Stop Just Collecting Apps! Use This 'Cooking' Approach to Bring Your Japanese to Life
Do you also have a pile of Japanese learning apps gathering dust on your phone?
One day you're using this app to practise hiragana and katakana, the next you're using that one to memorise vocabulary, and the day after you've downloaded another for listening practice... The result? Your phone memory is full, your saved apps are gathering dust, but your Japanese level seems to be stuck in neutral.
We always think that if we're not learning a language well, it's because the apps aren't good enough, or we haven't found enough methods. But the truth might be quite the opposite: it's precisely because we have too many tools that we lose our way.
Learning a Language is Actually a Lot Like Learning to Cook
Imagine you want to learn to prepare a top-tier Japanese dish.
What would a novice do? They'd rush into the supermarket, buy all the impressive-looking seasonings, the most exotic ingredients, and the latest high-tech kitchen gadgets. The result? A kitchen crammed full, but they'd be completely overwhelmed by a pile of 'miracle tools', and in the end, probably just order a takeaway.
And what would a true master chef do? They'd first plan today's 'menu' – their core strategy. Then, with just a few of the freshest, key ingredients and one or two handy utensils, they'd focus on preparing a delicious meal.
See the problem?
Learning a language isn't an arms race, it's not about who has collected the most apps. It's more like cooking: the key isn't how many tools you own, but whether you have a clear 'recipe' and whether you actually get hands-on and 'cook'.
Those apps sitting on your phone are just kitchen tools. If you don't have your own learning 'recipe', even the best 'pot' will only be good for covering instant noodles.
Your Three-Step Japanese 'Cooking Method'
Instead of frantically downloading apps, it's better to build a simple, efficient system. This 'three-step cooking method' might offer you some inspiration.
Step One: Prepare Your Main Ingredients (Lay a Solid Foundation)
For any dish, you need to prepare the main ingredients first. It's the same with learning Japanese: hiragana, katakana, basic vocabulary, and core grammar are your 'meat' and 'veg'. At this stage, you need a tool that helps you get started systematically, not piecemeal, fragmented information.
Forget the flashy, unnecessary features. An app like LingoDeer or Duolingo that guides you step-by-step, like a game, to build a solid knowledge base, is perfectly sufficient.
Goal: To focus efficiently on accumulating knowledge from scratch. Just like chopping and preparing ingredients, the process requires focus, without distraction.
Step Two: Simmer Gently (Create an Immersive Environment)
Once your main ingredients are ready, it's time to 'simmer' them slowly over a low heat, allowing the flavours to permeate. This is the process of cultivating your 'language sense'. You need a large amount of comprehensible input, allowing yourself to be immersed in a Japanese environment.
This doesn't mean you should 'chew raw meat' (i.e., watch Japanese dramas or news you don't understand at all). You can:
- Listen to simple stories: Find some audiobook apps, like
Beelinguapp, where you can listen to Japanese narration while following along with the Chinese text, making it as relaxing as listening to a bedtime story. - Read simplified news: For example,
NHK News Web Easypresents real news using simpler vocabulary and grammar, which is perfect for intermediate and lower-level learners.
Goal: Integrate Japanese into your daily life, and effortlessly 'train your ears' and 'train your eyes'. This process is like stewing soup; it requires patience, not a roaring fire.
Step Three: Stir-Fry in the Wok (Bravely Start Speaking)
This is the most crucial step, and also where most people get stuck.
You've prepared all the ingredients, and you've simmered them gently for a long time, but if you don't dare to 'put them in the wok and turn up the heat', it will forever remain just a plate of raw ingredients. Language is for communication; only through real conversations can everything you've learned truly become your own.
Many people are afraid to speak. What are they afraid of? Making mistakes, fumbling for words, being misunderstood, or feeling embarrassed.
It's like a novice chef afraid of turning the heat too high and burning the dish. But if there was a 'smart wok' that could automatically control the temperature for you, wouldn't you be much braver about trying?
This is precisely where a tool like Lingogram comes into its own.
It's not just a chat app; it's a practical arena equipped with an 'AI private tutor'. When you're chatting with Japanese friends, if you can't think of a word or are unsure what they mean, its built-in AI translation can immediately give you the most authentic suggestions and explanations.
It's like that 'smart wok', helping you overcome the fear of 'killing the conversation'. In a safe, low-pressure environment, you can bravely take that first step in communication, truly 'stir-frying' the words and grammar in your mind into a steaming plate of delicious 'cuisine'.
Stop Being a Collector, Become a Connoisseur
Now, take another look at the apps on your phone.
Are they tools that help you prepare ingredients, simmer gently, or stir-fry? Have you planned out this 'recipe' for yourself?
Remember, tools always serve a purpose. A good learner isn't someone who owns the most apps, but rather someone who knows best how to combine the fewest tools to create the most efficient process.
Starting today, delete those distracting apps and design a clear 'Japanese cooking recipe' for yourself.
Stop being just an app collector; become a 'connoisseur' who can truly savour the delights of language.