How to learn Japanese efficiently?
Understanding and applying mnemonic encoding strategies is crucial when it comes to teaching yourself Japanese and passing the JLPT quickly. From the perspective of an experienced JLPT teacher and professor of mnemonics, here are some in-depth methods and techniques that can help learners learn Japanese words more efficiently and achieve quick results in passing the exam.
Understanding Memory Encoding Strategies
Memory encoding strategy is a psychological concept that refers to the process of how the brain relates new information to existing knowledge. Effective mnemonic strategies can significantly improve learning efficiency and long-term memory retention. In the context of Japanese language learning, this means not just rote memorization of words and phrases, but making new vocabulary stronger and easier to recall by creatively connecting it to known information.
Ways to learn Japanese words efficiently
1. Similar word group memorization method
Utilizing the similarity of vocabulary in Japanese, such as “words of the same origin or the same kind of words”, it is possible to learn them in groups. For example, the words “学習” (がくしゅう, study) and “学生” (がくせい, student) both contain the word “学”, so memorizing them together can help learners remember each word faster. Learners can memorize the meaning and usage of each word more quickly by putting them together.
2. Using phonetic association
There are many words with similar pronunciations in Japanese. For example, “橋” (hashi, bridge) and “箸” (hashi, chopsticks). By associating words with the same pronunciation, you can [“Strengthen memorization through similarity of sounds.“] (https://www.unithing.org/tango/n5)
3. Learning Words with Similar Structures
Focus on words that are similar in structure. For example, [“Mr.“] (https://www.unithing.org/tango/g01/n5/g01n5f0174001/#toc-vn5b20ac) (せんせい, teacher) and “student “(がくせい, student) both end in “生”, and this structural similarity helps to deepen memorization.
4. Practical contextualization
Learning words in sentences not only helps to memorize them, but also to understand their usage. For example, not only memorizing “食べる”(たべる, to eat), but also learning how to use it in different sentences, such as “私は寿司を食べる” (I eat sushi).