Find a Japanese teacher in Ottawa

Become a Japanese Speaker in Ottawa

Ottawa is one city where residents truly understand the significance of multilingualism. Straddling the border between Quebec and Ontario, the city has a deep connection to both French and English; as the nation's capital, it is has an international element to its character that makes it truly unique. Add to this a diverse multicultural population, and you have a unique place where you are likely to hear dozens of languages.

If you are thinking of learning another language like Japanese, you will be in good company in Ottawa. Many students in Ottawa learn languages as it is an asset for working in government or any organization with a multinational presence. Ottawa is home to a variety of universities and colleges where you can study Japanese on its own or in the context of an East Asian Studies program.

The Japanese language and culture has captured the interest of many Canadians, and it's not hard to understand why. There are over 125 million native Japanese speakers worldwide, mainly in Japan but also in countries such as Korea and the United States. Japan is home to some the world's most innovative technology companies like Nintendo, Hitachi, and Nikon, and its artists and animators can be credited with the widely consumed Anime comics and animated shows. Perhaps the area Canadians are most familiar with is food: you will find it hard to identify any Canadian city without a sushi, ramen, or izakaya restaurant. Even Japanese cheesecake has become one of the most sought after desserts in recent years!

Learning Japanese

Japanese is a fascinating language that can be challenging to learn to speak, read and write. Japanese was once linked to Altaic languages like Korean, but is widely regarded now as a language isolate disconnected from its neighbouring countries. Chinese has had a significant impact on the language and script, and many Japanese words have Chinese origins. Japanese has three alphabets: Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana. The latter two are phonetic, and Kanji is based on Chinese script. Like learning any language, Japanese can be challenging but it also happens to be incredibly worthwhile. Let's look at some good reasons to learn it.

What Are Good Reasons to Learn Japanese?

There are plenty of great reasons to learn Japanese. First of all, learning any language has cognitive benefits as you will feel challenged mentally and engaged as you learn more about the Japan's rich literary history. As a speaker of Japanese, you will be well positioned to travel the country should that happen to be your goal. You can engage with the people and environment far better as a speaker, and you will find it much easier to meet new people and navigate the country. Learning Japanese can also be incredibly rewarding if you have a a Japanese heritage and want to feel more connected to your roots, have a significant other who has a Japanese background, or if you are truly fascinated by Japan and want to learn more.

Can I Learn Japanese in High School?

You can learn Japanese in high school, but it is unlikely that you will find a Japanese course in most public high school. You may find that your best option is to sign up for a private class, learn independently, or hire a tutor. Learning Japanese in high school is a great way to enhance your learning experience and will enable you to find an outlet for all of your mental energy. Who knows, maybe you can do a trip to Tokyo when you graduate or even participate in an exchange program in Japan!

What Age is Too Late to Learn Japanese?

It is never too late to learn any language, especially Japanese. In fact, language learning has been linked to maintaining good brain health, and will keep you active if you are retired or looking for a new hobby.

Learning Japanese as a mature student is easy with a private Japanese tutor. If you are working or have family responsibilities, prefer a personalized approach to education, or simply appreciate the attention of a one-to-one instructor, you will find that a private tutor is the perfect solution for your needs. A tutor can schedule sessions at times that make sense for you, tailor instruction to your learning goals and habits, and motivate you in ways that a traditional classroom environment cannot. Tutoring is also a great option for getting valuable practice in conversation - you will find that your language learning will stick with you faster if you apply it in practical situations.

Finding a tutor is incredibly easy thanks to Superprof Canada. Superprof is a site that connects students and teachers. You can use the site to browse tutors in the Ottawa area or in Canada, learn more about their backgrounds, and contact them for more information if you are considering hiring them on.

Find a private Japanese tutor on Superprof today!