Have you ever imagined delving into two foreign cultures at the same time?
Believe it, it´s possible and today we will show you how to do it.
Here are your best alternatives to learn Spanish in Tokyo!
Spanish in Japan
Researching Spanish in Japan, we found that it ranks fifth in preference as a second language. It ranks after English, Korean, Chinese, and French. However, it has great popularity and representation.
If we review the statistics, those who study Spanish the most are single and economically stable women, that is, between 30 and 40 years old. Their motivation for learning Spanish tends to be travel or simply culture.
Of course, some students choose Spanish because of its worldwide popularity. It´s the second most spoken native language in the world and the fourth most spoken in a general sense. This indicates that even for the Japanese, Spanish is easy to learn.
That´s why they have their favorite destination countries to immerse themselves in the Hispanic language and culture. On the preference scale, they are in these positions:
- Spain
- Mexico
- Peru
- Argentina
- United States
- Cuba
Spanish-speaking community in Japan
The numbers of the Spanish-speaking community in Japan are considerable. It includes foreigners living in Japan and Japanese who study or master some level of Spanish. Let’s know the numbers that represent them.
Spanish speakers: 139,000 total
- Japanese learners of Spanish: 60,000
- Peruvians: 57,464
- Spaniards: 1,521
Spanish vs Japanese
To understand the number of Spanish speakers in Japan, we must compare the two languages. The first thing is that they share neither the alphabet, nor words, nor similar signs. Let’s find out what Spanish vs Japanese have in common.
Spanish
- 27-word alphabet.
- Phonetic language; spelled and pronounced the same way.
- Uses double consonants whose pronunciation isn´t used in Japanese.
- Don´t use extended vowels.
Japanese
- Three writing systems consist of syllabaries.
- Phonetic language is written and pronounced in the same way.
- Uses double consonants. They are written by placing the small consonant “っ” before any consonant.
- Uses extended vowels, either by a set of contiguous vowels or the combination of two different vowels.
- The meaning of many words depends on vowel lengthening.
Top 3 academies to learn Spanish in Tokyo
As different as Spanish and Japanese are, we already know that they have an important Spanish-speaking community. This shows us that the Japanese are very open-minded and do not limit themselves to new things. Of course, always preserving their own roots and culture.
That’s why we want to show you the top 3 academies to learn Spanish in Tokyo. If you want to immerse yourself in Spanish from legendary Japan, this is your chance.
1. Tandem
Tandem is an academy specialized in learning Spanish and other languages. It started operating in 2015 and is still going strong, gaining the appreciation of its students. More than 10 million people already use web resources and apps to learn from anywhere in the world.
What makes it so special?
It´s a place to learn languages through interaction with other students. For example, you want to learn Spanish and you know English, there you find someone who speaks Spanish and wants to learn English. A connection is established between the two people so that they can mutually contribute to the immersion in the target language.
How is the learning process?
- Basic vocabulary.
- Formulation of simple sentences.
- Conversations with native speakers.
2. Meetup
Meetup offers you Spanish internships through exchanges with other students. You have the option to take classes, converse with new people, and show your culture and language to your classmates.
What makes it so special?
- You discover new groups of people.
- You attend local events of your favorite hobbies.
- You can create your own Meetup group or join an established one.
How is the learning process?
- Explore your city.
- Build your career.
- Be creative.
3. Apprentus
Apprentus is a website that connects you with Spanish teachers. You have two ways to learn, online or face-to-face at the teacher’s studio. It is specially designed to get tutoring for children and teenagers.
How is the learning process?
- Find the right teacher.
- Communicate your choice.
- Book your class.
- Manage your account.
Live Tokyo in Spanish
We reach a point in our lives where our comfort zone becomes small. We begin to feel the need to spread our wings and fly, fly far and high. This feeling is present in all areas of our lives when we unconsciously desire to change.
And changing course, changing profession, changing life requires a lot of courage. Not everyone is willing to let go of those things they have built and that give them stability.
If you decide to fly high, at first it will seem uncomfortable and strange, but it will have very good results. Live now, live better, live Tokyo in Spanish!