Learning Japanese in japan Andrea Rivas, Farrah Hasnain, Tanha Nunna
About Us! Andrea Rivas Hamamatsu Commercial High School Spanish (Nat), English (Nat), Japanese (Beg) Studied abroad in Kyoto, 2 years in highschool Studying for N5-N4
About Us! Tanha Nunna BOE! Bangla (Native), English (Native), Korean (Int/Beg), French (Adv), Japanese (n00b) 3.5 years in Fukuoka as a child Studying for N2-N1 Nx
About Us! Farrah Hasnain Hamamatsu Higashi High School English (Nat), Urdu (Int), French (Beg), Japanese (Int) Before JET: Studied Japanese for 2 years in university Studying for JLPT N3
The JLPT Registration dates: September, May Test Dates: First Sunday of December or July Fee: 5,500 yen Five Levels: N5 (lowest) -> N1 (highest) N5-N4 (Beginner), N3 (Intermediate), N2-N1 (Advanced)
The JLPT: Pros Set list of vocabulary/grammar Measureable progress Looks good on resumes (N2-N1 for translators)
The JLPT: Cons There is no speaking portion You don’t have to write kanji Twice a year. TOEIC is offered every month.
How to Improve Get motivated, immerse yourself, and use your resources.
Potential motivators Communicating with Japanese people Reading books in Japanese Watching anime/dramas in Japanese Karaoke
How to Improve: Motivation What is your motivation? Set up a short-term goal (~2 months) EG: “I want to introduce myself.” Set up a long-term goal (6 months - 1 year) EG: “I want to watch Dragonball Z without subtitles.”
Immersion: At home/at work Try to use Japanese as much as possible! Take notes.
Starting as a Beginner The most important element is vocabulary. Reading hiragana/katakana Greetings
Starting as Intermediate/Advanced Active listening
What worked for us This is what we’ve done to improve our Japanese. JET/CLAIR Course HICE Center Kumon Language Exchange
Apps: Anki and Memrise Anki and Memrise are flashcard apps for Mac, PC, iPhone, Android, etc.
Books: Genki, Kanzen Master, Matome Available in bookstores, Amazon, etc.
Courses: JICE, CLAIR Website (Recommended for N3-N2 Study): http://sv2.JICE.org/e/jigyou/tabunka_jisshi.htm
Wait, you’re in Japan!: Talking to Japanese people. Co-workers Friends Partners
Let’s learn Enshu-ben!
Let’s learn Kansai-ben! めっちゃ・ちょ えーー おおきに ちゃお わからへん
Let’s learn Hakata-ben! けん やろう ~っとうと わん
Pop Culture Anime, videogames, Japanese dramas, Japanese music