1-Year Japanese Fluency Plan (No
Duolingo)
This is a comprehensive 1-year study plan to help you become fluent in Japanese, focusing
on core skills like vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The plan
assumes 1.5–2 hours of daily study time.
1. Goal Setting
- Target: JLPT N3 level or conversational fluency
- Time Commitment: ~2 hours/day
2. Core Skill Strategies
A. Vocabulary & Kanji
- Use Anki with Core 2k/6k decks
- Learn 10–20 new words per day
- Use WaniKani for kanji
- Practice writing kanji by hand
B. Grammar
- Study with Tae Kim’s Guide
- Watch Cure Dolly (YouTube) for intuitive grammar
- Learn 1 grammar point/day and make example sentences
C. Listening
- Watch anime, dramas, and YouTube with Japanese subtitles
- Use Comprehensible Japanese and Japanese Ammo with Misa
- Practice shadowing: repeat phrases after hearing them
D. Speaking
- Talk with native speakers via HelloTalk or Tandem
- Speak to yourself daily in Japanese
E. Reading
- Start with graded readers or manga with furigana
- Use Satori Reader and NHK Easy News
F. Writing
- Write a daily journal in Japanese
- Use LangCorrect or HiNative for corrections
3. Immersion Tips
- Change device language to Japanese
- Label items around your house
- Think in Japanese during daily activities
4. Daily Study Schedule (Example)
- 20 min: Anki vocabulary review
- 15 min: WaniKani or kanji writing
- 20 min: Grammar study + examples
- 15 min: Japanese content with subtitles
- 15 min: Shadowing or speaking
- 15 min: Reading manga/news
- 20 min: Journal writing or native chat
5. Monthly Progress Goals
- Month 1–3: Build base vocab and grammar (N5/N4 level)
- Month 4–6: Understand basic anime, speak simple sentences
- Month 7–9: Converse with natives, read manga/news
- Month 10–12: Speak comfortably, understand native content (JLPT N3)
