Best Resources for Learning Japanese as a Beginner?

Japanese
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Hey everyone,

I am just starting my Japanese learning journey and would love some advice. I have been exploring different resources like textbooks, apps and graded readers…, but I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the options.

I recently came across Natively and really like how it helps track reading progress. However…, I am wondering what are the best beginner friendly books or graded readers that you would recommend: ?? I want something engaging but not too difficult, preferably with furigana to help with kanji.

Also, how do you balance reading with other study methods like grammar drills or listening practice: ?? Should I focus on one skill at a time or mix everything together: ??

Would love to hear about your experiences, favorite books, or any study tips you have! Looking forward to your suggestions. I have also gone through this thread https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/absolute-beginner-japanese-learning-ressources-devops-engineer but still need some more help.

Thanks in advance !!

With Regards,
Derek Theler

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Welcome Derek!

There’s a foundation called Tadoku which releases a lot of free graded readers, which would be helpful for a beginner.

You can find them on natively here: Japanese Books Difficulty List | Natively

At a slightly higher level, there’s a few (I haven’t read these, but I have seen they’re popular for learners):
よつばと! 1 | L17 , ハピネス 1 | L15 , Japanese Short Stories for Beginners: 20 Captivating Short Stories to Learn Japanese & Grow Your Vocabulary the Fun Way! | L15.

For general study thoughts,

To some extent, as long as you can get into a habit, most apps/study materials are OK. IMO a mix of grammar, kanji/vocab, listening, reading is sensible, but if that feels like too many spinning plates, focusing on a couple each week is OK too.

There’s lots of good resources in the thread you linked, personally I’ve liked BunPro and 日本語の森.

If circumstances allow, I would also recommend a tutor, sites like iTalki, Preply have lots of Japanese tutors.
I think it really helps get some native feedback, whether helping correct pronunciation, or helping explain the nuance of grammar etc.

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