Stop Just Collecting Apps! Use This 'Cooking' Approach to Bring Your Japanese to Life
Is your phone also filled with a bunch of Japanese learning apps gathering dust?
One day you're using an app to practise Hiragana and Katakana, the next you're using another to memorise vocabulary, and the day after you download yet another to practise listening… The result? Your phone memory is full, your favourites list is gathering dust, and your Japanese proficiency seems to be stuck in a rut.
We often assume that if our language learning isn't progressing, it's because the apps aren't good enough or there aren't enough methods. But the truth might be quite the opposite: It's precisely because there are too many tools that we lose our way.
Learning a Language is Actually Very Much Like Learning to Cook
Imagine you want to learn how to prepare a top-notch Japanese dish.
How would a novice approach it? They'd rush into the supermarket, buy all the impressive-looking seasonings, the most exotic ingredients, and the highest-tech kitchen gadgets off the shelves, and bring them home. What's the result? The kitchen is overflowing, but they stare at a pile of "magic tools," completely overwhelmed, and probably end up ordering takeout.
So, how would a true master chef do it? They'd first plan today's "menu," which is their core strategy. Then, with just a few of the freshest core ingredients and one or two handy kitchen tools, they'd focus on preparing a delicious meal.
Do you 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 your hands dirty and "cook."
Those apps lying in your phone are just kitchen tools. If you don't have your own learning "recipe," even the best "pot" will only serve to cover instant noodles.
Your Three-Step Japanese 'Cooking Method'
Instead of compulsively downloading apps, it's better to establish a simple, efficient system. This "three-step cooking method" below might offer you some insights.
Step One: Prepare the Main Ingredients (Lay a Solid Foundation)
To make any dish, you first need to prepare the main ingredients. It's the same with learning Japanese; Hiragana, Katakana, basic vocabulary, and core grammar are your "meat" and "vegetables." At this stage, you need a tool that can help you get started systematically, not fragmented, piecemeal information.
Forget those flashy, gimmicky features. An app like LingoDeer or Duolingo, which guides you step-by-step through levels like a game and helps you build a robust knowledge base, is more than enough.
Goal: To achieve the foundational accumulation from zero to one with focus and efficiency. Just like chopping and prepping ingredients, the process requires concentration, don't get distracted.
Step Two: Simmer Gently (Create an Immersive Environment)
Once the main ingredients are prepared, the next step is to slowly "simmer" them over low heat, allowing the flavours to seep in. This is the process of cultivating your "language intuition." You need a large amount of comprehensible input to immerse yourself in the Japanese environment.
This doesn't mean you have to bite off more than you can chew (like watching Japanese dramas or news that you completely don't understand). You can:
- Listen to simple stories: Find an audiobook app, like
Beelinguapp, where you can listen to Japanese narration while reading along with the Chinese translation, 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, making it very suitable for beginner to intermediate learners.
Goal: To integrate Japanese into your life and effortlessly get your ears and eyes accustomed to the language in a stress-free manner. This process is like simmering soup; it requires patience, not high heat.
Step Three: Stir-fry in the Pan (Bravely Speak and Communicate)
This is the most crucial step, and also where most people get stuck.
You've prepared all the ingredients, and you've slow-cooked them for a long time, but if you don't dare to "put them in the pan and turn on the heat," it will forever remain a plate of raw vegetables. Language is for communication; only through real conversation can everything you've learned truly become your own.
Many people are afraid to speak. Afraid of what? Afraid of making mistakes, afraid of getting tongue-tied, afraid the other person won't understand, afraid of embarrassment.
This is like a novice chef afraid of burning the dish by using too much heat. But what if you had a "smart wok" that could automatically help you control the heat? Wouldn't you be brave enough to try?
This is precisely where tools like Lingogram can play a role.
It's not just a chat app; it's a practical training ground equipped with an "AI private tutor." When you're chatting with Japanese friends, if you don't know a word or are unsure of what the other person means, its built-in AI translation can immediately give you the most authentic suggestions and explanations.
It's like that "smart wok," eliminating your fear of the conversation dying down. You can bravely take the first step in communication in a safe, stress-free environment, and truly "stir-fry" the words and grammar in your mind into a steaming hot, delicious dish.
Stop Being an App Collector, Be a Food Connoisseur
Now, take another look at the apps on your phone.
Are they tools to help you prepare ingredients, simmer gently, or stir-fry in the pan? Have you planned out this "recipe" for yourself?
Remember, tools always serve a purpose. A good learner isn't the one with the most apps, but the one who best knows 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, and become a true "food connoisseur" who can savour the richness of the language.