study in Japan or simply expanding your language skills portfolio, Japanese is without doubt a language worth learning. Like China, the foreign workers job market is abundant with opportunity, not to mention that Japan is a wonderful country to visit - rich in culture and stopped in history.

Comparison Table Analysis

Japanese is a notoriously difficult language to master. Unlike other Asian languages, such as Chinese and Thai, Japanese is not a tonal language, which should make it somewhat easier to learn. However, pronunciation is difficult, and colloquial sounds used in phrasal expression make it difficult to get to grips with. Japanese requires a large amount of repetition to learn even the most basic sentences, which is why choosing a learning platform best suited to your learning style is imperative in achieving steady, sustainable progress.

All the programs featured in my comparison table deliver a good syllabus, but during my review process it was clear that some were leaps and bounds ahead of others. Being successful in learning Japanese is highly dependent on strategy, and that strategy must utilize an interactive, fun platform that continues to engage the brain and prevent boredom.

Rocket Japanese tops the comparison chart on two fronts; the first being its hugely diverse set of learning tools; ranging from quizzes and word games to virtual teacher support and forum interaction, and the second being its immense value - it is a clear $80 cheaper than its closest competitor.

Transparent Japanese comes in a close second, and is certainly a worthy contender, but the price value of Rocket Japanese makes it impossible to beat. Limping in last is Rosetta Stone, which, as the majority of seasoned language learners will tell you, has fallen from grace in recent years through its failure to adapt sufficiently to the needs of smartphone and tablet users, and its lackluster approach to matching the value offered by its competitors.

I urge you to study my reviews carefully, and to not solely rely on the comparison table, as what suits the needs of one person may not necessarily suit the needs of another. Have a good read through the review and use the comparison table as a reference point while you weigh up the pros and cons. I wish you all the best with your Japanese language learning.