Japanese Language Learning Resources

On this page, we introduce you to our favorite Japanese language learning resources. When choosing Japanese learning resources, be sure to consider your personal learning goals, learning style, budget, and your available study time.

Online Japanese language learning programs are our favorite learning resource because they are multi-media, interactive, you can study right at your computer, and you don’t have to deal with cumbersome books and CDs. Here are some of the ones we like best.

Rocket Japanese Premium

Summary:

Rocket Japanese Premium is our favorite online Japanese learning program for beginning learners of Japanese because of the fun yet effective way in which the material is presented. Using this program, you’ll learn authentic, natural Japanese that you’ll be able to use in real-life situations, and you’ll actually have fun while you learn! Read our full Review…

 

Summary:

Speak Japanese Fluently is our favorite intermediate-level online Japanese learning program on the Internet. What’s great about this program is that it takes the next step beyond standard textbook Japanese and introduces you to the type of natural, colloquial expressions that you’re likely to encounter once you’re in Japan. The program is narrated in video/audio format by the husband-and-wife team of Nick, a native English speaker, and Kaoru, a native Japanese speaker.

The core of Speak Japanese Fluently is the innovative learner/native speaker approach of the lessons, in which Nick introduces natural Japanese expressions, modeled perfectly by Kaoru, and then actually provides you with detailed explanations on the cultural context in which they are used. This program is perfect as a follow-up to Rocket Japanese, or for learners who are already comfortable with basic Japanese.

 

Japanese Proficiency Power – Japanese Language Proficiency Test Prep Course

Nihongo Japanese Video Lesson – Online Course featuring video lessons taught by native Japanese instructors

Speak Japanese Fast – Power Japanese Vocabulary Course

Bullet Japanese – Power Japanese Vocabulary Course

 

Audio Japanese language learning programs can be very effective because they require you, the learner, to train your ears without visual cues. Many linguistic scholars believe that audio training is ultimately the most effective approach to learning a spoken language. Here are our favorite programs.

Pimsleur Japanese

Summary:

The Pimsleur Japanese course is designed to teach you to understand and to speak the essential elements of Japanese in a relatively short time. During each half-hour lesson, you will actually converse with two people, using the type of Japanese spoken by educated citizens in their everyday business and social life. The program’s unique method for presenting dialogue relieves you of most common learning problems.

 

 

Japanese Language Books

Below are a few of our favorite Japanese language learning textbooks to assist you in your Japanese language learning.

Keep checking back as we continue to update this page with more great Japanese language learning resources!