• You don't have to live in Japan to learn the language fluently.Japan image by Angelika Bentin from Fotolia.com
  
  As recently as the 1960s, learning Japanese or any foreign language could only be achieved by attending classes, purchasing or borrowing books on the subject, or learning and practicing with a native speaker. While those methods are still valid, technology has expanded on and added to these techniques to help language learners achieve their goal of learning an additional language. While immersion in the culture and language by visiting Japan is still considered the strongest method of learning Japanese, beginning to advanced students of Japanese can utilize several resources to learn the language.
  
  

Computers/Online

• Computers have revolutionized every aspect of life, including self-education. Software like the well-known Rosetta Stone and various online resources such as JapanesePod101.com cater to every level of Japanese proficiency, from the basic hiragana and katakana alphabets to advanced business Japanese and "keigo" honorific speech. Programs, like beings, serve the customer who may have time to invest in learning a new language, but for other reasons can't or won't attend traditional classes. Material is often introduced in stages and sometimes sold separately, such as Levels 1, 2 and 3 for Japanese with Rosetta Stone. Online programs such as JapanesePod101.com may give you access to all levels of Japanese but offer a checklist or suggested progression for learning Japanese with maximum efficiency.
  
  

Audio Files

• For primarily auditory learners, several programs offer audio files that teach the listener piece by piece, starting with basic greetings or phrases and gradually building on the vocabulary and grammar syntax. Berlitz and Pimsleur have long utilized this method; CDs and digital audio files are available so the customer can listen from practically anywhere. This option works well for someone who wants to learn a language but doesn't necessarily have the time to sit either in class or in front of a computer screen at regular intervals. Like software, the audio files are often split into levels of varying proficiency and are either sold separately or as a bundle.
  
  

Traditional Methods

• Traditional methods for learning Japanese are still often used, although with a modern twist. Colleges and language schools throughout the United States offer Japanese classes, of which some or all of the coursework may be online. Books are still a popular form of learning, and many language schools use the "Japanese for Busy People" series as part of the curriculum. For those who want the opportunity to learn from a native speaker, Rosetta Stone offers a free "Language Exchange" program through its website that connects native speakers of two given languages with a mutual interest in the other's native language. Many native Japanese have an interest in learning or perfecting their knowledge of English, and they are willing to trade their knowledge of Japanese in exchange.