Self-study Resources

JapanesePod101.com has a massive library of podcasts at all levels of Japanese. You can access many lessons with their free membership, and they offered a few levels of paid membership with features like worksheets and quizzes to accompany lessons and the ability to create your own vocabulary lists. They also have many new videos almost every day on their YouTube channel

Netflix and Hulu have many live-action and animated shows and movies that can be viewed in Japanese. Crunchyroll features anime and manga including many series currently airing in Japan.

My recommendations from Netflix: Terrace House, Good Morning Call

Tip: Keep a notebook at hand to jot down any interesting words or phrases you would like to remember.

This Chrome extension works with Netflix, YouTube and more. It gives subtitles in both English and the target language. You can click one line to hear just that part again or mouse over words to get definitions. This is a fantastic way to pick up new vocabulary and improve listening skill.

This app was recommended to me by a student. It teaches hiragana and katakana with reading and writing practice. Available for Android and iOS

This app teaches users to first recognize the meaning, then learn the reading of some common words, and finally learn how to write the character. The writing practice interface is one of the best I've seen. Currently available for Android. The developer is working on iOS and web-based versions that he hopes to have ready in the next few months.

NHK (publicly-funded news organization) has a website geared toward language-learners with articles written in simple Japanese. Keep updated on what's happening in Japan while learning some new Japanese.

Features 4 interactive manga (inspired by some typical themes: "School", "Love", "Samurai", and "Ninja"). Click on words to hear them pronounced and read cultural notes about each page. You can also learn expressions that make you sound like an old man, a refined lady, or a butler (use with caution!)