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The purpose of this page is set you up for success in learning Japanese. Everything mentioned here will contribute to making your daily routine more convenient and efficient.
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If you’re reading this guide, you already have a web browser. But almost all of the recommended tools and apps for learning Japanese only work on Chrome-based browsers. So, if you’re using something like Firefox, you’ll need to set up your immersion tools in a Chrome-based browser instead.
Some of the tools do have versions that work with Firefox, but they’re usually missing features and don’t work as well. To avoid frustration, it’s best to just use a Chrome-based browser for anything related to learning Japanese. Here are some you can try:
When it comes to learning and remembering things, there’s no better method than using a Spaced Repetition System (SRS). Without getting too technical, an SRS helps you review information at the best time, just before you forget it, so it sticks in your memory longer. We’ll be using this powerful tool to learn Japanese vocabulary much more effectively than any textbook could.
The SRS we recommend is Anki. It’s super flexible and uses the best review system available right now (called FSRS). Anki is also free (except on iOS), and you can sync your progress across different devices using Ankiweb.
If you’re using iOS, it might be tempting to save money by downloading one of the free apps that have “Anki” in the name. But be careful! These apps aren’t connected to the official Anki app. They usually don’t have all the features, and some even try to trick you into paying for a subscription just to study more cards. Plus, they often don’t work with the vocab decks we recommend. It’s a better idea to pay once for the official app so you get the full experience and avoid problems later.