For the past 30 days or so, I have been practising Japanese online on www.duolingo.com. As long as I complete one lesson, I have completed one day’s lesson but I can go on to as many lessons as I like. I took up beginner’s Japanese about 3 years ago at Iloha in Bangsar and while it was fun and interactive, it took a lot of discipline as there was homework and having to attend classes on time which sometimes isn’t possible due to traffic.

Online learning of any language also takes time but at least I can do it at my own pace and choose whatever lessons available. I can slowly and gradually progress in stages and look at how much time I have put in every week. If I put in about 10 minutes’ practice every day, I think that is already pretty good since I have to remember to take a lesson per day.

It’s quite easy at this beginning stage as I can always retake a lesson if I fail it. I learn words for routine, food, introduction, greetings, Hiragana and Katakana. At least my memory of what I learned a few years ago won’t turn rusty.