How to Master Japanese: A Linguist's Guide to Fluent, Functional, Marketable Japanese

by Shane Joness

There is no shortage of excellent resources for learning the Japanese language. If simply having access to excellent study material or a learning environment were the key to language learning success, anyone today with an Internet connection or a good textbook would become a successful learner. However, without the proper insight and understanding of what it really takes to master Japanese, the reality is that most aspiring Japanese learners ultimately fail in their quest to master the language or even gain a basic level of fluency.

How to Master Japanese provides a full insider’s glimpse of what it really takes to succeed at Japanese, both inside the classroom and beyond, in order to attain a true functional proficiency in the language. As you read, you will learn how to negotiate the many unique nuances of Japanese culture, as well as avoid the many pitfalls and detours in the learning process that can result in years, if not an entire lifetime, of lost time and frustrated effort in attempting to learn the Japanese language and grasp the complicated intricacies of Japanese culture.

Topics covered include:

-Succeeding in Classroom Japanese
-Study Abroad in Japan
-Japanese Foreign Exchange
-Successful Japanese Self-study
-Conquering Kanji
-Mastering Spoken Japanese
-Negotiating Japanese Social Conventions
-Making the Most of Your Stay in Japan
-Advanced Japanese Language Study
-Sex, Romance and the Japanese Language
-Teaching English in Japan
-How to Make Your Japanese Marketable
-Working in Japan for a Japanese Company
-How to Find a Japanese Specialization
-Maintaining and Improving Japanese Post-Japan
-How to Break into the Japanese Translation Industry
-And Much More

How to Master Japanese is a must-read for any aspiring Japanese learner and is full of first-hand insight into the nuances of the Japanese language and culture for any reader with even a passing interest in the language and culture of Japan.

Genres: Japan, Japanese Literature, Language

188 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 11, 2014

Reviews

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. If your goal in reading it is to learn how to master Japanese, it’s not entirely that kind of book. There are some helpful tips along the way which are all backed by his success in implementing them (fluency within 4 years!), but the story is mainly about his journey to fluency. If you’re discouraged about your Japanese learning progress, want to know what you can actually use your Japanese for professionally, are interested in Japanese culture, or want to know if fluency is possible for us average folk, this is a good book for you.

[Jonathon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Answers many questions regarding technique and time needed in regards to learning Japanese

The book follows the learning journey of the author as he slowly becomes fluent in Japanese. If you're having a hard time learning a language recommend this book.

[K. Isaure · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book taught me about commitment and perseverance in studying a language and culture and how to give my best to that language and improve daily sk that I can master the nuances and intricacies of the language and culture that make it light up like a starry night.

Mastering Japanese

In the land of the rising sun, I've set my sight,
To master Japanese, with all my might,
With kanji strokes, I start my quest,
To unlock a language, deemed the best.

Hiragana and katakana, I embrace,
The building blocks, to reach a new space,
The sounds of words, so beautifully distinct,
I immerse myself, in every single blink.

Grammar rules, like a puzzle to solve,
Each particle, a story to evolve,
Politeness and honor, deeply ingrained,
In conversations, respect is gained.

Through manga and anime, I dive in deep,
Culture and history, they gently seep,
From haikus to tankas, I try my hand,
Capturing moments, in art I expand.

Konnichiwa and sayonara, I proudly say,
With every step, I'm learning, come what may,
Mastering Japanese, a lifelong endeavor,
A language of beauty, I'll cherish forever.

(10/6/2023)

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book; it was relatively informative and I liked reading about the author’s story, but it ended up being a book about, “Here’s how to become fluent: move to Japan!” Although the author gives some alternatives to learn the language other than moving there, he primarily focuses on him learning the language by moving to the country, which I think is a cop-out. I’d rather read a story about someone who gained fluency by not marrying a Japanese spouse or moving to the country/spending significant time there, as it doesn’t apply to the average learner and isn’t affordable for most people.

[Alex Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book, that provided me with some real actionable advice that you can use in order to improve upon your levels of Japanese.

I also really enjoyed the exploration of Jones experience in Japan and with Japanese culture, as it gave me a lot of insight into what a future in Japan might look like, should I want to do so.

Regardless, I think that it is good motivation, that can encourage anyone to start to or continue pursuing the great language that is Japanese.

[Michlt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relevant for anyone hoping to become bilingual- in any language

This language learning journey is superficially a Japanese journey, but from some personal experiences in becoming fluent and living briefly in Germany, I appreciate the value of this well-written account for anyone determined to become bilingual as an adult.

[Jarmo Annunen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the book I needed

I tried to Google how to study Japanese. This books pretty much covers it.

Don't expect to learn any Japanese from this book. Its lesson lies somewhere else.

[Rui · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little book on how to learn Japanese. The author obviously is both a hardworking and lucky man who got a very good chance to learn Japanese in a scientific way in the early stage and then went to Japan for more advanced studies.

[George Deal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What a GREAT book.

It covered all the pitfalls. It gave me a lot of insight.
I don't know if I'll ever become fluent but I do know that I'll study Nihongo mainichi for the rest of my life.
Banzai!
Arigatou Gozaimasita.

[Yang Chin Wei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I pleasantly surprised to find this an interesting read. I had zero expectations while reading the first few pages. I couldn't stop and I finished in two days.

[Omar Tovar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been studying Japanese for some years now and it has been both a rewarding and frustrating experience. Japanese is such a different language and it requires a different approach than learning for example english-similar languages like french or german. I thought this book would give me concrete tools to improve the way I was studying and learning Japanese but aside from some useful tips and cultural references (that could be summarised in a couple of pages) this book is more about the author's life and experience. It is an entertaining read but the name is misleading; it should be called: My experience in Japan and in learning Japanese.

[Virginia Aikens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful, Encouraging, and Moving

I raced through this book in less than a week and I love it. Jones-San and his stories have made me so excited that I have decided to take the chance on trying to learn this amazing language. Thank you.

This book would be a fantastic resource for anyone looking for encouragement in their language studies and it is also just a fascinating piece of writing.