This is a interesting question about the culture difference. As you mentioned, "愛してる" is seldom used in real world because I think that "愛してる" express some too heavy/serious affection which is not supposed to be expressed. "好き" can express affection and don't indicate heavy/serious one, so people usually use it in reality. For your information, I give you an example about the situation when "愛してる" is more suitable than "好き". ・proposing marriage ・making love ・in the lover's last moment These are actually heavy/serious situation, so Japanese can use "愛してる" without feeling weird.

わらし は あなた が あすき です？ watashi wa anata ga suki desu? I'm a student and for what i know that is how it is said, maybe something wrong with it, keep my advice as a unofficial one. Hope all is going well. Bye

Whoops I need to double check before posting, here is what I meant to type わたし あなた が 好き watashi anata ga suki

Well as far as i know these feelings are very seldomly worded. 好き and 大好き are the most common i suppose. While 愛する is very very rare. But i am neither japanese or live in Japan, but this is what i have come to understand. This worded affection should not be used so freely as "i love you" in Japan love is shown by actions rather than words. ^^