How is your Japanese learning?
 

Hi, a friend of mine is learning Japanese, and in idiomatic English how would a native English speaker phrase a question if he wanted to know whether the friend has been making progress in learning the Japanese? Are these OK?:

1.How have you been learning Japanese?
2.How much progress have you been making in Japanese

Are there other ways to express the same meaning?

We wouldn't use your first proposal, as that's asking about the method(s) being used to learn the language.
The second question needs a question mark, but it otherwise perfect.

More colloquially, I would just ask "How's your Japanese going?" or "How's the Japanese?"

Thank you, Rusty.

But when we say the Japanese, doesn't it mean only the Japanese people?

I think the conjugation of the verb to be is the key to know whom/what you are talking about:

How are the Japanese? -> the people.
How is the Japanese? -> the language.

:twocents:

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Is How is the Japanese the elliptic form of How is the Japanese that you are learning?

@Poli: I was just working with Rusty's proposals, but thank you very much for the comment. :)

"How's the Japanese going?" can be shortened to "How's the Japanese?" They both convey the same idea - the person is interested in hearing about the person's learning experience.
Some longer ways to say the same thing:
"How is the/your Japanese learning going/progressing?"
"How are your Japanese studies/classes going?"
"Are you doing well in your Japanese classes/studies?"

"How's your Japanese?" is asking about the level or skill one has in the language.
"How's your Japanese coming along?" is asking the same questions written above.

Thank you, Rusty~