Why You’re Struggling to Speak Japanese (And How to Fix It)

Hello everyone! みなさん、こんにちは。ミヤです。 My name is Miya and I'm a Japanese teacher currently teaching online and out of school in Akita Prefecture. Do you know where it is? It's in Tohoku area. Tohoku is the north part of Japan. So it's very cold right now. So I've decided to start this YouTube channel to share tips about learning Japanese. Today, I want to address a question that I get all the time, which is, How can I improve my speaking skills? Many learners tell me that they can understand and read Japanese, but speaking Japanese feels so difficult. If this sounds like you, keep watching. I will share insights from my own experiences learning languages, especially English and from teaching Japanese. So first, let's remember, language is a tool for communication. Speaking and connecting with others is the ultimate goal. Of course, passing tests like JLPT is important for some people. For example, if you want to go to university in Japan, you need it. But what really matters is being able to use Japanese in real life. Whether you're working with a teacher or studying alone, consistent practice is the key to speaking fluently. And here are my top tips. Number one, output is everything. Many learners focus too much on input, which is reading and listening, and neglect output, which is writing and speaking. If you want to speak Japanese, you need to say the words out loud. Practice shadowing, reading sentences, and mimicking native speakers. Okay? So it's not just like reading a textbook, learning new words, and okay. わかりました。 I got it. No. No, not just saying, I got it. Not that. Try to say the words out loud. Can you use the vocabulary? Can you use the grammar? Can you say, can you make the sound of it? That's the important part. So here's what happened to me. I had a lot of passive vocabularies, which means I can understand them, I can hear them. When I try to use the word, try to pronounce the word, I couldn't just make the sounds. It just didn't come out from my mouth. I couldn't use it. That means the words weren't active at all. The speaking and understanding is a completely different thing. Please try to say the word out loud. Okay? That's the key. Number two, make mistakes. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. The more you try to speak, the faster you will improve. Making mistakes is one of the best parts of learning Japanese or any kinds of language. Number three, create opportunities to speak. If you don't live in Japan or don't have any Japanese friends, find online language exchange partner or join online Japanese lessons. Speaking with others, even for a few minutes a day, makes a huge difference. Or you can talk to yourself in Japanese. That's what I do when I study speaking English because I'm kind of shy. So it's hard for me to find online, you know, a language exchange partner. Just talking to yourself. You don't have to wait for anyone. You can just wake up, start talking to yourself in Japanese, and that's the easiest way to speak. You know, like kind of... But it actually helps. Just like a few minutes is enough, actually. Just like 15 to 20 minutes studying Japanese is gonna be enough for you. Joining like three hours online lessons or classes would be kind of hard, you know. Like I don't have any time, you know. Like work is busy in the class. I'll be late for the class. I understand it. But if you tell me you don't have 15 to 20 minutes a day, you are not really into Japanese study. Okay, so let's move on to the second question. Do I need a teacher or a language school? Okay, I teach Japanese online and I teach Japanese at a school as well. But here's my honest opinion. You don't always need a Japanese teacher or a language school to improve your speaking. No matter how amazing your teacher is, how great the school is, what really matters is what you do outside of class. Your progress depends on how much you practice on your own. Just taking online lessons or attending language school won't automatically make you fluent in Japanese. There is no magic. There is no superpower. It's a long journey, guys. But it's gonna be fun. So don't worry. What you do outside of class is what truly counts. But there are times when having a teacher can make a big difference. Here are two key areas where teachers are helpful. One, building a strong foundation. If you're just starting out, a teacher can help you avoid common mistakes and guide you through tricky grammar. Learning the basics correctly saves you time in the long run. When I was studying English by myself because I didn't have a teacher, it took me a while to figure out foundational grammar by myself. Having a teacher would make the process so much faster and smoother. Clarifying nuances Japanese has subtle differences in meaning and uses that aren't always obvious. For example, why are there three different ways to translate one English word? A teacher can explain these nuances and answer questions that might confuse you if you study alone. When I was learning English, I didn't have a teacher most of the time. I went to a language school in the US. But to be honest, I can't remember what I learned. But the school helped me build confidence in speaking English that I was exposed to in class. And English outside of class were a completely different problem. Okay, so in a language school, teachers speak slower. Like they don't use difficult vocabulary. But when I started internship, it was a mess. I couldn't understand anything. But if I didn't go to the language school, I didn't even try to do the internship. It helped me build the confidence. But English in real life and English in a language school was a completely different thing. That's what I would say. So one turning point was when I put myself in situations where I have to speak English. Like internship and conversations with native speakers. Those real life experiences pushed my English to the next level. Learning Japanese or any kinds of language, I would say, isn't just about studying. It's about connecting with people. When you start speaking Japanese, you open the door to new friendship, opportunities, and experiences that can make your life brighter and colorful. I hope my experience helps. If you're learning Japanese, be sure to keep challenging yourself and step out of your comfort zone. You will get there. Don't worry. So thank you for watching. See you in the next video. Bye!