If you plan to teach yourself Japanese, there are a number of things you should look for. The absolute worst thing that can happen isn’t not knowing what to study – there are a million and then some resources that will happily tell you what you should learn. The worst thing about self-studying Japanese is that you have approximately a 90% chance of quitting within the first month, after you’ve spent all that money buying that textbook or computer software.

Think about the different Japanese learning options that are out there:

  • Computer software like Pimsleur, Rocket, or Rosetta Stone.
  • Classes at a local school, community center, or college.
  • Hiring a private tutor.
  • Self teaching yourself using resources found on the internet.
  • Regular Textbooks.

How many of them have you tried? I bet for some of you it’s every single one, and for others (you are the lucky ones) you are still doing your research to decide what method is best. How many of the above have you attempted? Let’s go through these four methods and find out what they’re missing.

  • Computer Software: These programs claim to be the “answer-all” solution to Japanese learning, yet for some reason most people who use them end up quitting in the first two weeks. Software like these are notorious for charging ridiculous amounts, offloading most of their money into advertising, and pulling off quick turn-overs.
  • Classes at a Local School: The problem with classes is they move at the pace of the slowest student. If you’re the slowest student, then sure, that’s great, but I’m guessing you’re a little smarter (and more motivated) than that. There’s a reason why people who take classes take 4, 5, 6+ years to learn a language. Although it’s great that you have a guide and a teacher, the pace is far from ideal.
  • Hiring a Private Tutor: Hiring a private tutor is expensive, and often times hit-or-miss. Depending on your luck, you could have a great experience or a terrible one (and lose a lot of money in the process). Even if you do come across someone amazing, the learning process just isn’t scalable. Since that tutor has other things to do (besides teaching you), they can only give you so many materials, and the learning process becomes constricted.
  • Self Teaching Yourself: I don’t know how many people I’ve seen try this route. Unfortunately, for most people, it just can’t be done. You don’t have quality guidance, there’s no way to know if you’re doing the right thing, and most people just end up quitting because they’re not sure what to do next.
  • Regular Textbooks: Normal Textbooks have a couple of faults. 1) They’re made to be used in a classroom, which means there’s a lot of information missing (the “how” and the “why” of Japanese learning) unless you have a teacher to guide you, and 2) no matter how long you own one of these textbooks, it will never change (unless you buy a new edition when it comes out). TextFugu, on the other hand, regularly gets updated with new lessons, useful revisions, extra worksheets, and more! Of course, you get every update absolutely free.

SELF-TEACHING YOURSELF JAPANESE

TextFugu has been written with one type of student in mind: The “Self-Teacher.” No other textbook can make this claim, which is why their “quitter-rates” are so high. As you go through the text, you’ll notice that TextFugu takes you as a student seriously. Instead of just learning about “what” you need to learn, it’s important to spend just as much time on “how” and “why” you should be learning it. If those two things are missing, you’ll find yourself becoming frustrated and unmotivated to continue.

  • Don’t waste time, create it: One thing everybody needs is more (quality) time. One really important aspect of Textfugu is efficiency. There are complete lessons dedicated to time management hacks, reducing other time-sucking parts of your life to focus on things you really want to accomplish (like Japanese!), and more. Everything is carefully put together so you can get the biggest results for the least amount of time, without sacrificing quality.
  • Reduce the quitter-rate: As you know by now, one of the biggest problems out there when it comes to learning any new language is the rate at which people quit. 90% of people don’t make it past the first month, and it always surprises me that almost nobody addresses this. TextFugu really wants to keep you going. We integrate your interests into the lessons, keep things fun, and even have a system that lets you make money while using TextFugu by making suggestions on things you’d like to see (which means you can help shape the experience to be better for you!)
  • Content updates: Originally, TextFugu was going to be an e-book. As I thought about this more, however, I realized that this would make it more difficult for you to receive updates. In it’s current form, TextFugu can get updates in real time, which means as you study with TextFugu, it grows along with you so you always have something to do even when you’re at an advanced level of Japanese (you’ll get there!).
  • Utilize the best content available: Sometimes, someone else has done such a great job at something that there’s no other way to compete. I’m always very happy to admit this, and integrate the best of both worlds into the TextFugu content. For example, you’ll be using Smart.fm for flashcard learning, and lang-8 to meet and find language partners to practice writing with. By doing this, it makes sure you are always getting the best experience possible.
  • Make things simple: The best math teacher I ever had was also the P.E. teacher of my high school. His motto was “If someone as dumb as me can do it, so can you.” Really, though, he wasn’t stupid at all. His “trick” (if you can call it that) was to simplify everything down to its most basic parts. Sadly, most people (who are really good at a particular subject) have trouble simplifying things into understandable chunks. Einstein said it best: “Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.” TextFugu has already done that leg-work for you.
  • Inspiring Emails: Sometimes we get in funks. That’s okay. You’ll receive monthly “inspiring e-mails” that will help you get off your butt and get you studying Japanese again. Although this isn’t 100% TextFugu’s responsibility, the more that can be done to make you excited about Japanese learning, the better!

