Many of you probably have studied Japanese during college. After finishing school, you started working, stopped studying Japanese, and now what happened? You forgot what you have learned for 3+ years! 

Why does that happen?

After graduating from school, nobody gives you any assignments or exams, which means no deadlines and no letter grades. Also, a teacher or classmates who used to encourage you are no longer there to support you. Then, you might wonder, “how to keep learning Japanese after school?”. I totally understand because I had a similar experience with my English learning. Although I had wanted to work in a foreign country in the future, I stopped studying English after college and felt frustrated with that situation.

So today, I would like to share five steps to keep learning Japanese after college.

1. Find your reasons

The first step is to identify your reasons for learning Japanese. For instance, you may be interested in working in Japan in the near future. Do you want to have a deeper conversation with your Japanese friends? Ask yourself, “what is your reason for learning Japanese?”.

2. Explore your motivation

Discovering your motivation is essential for language learning because motivation is a driving force that compels you to keep learning toward the goal. Then, What’s the difference between reason and motivation? For example, you want to improve your Japanese to work in Japan in the future, which is your reason for learning Japanese. To discover your motivation, ask yourself these questions. How does fluency in Japanese change your life? What could perfect Japanese bring you? Your motivation should inspire you and help you shift your focus from the present moment to the future. Once you have discovered your chief motivation, write it down and keep reminding yourself to engage in your learning process.

I’ve talked about the first two steps to start learning Japanese on your own. Part two will outline the next three steps: planning, reflecting, and one more. Please check it out and continue your journey towards your Japanese goals.