Maybe you could learn basic words and phrases, but I doubt an online tutorial will make you fluent.

I studied French from 6th grade through sophomore year of college and then went to live with a family in France for my junior year of college. I hardly understood anything they were saying to me because 1) all my teachers had been native English speakers so I never "learned" the accent and 2) the education I received was more formal French but most of the people around me was using very informal French.... stuff I never learned in books or class. After I lived there for a year, I became fluent. I've since lost a lot of it since I rarely speak the language, but it was amazing how I was able to speak with people after a few months of living there but couldn't speak much at all when I got there after 11 years of studying the language.

So... if your goal is to pick up some words or phrases, an online tutorial will work. But if your goal is to be fluent, then you need to immerse yourself -- either by living there, or by surrounding yourself with Japanese speakers and TV programs (if there's a satellite station, for example).
Source(s):
Personal experience with languages, though every person is different.


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