Why Is English So Hard for Japanese Speakers?

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English isn’t easy for Japanese learners. It’s not just about vocabulary or grammar. The real challenge is that English and Japanese are completely different languages—from pronunciation to sentence structure.

In Japan, students spend years studying English, but many still struggle with basic conversations. According to a 2023 EF English Proficiency Index, Japan ranks 87th out of 113 countries in English fluency. Why? Because traditional education focuses on memorization over real communication.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated learning English, you’re not alone. But understanding why it’s difficult is the first step to making real progress. Let’s break it down.

The Challenge of English Pronunciation

Japanese and English don’t share the same sounds. This makes pronunciation one of the hardest hurdles for Japanese learners.

For example, English has about 44 phonemes (distinct sounds), while Japanese has only 15 vowel and consonant sounds. This is why many English words are pronounced differently by Japanese speakers. Words like light and right or sink and think sound similar because the “L” and “TH” sounds don’t exist in Japanese.

Another issue? Word stress and intonation. Japanese is a flat-sounding language where syllables have nearly equal weight. On the other hand, English has strong and weak syllables that change the meaning of words. A slight mistake in stress can make an English sentence sound unnatural.

So, how can you fix this? Listening and practicing with native speakers is key. Instead of just repeating textbook dialogues, try listening to real conversations. Mimic native pronunciation, focusing on stress, rhythm, and intonation. Watching English movies with subtitles or using shadowing techniques (where you repeat what a speaker says in real time) can help train your ears and tongue.

Want a shortcut? Personalized English tutoring(英語家庭教師), like what’s offered on AmazingTalker, lets you practice pronunciation with real teachers who can correct mistakes instantly.

Lack of Exposure to Spoken English

One major issue for Japanese learners? Not enough real-world exposure.

In Japan, English is taught primarily through textbooks and written exercises. But listening and speaking? Those get far less emphasis. Many students graduate without ever having a full English conversation.

Unlike countries where English is widely used in daily life, Japan relies heavily on Japanese for business, media, and entertainment. Even English signs in Japan are often designed for reading rather than speaking.

This lack of exposure makes it harder to develop listening comprehension and conversational fluency. When students finally hear natural English, it feels too fast and overwhelming.

The best way to improve? Surround yourself with English.

Watch English TV shows with English subtitles (not Japanese!). This helps your brain connect words with pronunciation.
Listen to podcasts and YouTube videos in English to get used to different accents.
Speak as much as possible. Language is a skill—just like sports or music. The more you use it, the faster you improve.

Fear of Making Mistakes

Many Japanese learners know more English than they realize—but they hesitate to speak. Why? Fear of making mistakes.

Japan’s education system emphasizes perfection and correctness. Making errors in class can feel embarrassing—so students avoid speaking unless they’re 100% sure they’re correct.

But here’s the truth: Mistakes are part of learning. Every fluent speaker once made thousands of mistakes.

A common pattern? Japanese learners pause too long before speaking, trying to form a perfect sentence. This hesitation slows down conversations and makes it even harder to improve fluency.

Instead of focusing on perfect grammar, focus on getting your message across.

Think of English like a tool, not a test. The goal is communication, not perfection.
Practice speaking with patient teachers who encourage mistakes and corrections in a safe way.
Use simple sentence structures. Short, clear phrases are better than long, hesitant sentences.

The fastest way to overcome fear? Daily speaking practice. Start small, even with just 5 minutes a day, and gradually increase confidence.

Japanese Has a Completely Different Writing System

For English learners in Japan, reading and writing are another challenge.

Japanese uses three writing systems: Hiragana (ひらがな), Katakana (カタカナ), and Kanji (漢字). None of these are related to the English alphabet.

This makes spelling difficult because English words don’t always match pronunciation.

For example:

“Through” (スルー) looks nothing like its sound.
“Enough” (イナフ) follows no clear pattern.
“Receipt” (レシート) has a silent “p” that confuses learners.

For native English speakers, it’s easier to guess unknown words based on Latin roots. But for Japanese learners, every English word feels like a new puzzle to decode.

One of the best techniques? Learn words in context rather than in isolation.

Read simple English books (graded readers) that use repetitive sentence structures.
Focus on high-frequency words. About 2,000 words cover 90% of daily English.
Write daily in English—even small sentences help build confidence.

Apps and courses designed for Japanese learners can also help bridge the gap between English and their native writing system.

Final Thoughts:

Learning English as a Japanese speaker isn’t impossible—it just takes the right approach.

The biggest problem isn’t intelligence or effort—it’s learning the wrong way. Too much grammar, not enough speaking. Too much memorization, not enough real-life use.

If you focus on practical communication, daily practice, and real conversations, fluency is 100% achievable.

So start small. Listen, speak, and don’t fear mistakes. The more you use English, the easier it gets. And one day, you won’t even have to think about it.

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