As a student in the Department of Foreign Language and Literature (DFLL) in NTU, you major in literature, linguistics, and languages. In your first year of the university, it’s necessary for you to learn a second language (while some students who are fond of languages may learn their third language, fourth language, etc.). Considering which language to learn, you may think of those intriguing Japanese dramas, famous singers such as “AKB48”, and some popular animations. Perhaps you have traveled to Japan and were impressed by its traditional, modest culture, and enjoyed breathtaking view of Mt. Fuji. In the end, you made up your mind to learn Japanese!
However, have you ever talked to other DFLL students who have had the experience of learning Japanese? Do you know what to be aware of and what to expect? I thought that I was well prepared in the beginning; nonetheless, I still encountered some difficulties that I did not expect. I could have dealt with them much more easily if I had had the information I am giving you here. After learning Japanese for a year and getting A+ for two semesters, the tips I provided here are some effective ways that you can apply. I’ll mainly focus on three fundamental things: buy three suitable reference books, preview the lesson before class and review it after class, and make yourself take delight in learning it.
Before you start learning Japanese, buying “suitable reference books” is of great importance. Why do I emphasize “suitable reference books” here? There are large amount of Japanese learning materials in bookstores or on-line. Nonetheless, a few are not that suitable for beginners. When I started to learn Japanese, I bought a book called “My First Japanese Grammar Book” on-line, since I considered grammar extremely important and these book might be suitable for a beginner like me. Nonetheless, when I read it, it almost made me lose the interest of learning Japanese. The sentence patterns in