If you find the right teacher, you shouldn't need a base, as such. If you really want a head start you could use books, but honestly language exchange / tutoring is the best way to go for starting any new language. Don't worry about trying to impress a teacher from scratch.
I'd at the least throw away apps and learning games, in favour of books (especially those with audio samples available).
If the Duolingo Japanese course is anything like the Duolingo Russian course I did, there's no explanation for anything and they just throw sentences at you to translate. I think they only give actual information to the French/Spanish courses as that's what most users are looking for.
I'd at the least throw away apps and learning games, in favour of books (especially those with audio samples available).
If the Duolingo Japanese course is anything like the Duolingo Russian course I did, there's no explanation for anything and they just throw sentences at you to translate. I think they only give actual information to the French/Spanish courses as that's what most users are looking for.