TextFugu will take you through everything you need to know to become conversationally fluent in Japanese within 3-6 months. This is made possible through real-life time saving tips, an obsession with efficiency (without losing quality), and content that’s designed to integrate your own favorite subjects and activities. I’m also so sure that you’ll love TextFugu, that I’m offering a 110% refund if you don’t think it’s the absolute best textbook for self-teaching yourself Japanese.

Get TextFugu now to get all the content, worksheets, cheat sheets, lessons, and more! If you are looking to learn Japanese, there is no better time than now to get started. Remember, no regrets six months from now, right?

Because I’m so convinced that you will love TextFugu, I’m offering a 110% money-back guarantee. Just e-mail me within the first week, and I’ll return to you 110% of what you paid. There’s no risk to try it out (not to mention you can already “test-drive” TextFugu with seven free lessons in Season 1 to see if it’s right for you!). My main goal in life is to help as many people as possible have a great Japanese learning experience, so make sure you get your Japanese language journey started now no matter you end up using!

If you have any questions about TextFugu, take a look at our FAQ or read our About page. You can also e-mail us at questions@textfugu.com. Now, I have been talking about TextFugu and the strategies used for a while now. Let’s see what others have said:

“I have learned more with his [Koichi's] guidance then I have in 6 months with books and CDs alone.” – Ron H, TextFugu Member

That’s the goal! With so much focus on efficiency, it’s hard not to get things done faster than you ever have before.

“Koichi is a great tutor, covers everything brilliantly and makes sure you understand. Really funny guy, I would recommend him to a friend.” – Kayleigh T.

We’re always trying to cover things in a way that keeps you interested and coming back for more. There’s a simple reason why 90% of people quit within the first month, if not sooner: Boredom! TextFugu allows and encourages a lot of flexibility to study the things you’re most interested in (like soccer, baseball, underwater basket weaving, or whatever) in a way that helps you to learn the main lesson as well (at the same time!).

“What a unique way to teach grammar. Genius!” – Sami T.

Where else would you find a textbook that uses Yoda’s grammar patterns to teach you Japanese? It may sound like a gimmick, but when it comes to Japanese sentence structure, this is just one of many ways TextFugu makes a very complicated thing simple. You can even check the lesson out now!

“Koichi makes Japanese seem not easy but attainable. He makes it go from this crazy language you know nothing about to something you see yourself continuing to learn.” – Taryn

Our goal isn’t necessarily to make things easy (though we definitely try). Our main goals is to help you stay motivated to keep on learning, and enjoy it as well. As you progress with TextFugu, you find Japanese to become a goal that seems (and is) attainable! Something that is finally realistic!

“Koichi is not only a great Japanese teacher, but also he’s an amazing resource person. Need to find some Japanese language resources? Ask Koichi! . . . Want to read a great blog? Read Koichi’s! . . . Want to see a great YouTube channel? See Koichi’s!” – DJ N.

Tofugu.com, where all this originated from, is the web’s leader in reliable information on Japanese learning resources (among other things). You’ll find the best of the web being utilized right along side TextFugu’s amazing content. If something else can make TextFugu better, it will be used for your benefit.

“I had not realized how you learn is even more important than what you learn.  You have taught me this.  Thank you.” – Irene, TextFugu Member

TextFugu deconstructs traditional learning methods and puts them back together in a way that’s completely different from the norm. All time-wasting distractions have been removed from the equation so you can focus on what’s important. Going through TextFugu isn’t like your traditional textbook. It’s like reading a novel, which has a beginning, middle, and end. You’ll be making real progress, and you’ll be able to feel it every step of the way.

Once again, if you’re interested in Japanese my personal recommendation is to start now. Don’t wait or put it off. When it comes to great things, the timing is never right. But, when it comes to great things, what’s the point of waiting? In six months, you could be working at a new job in Japan, making new friends, chillin’ with Japanese snow monkeys, and so much more. Language learning opens so many doors and opportunities to meet new people, try new things, and learn about another culture. I don’t care if you use TextFugu or someone else. I’ve dedicated my life to helping people to learn Japanese, and seen so many people improve their lives because of it. All it takes is for you to take a deep breath, and get started.