Spoken
口語
When learning to speak Japanese there are numerous products and services that can help you on your way. There are plenty of free resources to get you started, but for the serious learner there are also audio courses or classroom training.
Smart.fm / iKnow (interactive) £0+
(free trial - subscription based)
Spaced repetition learning is a technique that has been around for decades, this clever site has a visual interface for ease of use.
Until January 2011 the service was completely free and branded as 'Smart.fm'. Unfortunately it is now a subscription service, however the quality of the content is very good and you can get 5 trial lessons for free.
Linguaphone (listen & repeat) ~£200
Audio tapes accompanied by text book. Mid-range pricing for language instruction, highly structured and detailed. Expect a better grasp of the language than with free resources but not quite the versatility of high-end software.
Rosetta Stone (interactive) ~£140-290
Similar in style to Smart.fm, but much more in-depth - at a price. Rosetta Stone is a world-leading language instruction program, and as such the spoken aspect is more evident than with the free resources available on the internet.
Listen and repeat with audio recognition, the software is clever enough to recognise correct pronunciation. Various levels available, including an internet course to allow study anytime, anywhere.
Teacher Led (interactive) £Varies
When engaging in a classroom based language study there are many options.
UK local boroughs often have subsidised courses for residents; normally available as night classes and tend to be very affordable, requiring an hour or two of classroom attendance per week and as much home study as you can manage.
Universities with language departments also tend to offer courses at reasonable prices, generally 10 or 20 week courses with classes scheduled in the early evening to suit working people. If you are already a student or employee at the University it is worth asking if discounts are available.
Specialist language schools will cost more but you can expect smaller class sizes or even one-to-one instruction, ideally with a native speaker.
Private tutors will normally charge by the hour. This method is usually reserved for those who already have some grasp of the language and want to gain advanced understanding and pronunciation, or for busy people with limited available time - and lots of spare cash!
Live & Work (interactive) £Get Paid
What better way to learn than immersing yourself in the culture?! Not the most practical option for all but certainly an option for many, and a great life experience too!
See the 'Live & Work' section of the site for more details on job opportunities in Japan, you might be surprised how accessible it can be.
