My Japanese Learning Journey

In today's article I'll take you on my LONG journey of how I studied Japanese, and you'll learn when I'm still not good at it.

How It All Started

I first started to study Japanese in 2015, after I decided I wanted to move there. I didn't know where to begin so, of course I googled it. I felt that I didn't necessarily want to learn from a book. I wanted a more fun way to learn. Therefore, I decided to try the Human Japanese app. It was soooo much fun! I read over the Hiragana part multiple times. I did it every night before going to bed. I started to practice writing from there. I would practice when I had time at work. I learned some Katakana, but I really took a liking to Hiragana.

My First Year in Japan

My first year in Japan, I tried to use the Human Japanese app…I had paid for it so I could still use it. But to be honest, life got in the way. I don't want to make excuses as to why I didn't learn, I've had a "friend" jump down my throat already regarding this issue, but I was genuinely busy. Nearly every weekend, I had something planned. The reason being was because I hated my job, so it was a good way to escape. I didn't want to think about anything on the weekend besides having fun. It's not a good way to think, but I was in a new country. There was so much I wanted to see. So... No, I didn't study... Like at all. I was just trying to stay afloat, but it didn’t happen LOL.

And What About My Second Year?

My second year in Japan, was a little bit better. Before my company owned my apartment, and I lived about five minutes away, by walk. I didn't like my first job, but it anyway, I was coddled a bit. I didn't have to worry about getting my electricity or water cut on, I didn't have to worry when I went to the doctor, I didn't even have to worry regarding my ID card. If I ever needed anything, I could ask the manager. I got very veeery comfortable with that.
However, my second year, I had moved on from my previous company. I had to figure out how to change my address on my ID card, I had to get my own apartment with the utilities in my name. I had to get internet and figure out how to get a train pass. In other words, I had to interact more with people in the real world. Which I'm not sure if I was ready for, but I survived. But to be honest, I STILL didn't really study Japanese!!!!

Kumon

I tried to do Kumon for a few months. If you don't know, Kumon is an eikaiwa in Japan. They usually teach English to Japanese people, but they do offer other languages to learn. So, I tried to do Kumon. They sent me CDs, I had a teacher that I could communicate with monthly. But the price is about 100 dollars a month!! I would prefer to go to class if I'm paying that much, but they didn't offer that course at any of the Kumons' that I lived near. I was out of luck.

And Now...

This is officially my THIRD year in Japan. I lived in the Philippines for a few months, and it really made me want to study Japanese again! I ordered the book Japanese From Zero, and I studied very hard... For a while! I stopped once I returned to Japan again. THEN, I tried to study using the app Duolingo. I'll admit that I did learn sentence structures with Duolingo, and I even learned some new Kanji. I was doing it every day but stopped AGAIN.
Currently, I just started going to a Japanese class offered at my local station. So far, so good, I just hope I can study well!
I'll update you on my studying, or lack thereof soon!

P.S. Even though I have studied Japanese on and off for a little over three years, I still don’t feel completely comfortable reading and writing Katakana. I feel more comfortable reading and somewhat writing in Hiragana. I don’t know why I have such a hard time with Katakana, but I’ll try my best to study EVERYTHING