jueves, 3 de enero de 2013

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 12

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 12



Japanese For Everyone Lesson 12 Flashcards
http://quizlet.com/18044954/japanese-for-everyone-chapter-12-vocabulary-flash-cards/

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 11

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 11



Japanese For Everyone Lesson 11 Flashcards
http://quizlet.com/11621625/japanese-for-everyone-chapter-11-flash-cards/

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 10

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 10



Japanese For Everyone Lesson 10 Flashcards http://quizlet.com/11066577/japanese-for-everyone-chapter-10-p136-flash-cards/

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 9

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 9



Japanese For Everyone Lesson 9 Flashcards
http://quizlet.com/9662871/japanese-for-everyone-chapter-9-flash-cards/

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 8

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 8


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2ccPZpaw-rA

Japanese For Everyone Lesson 8 Flashcards
http://quizlet.com/9042175/japanese-for-everyone-chapter-8-flash-cards/

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 7

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 7



Flashcards: http://quizlet.com/8358694/japanese-for-everyone-chapter-7-flash-cards/

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 6

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 6



Flashcards Lesson 6: http://quizlet.com/6688081/japanese-for-everyone-chapter-6-flash-cards/
The listening comprehension exercise is on page 93 of your textbook.

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 5

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 5



Flashcards: http://quizlet.com/9046010/japanese-for-everyone-chapter-5-flash-cards/

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 4

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 4



Flashcards: http://quizlet.com/4927574/japanese-for-everyone-chapter-4-flash-cards/

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 3

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 3



Flashcards: http://quizlet.com/3621021/japanese-for-everyone-chapter-3-flash-cards/
Note the clock times on the screen do not correspond to the right answers. Look at page 57 of your text for that exercise.

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 2

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 2


Audio to accompany Japanese For Everyone, Lesson 2
Flashcards: http://quizlet.com/3091484/japanese-for-everyone-chapter-2-flash-cards/

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 1

Japanese For Everyone – Lesson 1


Audio of Lesson 1 to accompany Japanese For Everyone by Susumu Nagara, published by JPT
ISBN-13: 978-4889962345
Flashcards: http://quizlet.com/2887298/japanese-for-everyone-chapter-1-flash-cards/

Japanese For Everyone Katakana 2

Katakana 2 Modified Syllables

虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず。Koketsu ni irazunba koji wo ezu. If you do not enter the tiger’s cave, you will not catch its cub.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.


Japanese For Everyone

Preparatory lesson Modified Katakana


This course will help you use the book
Japanese For Everyone
by Susumu Nagara
This is the second lesson to teach you modified katakana before you start the book.
Preparation 4. Learning modified katakana

Ichi Step 1 
Review the basics differences in vowel sounds: i►E and e►A
so i sounds like E as in easy and esounds like A as in name. Don’t forget.
Let’s get started on the modified sounds and explain how they work.

There are three ways to modify sounds
  1. With “ or °
  2. With a small tsu or a -
  3. With a small version of the ya line
Modification 1
Vowel line:   a   i    u     e    o  cannot be modified.
Ka “►Ga:     ga  gi  gu  ge  go
Sa “►Za :    za   ji  zu  ze  zo         Irregular:  ji (not zi)
Ta “►Da:     da  dji  dzu  de do    Irregulars:dji (not di),  dzu (not du)
Na line:       na  ni  nu   ne  no      cannot be modified
Ha “►Ba      ba  bi  bu   be  bo
Ha­°►Pa      pa  pi  pu   pe  po        a 2nd way to modify this line
Ma line :      ma mi mu me mo       cannot be modified
Ya line:        ya        yu        yo        cannot be modified
Ra line:       ra   ri    ru   re   ro        cannot be modified
Last line!      wa        o          n         cannot be modified

Ni Step 2
Now you know the sounds we need to learn the real letters, the Japanese kana as they write them.

ga

gi

gu

ge

go

za

ji

zu

ze

zo

da

dji

dzu

de

do

ba

bi

bu

be

bo

pa

pi

pu

pe

po
Watch/listen/ repeat the basic and modified Japanese letters:
http://alturl.com/ga3fk Watch the bottom line
Keep watching and repeating the sounds as you read along from the video
頑張ってGanbatte

