First, I'd suggest starting with the "Japanese Basics" lessons in the Learn tab.
Learning Japanese is going to take years of effort, and the biggest challenge for most people is staying motivated. So, the most important thing is to establish a routine that works for you.
My personal approach, is to try to study a bit of vocab, kanji, grammar, and sentences here each day, with some fun reading and listening outside. I like the approach of doing it every day, because it is now a habit, which makes it less likely that I'll quit. I like doing a little bit of each area, because you need all of them to read anything interesting, and the outside reading keeps me motivated.
This works for me, but your results may vary. Again, the most important thing is to establish a routine that works for you.
I'd also recommend the Japanese from Zero videos on you tube (you don't need the text book).
Yes, as someone who is currently studying two languages at the same time, I recommend finding a routine that works for you. And for me, I just try to find something fun, that keeps me wanting to learn. If I’m having trouble studying I’ll take a break and watch anime, or try to read manga. (in Japanese)
I’ve heard that the more you immerse yourself in a language (for example watching videos in Japanese or reading in Japanese) the better. Your brain has to figure out how to change so you understand what’s going on. On YouTube I watch “SakurakumoAUN”, “mini cute club” and sometimes “gudetama”. They’re fairly easy to understand and you can get other hidden bits of information, like what sound effects they use. I’ve found Japanese channels put some words on the screen which is nice. Some people (like myself) listen to a lot of Japanese music, and it’s almost a reward for me when I understand a word, it not only tells me I understand what they said, but it makes me want to learn more. Others say listening to music is iffy because sometimes pronunciation is a little off or structure is not right but remember, it’s music. Eventually there may be a time where you feel like you aren’t learning anything but keep pushing on. I agree with Anonymus123, The Japanese from zero series is really good. Also, if you write little notes around the house labeling things in Japanese, it may help you to learn without knowing you’re learning! Good luck!
I strongly recommend in-person lessons with a native speaker for at least a semester to prevent you from developing bad habits. Once you get a feel for the language, it’s much easier to engage in self-directed study, but in the beginning, it’s too much. Most people likely will feel overwhelmed before they make any significant progress.
unless you've learned a language (outside of your native one) before, half of your time will be figuring out what works for you. Don't be discouraged, and don't give up. Once you find the method that works for you, keep at it. Even a bad method done consistently will get you somewhere.
I keep a notebook in which I write the lessons, and in turn it helps me practice writing. I also agree with the others above! Let's do our best learning!
