“I want to practise speaking, but I don’t have anyone to talk to.”
Every Japanese learner says this. And yes, conversation needs a partner.
But there’s a lot you can do alone. You can improve your speaking even without someone to talk to.
This guide covers solo practice methods that actually work.
Shadowing
Shadowing is one of the most effective solo methods.
How to do it:
- Listen to Japanese audio
- Immediately repeat what you hear, following along
- Keep up with the audio (like a shadow)
Key points:
- Don’t look at the text
- Copy pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm
- Start with slower audio
Good materials:
- NHK World Japan (news)
- JapanesePod101
- Anime or Japanese dramas
10-15 minutes daily improves both pronunciation and listening simultaneously.
Talk to Yourself
Say what you’re thinking out loud — in Japanese.
Examples:
- 「今日は何しようかな」(What should I do today?)
- 「お腹空いたな。何食べよう」(I’m hungry. What should I eat?)
- 「あ、電車乗り遅れる！」(Oh no, I’ll miss the train!)
- 「この映画、面白いかな」(I wonder if this movie is good)
Nobody’s listening, so mistakes don’t matter.
Tips:
- Narrate your daily routine in Japanese
- Try to think in Japanese from morning to night
- Note expressions you can’t say, and look them up later
Record and Review
Record yourself speaking Japanese and listen back objectively.
How to do it:
- Pick a topic (e.g., “What I did today”)
- Speak for 1-2 minutes in Japanese
- Listen to the recording
- Check pronunciation, grammar, phrasing
- Try again
Hearing your own voice is embarrassing, but it reveals what needs work.
Keep a Journal
Writing also prepares you for speaking.
Suggestions:
- 3-5 sentences daily is enough
- Don’t try to use complicated expressions
- Write about your daily life
Example: 今日は朝7時に起きた。コーヒーを飲んで、仕事に行った。会議が長かった。疲れた。
Read what you wrote out loud for extra practice.
Use Japanese in Real Life
Find opportunities to use Japanese in your daily environment.
Ideas:
- Go to Japanese restaurants where staff speak Japanese
- Visit Japanese hair salons or barbers
- Shop at Japanese supermarkets
- Attend Japanese cultural events
Real interactions, even brief ones, build confidence and practical skills faster than any app.
Role Play
Play both parts of a conversation yourself.
Example: Ordering at a restaurant You: 「すみません、メニューお願いします」 Staff (you): 「はい、どうぞ」 You: 「えーと、ラーメンをお願いします」 Staff (you): 「かしこまりました。少々お待ちください」
Say both roles out loud. Practising scenarios makes you ready for real situations.
Scenarios to practise:
- Restaurant ordering
- Shopping
- Asking for directions
- Self-introduction
- Phone conversations
Sing
Singing Japanese songs is good practice.
Benefits:
- Improves pronunciation and rhythm
- Fun, so you keep doing it
- Builds vocabulary
Suggestions:
- Anime theme songs
- J-POP
- Children’s songs (simple vocabulary)
Sing with lyrics first, then without.
Play Games in Japanese
Set your games to Japanese.
Suggestions:
- RPGs (Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy) — reading practice
- Visual novels — reading + listening
- Online games — play with Japanese people
Games are fun, so you can spend hours immersed in Japanese.
The Most Important Thing
The most important thing in solo practice: say it out loud.
Just reading, just listening — that won’t make you able to speak. You need to move your mouth.
Even if it’s embarrassing, even if it’s wrong, say it out loud. That’s what matters most.
Summary
You can practise without a conversation partner.
- Shadowing for pronunciation and listening
- Talking to yourself for daily conversation
- Recording for objective feedback
- Journalling for expression
- Real-life Japanese environments for interaction
- Role play for situation practice
Keep practising alone, then test it in real conversations. Repeat this cycle and you’ll definitely improve.
Related Articles
- Is Japanese Hard? (Yes and No)
- Can You Pass JLPT Through Self-Study?
- How Long Does It Take to Learn Japanese?
Written by Ayaka Uchida – CEO of A-Digital Works, founder of Nihon GO! World.