How it is taught almost everywhere: memorize these word lists and associated symbols.
How it is taught at schools which adopted Japanese: the Spoken Language (a textbook): “Drill the }^}*#*{* out of these conversations.”
Look at US pass rates for the JLPT test at any level, probably focusing on JLPT 3 (which tops out at approximately una cerveza por favor levels of fluency and is the theoretical goal of US undergrad instruction at most places for non-heritage majors).