Of all the languages, Japanese ranks as one of the hardest to learn. The challenge lies in understanding the pictograph form of alphabet and an entirely different form of grammar that you may be used to. Newcomers to the language often feel overwhelmed when they are first introduced to this unfamiliar way of communicating. We already recognize that Japanese may be more difficult to learn because you are unfamiliar with much of the language, but did you know that the same process goes on with learning any new language? Following are some of the techniques to use in order to turn this big challenge into something you can do with ease.
To really learn a language like Japanese, you need to really be around it. If its practical, travel to Japan and go around on your own, without the help of a translator. You might find that you understand more than you think you do. This is the best way for many people to completely immerse themselves in Japanese. It forces them to leave their native language behind and truly open themselves up to new forms of communication. If you don't have the time or funds to travel to Japan, the second best thing is to spend time in a Japanese neighborhood where you can hear the language being spoken. There is another way that does not involve any travel to immerse yourself in Japanese; for a month or so, watch only Japanese programs and films; don't choose the option for subtitles, as you don't want to give yourself this help. This is a good way to learn many new words and phrases.
One thing you should do is find a tutor. You may want to take a class, which is a great idea, but you should still get a tutor.
When learning such as difficult language, there is no substitute for having someone fluent in Japanese to work with. When you have a tutor, you will be able to more quickly correct the inevitable mistakes a newcomer to the language will make; you will especially appreciate this when you want to speak on your own to native speakers of Japanese. More importantly, your tutor might know some learning tips and tricks that you can use to help you better retain your new language.
You should also use flash cards. It will be useful to have several varieties of flash cards for studying Japanese. You'll want a set that helps you learn your vocabulary and grammar. You also want to be able to read in Japanese, so you should have flash cards that teach you how to form and understand all the characters of the alphabet.
You can use one side of the cards for the Japanese writing and on the other side write out how it sounds phonetically, using your own alphabet. If you do use more than one set of flash cards, keep them separate to avoid confusion! There is no shortage of tricks and helpful tools to make learning a language easier. Find out what techniques jibe with the way you learn best, and stick with these. What you want to keep in mind is that you are capable of learning Japanese. If you are persistent and keep working at it, you will one day be fluent in Japanese!