Regardless of the language you are learning, it is always crucial to understand how to read and speak it. However, most individuals usually have to decide between learning to read or speak the language first. This same decision applies to how to learn Japanese.
Therefore, when you start learning Japanese, you may be torn between starting with reading or speaking. I recommend that you should learn to speak Japanese as it makes it easier for you to converse with others. This, in turn, enhances your overall understanding of this language.
Without mincing words, no thumb rule determines whether you should start with reading or speaking Japanese first. Nevertheless, many individuals feel that learning to speak Japanese first is better.
As expected, there are tons of reasons for learning to speak Japanese first. In this article, I will explain some of the reasons you should start by speaking Japanese first.
- Speaking helps your conversation
Generally, the best method to learn Japanese or another language is using a conversational approach. Simply put, this conversational approach means that you converse with other individuals that also have a good understanding of the language. Without a doubt, speaking is the best way to engage other individuals.
When you learn to speak with other individuals, you will definitely understand Japanese and have a grasp of how several words are pronounced when speaking to other learners.
In addition, it is usually recommended by some experts that you should have conversations in Japanese when you are learning the language. This is because it is the best way to practice what you have learned. However, you cannot hold conversations in Japanese if you are only learning to read it.
- Speaking is easier and more encouraging than reading
Let’s face it – reading Japanese can look like a herculean task for a beginner. This applies to kanji, katakana, and even hiragana. You will have to commit lots of effort to learn it. Furthermore, it may take you several years before achieving your aim. You will also need to learn numerous characters before you can read the Japanese scripts correctly. These enormous time and effort requirements can be highly discouraging if you are not careful.
On the other hand, speaking Japanese is relatively easier than reading. When you want to learn to speak, you only need to focus on the basics. Once you have understood the basics, you can go ahead to hold conversations with anyone you want. Besides, learning to speak will also be instrumental in knowing how to understand it when someone speaks the language to you.
- Speaking helps your accent
Like other languages, Japanese has a certain accent that most speakers will love to have. However, you will hardly know the accent if you only focus on reading. Learning to speak first will let you understand how you can pronounce different words even before you can read or write them.
- Speaking can even improve your reading
Generally, when learning a new language, there are so many words that you do not know. However, as you continue speaking with others, you will come across several new words that will boost your vocabulary. Whenever you come across these new words in your reading, they will be familiar to you as speaking has improved your vocabulary. As a consequence, speaking Japanese will enhance your ability to read the same language.
- Speak spurs you to be creative with Japanese
If you are speaking to another person in Japanese, you tend to be creative with your little knowledge of the language. This is because your conversation will likely go to areas that you don’t understand. As a consequence, you will be forced to come up with new sentences that you never knew existed. Even if you have to say some incorrect words, the other speaker may correct you. This will give you a context that will make it easier for you to remember the right sentences or words to use in similar situations in the future.
- Speaking makes it easier for you to test your knowledge
Foremost, you should note that reading Japanese also tests your knowledge of the language. However, it doesn’t do so as much as speaking does. By speaking, you are focused to remember most of the vocabulary that you already know. This doesn’t only force you to hold a good conversation, but it also tests your knowledge.
- Speaking may encourage you to think in Japanese
To have a good mastery of any language, thinking in such a language is essential. When you start thinking in Japanese, it means that you are already applying the language in different areas of your life. From experiences, speaking in Japanese spurs you to converse quickly and this, in turn, encourages you to think in Japanese.
- Speaking may make it easier for you to live among the locals
If you want to stay in Japan or any other Japanese-speaking community, reading Japanese cannot help you much. Speaking, on the other hand, comes in handy in such instances. This is because most other Japanese speakers will be open to talking to you irrespective of your poor understanding of the language. Therefore, speaking can make it easier for you to live among others that understand the language.
Notably, conversing with the locals is undoubtedly the best way to improve your knowledge of Japanese. So, this also shows why you should prioritize learning to speak Japanese over reading it at the beginning of your study.
Although learning to speak Japanese first is great, this does not mean learning to read the language is important. In fact, if you don’t read Japanese well, you may have a hard time understanding some basics of the language. This further establishes the importance of learning to read the language. Also, speaking and reading Japanese go hand in hand; therefore, every learner needs both.
So, as you start your journey into learning Japanese, get started with learning how to speak.
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