Sunday, December 5th
2021 Japanese Lesson Reviews
Memrise
- No cost for a basic Memrise account
- Wider range of features available with paid Memrise Pro subscription
- Uses video snippets of native Japanese speakers in authentic environments
- Plenty of user-created content as well as Memrise lessons
- Multiple fluency levels available
- 30-day money-back guarantee
With over 60 million users spanning the globe, Memrise has been teaching people to speak new languages for over a decade. Their Japanese lessons strike the perfect balance between the repetition you need to commit words and phrases to memory and the entertaining features that will keep you interested and studying regularly.
Excellent native speaker video clips in real-life settings
Memrise is a regular first-place winner when it comes to language lessons, due in large part to the way they teach using authentic video content. Even when you start at the very beginning with Memrise's Japanese 0 - The Basics, you'll learn how to write in Japanese by seeing real people paint, draw, and write out the symbols of the language. We can't say enough about how effective this is for learning by seeing and hearing at the same time, in a context that lets you hear how many different people sound in Japanese. It also lets you start picking up on subtle gestures and mannerisms they use while they speak; we all know how touchy it can be when English-speakers do something with their body or hands that's totally normal at home but shockingly offensive when used in another culture. Why not acquire that body language while you learn the words too?
Grow your learning
While you use Memrise, it tracks your progress using the symbol of a growing plant. As you practice, each word grows from a seed, to a plant, to a full flower as it gets "fully rooted" in your memory. It's a nice visual to see how much you've learned. There are also leaderboards that track your points and rank you against other Japanese students, but you can ignore that aspect if competition doesn't motivate you.
So much to learn
Even if you're an intermediate or advanced student, Memrise has Japanese content to challenge you. There are eight levels of lessons to choose from, going from the basics at Level 0 all the way to Level 7's vocabulary for technology and phrases to make people laugh. But, that's not all. This platform allows users to generate and upload their own content, giving you even more opportunities to custom-design your learning. Holiday survival kit? "Very casual and slangy" Japanese? Pokemon Let's Go Japanese Helper? Those are just a few of the user-created lesson plans we found that caught our attention.
Costs
- Free for basic account
- $8.99/month
- $90/year
- $139.99/lifetime membership
Get more with a membership
Memrise lets you use their platform as long as you like, totally free. A bargain! However, if you want to use all of the features they offer, especially their tools for reviewing what you learn, you'll need one of their paid plans. Even those are a deal: regular pricing is $8.99/month, $90/year, or $139.99 for a lifetime membership. Here's a pro tip: look for discounts before you buy your Memrise subscription. Over the last few months, we've seen annual plan discounts of as much as 50%, both featured on the Memrise website and sent to our inboxes, and around the holidays you could score a lot of savings on their lifetime membership too.
30 day satisfaction guarantee
The paid plan is the best way to get the most out of your Japanese lessons here, largely because it gives you a ton of control over your review: practice listening skills, focus on "learning with locals" videos, or queue up just the words that have been difficult for you, for example. You're protected by Memrise's 30-day satisfaction guarantee with any plan you purchase.
Best option available for Japanese lessons
It's no secret that we love Memrise, and we think you will too. The videos here are the opposite of "stuffy" and "traditional" , but the platform still manages to teach in a way that helps the language stick. These Japanese lessons are budget-friendly, though you could use them for a long time and never pay a dollar (or yen). And, because there's always new content to enjoy, your Memrise account grows with you as you advance in fluency. For all of these reasons, this is our favorite choice for Japanese lessons for every ability level.
More Japanese Lesson Reviews
The 9 Best Japanese Lessons
Where Can You Find the Best Japanese Lessons Online?
Lots of people ask that question because Japanese is the fifth-most studied language in the United States! What's driving its popularity? It'll come as no surprise that many learners develop an interest in Japanese because of manga, anime, and video games. Others realize that speaking Japanese can offer significant advantages in the worlds of technology and business. And, of course, many travelers like to learn at least the basics before spending time in Japan - to better appreciate the culture and to communicate more effectively in-country.
No matter what your reasons are, studying Japanese can be challenging. Because it uses a writing system that's completely different from what you already know from English, learning it can take much longer than mastering languages that use the Roman alphabet (like Spanish or German). You might even need to figure out how to use your keyboard differently!
Japanese Lesson FAQ
Continued from above...
Also, it used to be tricky just to find Japanese lessons. If you didn't live near a university or in an area with a significant Japanese-speaking population, your chances of finding classes were pretty slim.
Not anymore! Today there are many ways to take Japanese classes online, from traditional grammar lessons and flashcards for memorization, to live video sessions with a personal tutor who can help you master a flawless accent. Whether you need an app you can use on-the-go to sneak in study sessions or you have plenty of time to sit at a computer and practice, you'll have no problem finding Japanese lessons that match your availability and your budget.
As you start to explore the possibilities for taking Japanese lessons, you might feel a bit overwhelmed. How can you determine which program is right for you? You may find it helpful to keep the following criteria in mind as you consider your options:
- Teaching Style. Japanese lessons can be delivered in a variety of ways, such as game-like apps, one-on-one sessions over video, and exercises that help you speak, read, write and understand the language. Pick a platform that feels like a natural fit for the way you learn best.
- Free Trial. It's hard to know if a language program is a good match without giving it a try! Take full advantage of any sample lessons, limited-time access to the student dashboard, or any other opportunity to use the Japanese lessons before you purchase a package or subscription.
- Levels of Difficulty. Most Japanese lessons are suitable for beginners, but what about as you advance? Choosing a platform with plenty of content across fluency levels - beginner, intermediate, and advanced - means that you won't have to start the search over again as you become more proficient in Japanese.
- Satisfaction Guarantee. Once you've paid for a membership or bought a lesson package, can you get a refund if you change your mind? Read the terms carefully, especially if you're using Japanese lessons that are subscription-based.
To help you get the most out of your language studies, Top Consumer Reviews has tested, evaluated and ranked the best options for online Japanese lessons today. We know this information will give you all the info you need to choose the best program for your learning style and schedule.
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