Day 1
You can check it again from: http://alturl.com/5yui9
一Ichi READ
Ga:        ガ     ギ    グ    ゲ    ゴ
Za:         ザ     ジ    ズ    ゼ    ゾ
Try reading it forwards and backwards and upwards and downwards.
* A vowel is elongated with a dash ー
Now try words:
1.ガス         2.イギリス                   3.グリーン     4.ゲーム     5.ゴム
1.  Gas           2. igirisu (England)      3. Green     4. Game       5. Gomu (rubber)
6.ザ  7.エンン       8.ズーム 9.ゼブラ   10.ジョン
6.the    7. engine          8.  zoom     9. zebra        10. John
Well done. Yoku dekimashita. Take a break. Go for a quick walk.
Day 2.
Review then let’s keep going. You’re doing great!
二Ni  Read
Da: ダ   ヂ   ヅ   デ    ド
Ba: バ   ビ   ブ   ベ    ボ
Pa: パ   ピ   プ    ペ   ポ
Try reading it forwards and backwards and upwards and downwards.
Now try words:
1.ダイニング        2.ジーンズ      3.ジュース   4.デン  5.ドーナツ
1. dining                  2. jeans            3. juice     4. den      5. donuts
6.バナナ  7.ビール  8.ブラク  9.ベン  10.ボール
6.banana    7. beer       8. black     9. Ben     10. ball
11. アパート   12. ハッピー  13. プール 14.ペン 15. ポール
11. apaato (apartment)  12. happy   13. pool 14. pen 15. Paul
**  Remember that a vowel is elongated with a dash ー
soo: ソー
The vowel sound is held twice as long as normal.
Good job. Reward yourself with a treat. Go to a Japanese restaurant?

Day 3
Review Day 1 and Day 2’s work and let’s push on as we’re almost done. This is great!
三San Focus on the column in red.
カ    ク  ケ  コ
サ    ス  セ  ソ
タ  チ  ツ  テ  ト
ナ    ヌ  ネ  ノ
マ    ム  メ   モ
ラ    ル  レ   ロ
Each of these red letters can be combined with a small version of the ya line to produce to modified syllables. If the letters of the ya line are normal size, they are pronounced as separate syllables. If the letters are smaller they get joined joined together with the other syllable to make one syllable.
キャ
kya
キュ
kyu
キョ
kyo
ギャ
gya
ギュ
gyu
ギョ
gyo
シャ
sha
シュ
shu
ショ
sho
ジャ
ja
ジュ
ju
ジョ
jo
チャ
cha
チュ
chu
チョ
cho
ヂャ
dja
ヂュ
dju
ヂョ
djo
ニャ
nya
ニュ
nyu
ニョ
nyo
ヒャ
hya
ヒュ
hyu
ヒョ
hyo
ビャ
bya
ビュ
byu
ビョ
byo
ミャ
mya
ミュ
myu
ミョ
myo
リャ
rya
リュ
ryu
リョ
ryo
Try reading it forwards and backwards and upwards and downwards.
Listen to the sounds of these letters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB701tUdpyo
Excellent. Now you a treat. How about a Japanese movie?
Watch Shall We Dance (the original Japanese version) again instantly streaming on Netflix.

For the last two days review all you have done.
Basic katakana
Modified  1
Modified 2

a

i

u

e

o

キャ
kya
キュ
kyu
キョ
kyo

ka

ki

ku

ke

ko

ga

gi

gu

ge

go
ギャ
gya
ギュ
gyu
ギョ
gyo

sa

shi

su

se

so

za

ji

zu

ze

zo
シャ
sha
シュ
shu
ショ
sho

ta

chi

tsu

te

to

da

dji

dzu

de

do
ジャ
ja
ジュ
ju
ジョ
jo

na

ni

nu

ne

no

ba

bi

bu

be

bo
チャ
cha
チュ
chu
チョ
cho

ha

hi

fu

he

ho

pa

pi

pu

pe

po
ヂャ
dja
ヂュ
dju
ヂョ
djo

ma

mi

mu

me

mo

ニャ
nya
ニュ
nyu
ニョ
nyo

ya


yu


yo

ヒャ
hya
ヒュ
hyu
ヒョ
hyo

ra

ri

ru

re

ro

ビャ
bya
ビュ
byu
ビョ
byo

wa
ウィ
wi

ウェ
we

wo

ピャ
pya
ピュ
pyu
ピョ
pyo

n

ミャ
mya
ミュ
myu
ミョ
myo


(pause mark)
リャ
rya
リュ
ryu
リョ
ryo
Study this over and over until you feel very comfortable you can recognize the letters. This is essential before you start your textbook.
San Step 3. Your textbook has a chart of all the letters
Please do the pronunciation drill in the introduction. Listen to the sounds here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkqoZvjxXMg
Remember you have a textbook! It’s called Japanese For Everyone                                            
Here it is: http://alturl.com/dbcvw
Go to the vocabulary on page 22 so you can prepare for lesson 2 when we will start our textbook! Here’s some more help with the vocabulary Japanese For Everyone Chapter 1 so you can prepare better for Lesson 1 of the textbook if you are feeling very diligent.
頑張って
You have laid the foundation for a successful course. This will pay off big time for you.
At the end of all this work you need to reward yourself and your mind.
Relax again with http://alturl.com/7jcgj
That feels so good.
Yatta! You did it!

Japanese For Everyone Katakana 1

Japanese For Everyone Katakana 1

Japanese For Everyone 1

Preparatory lesson 3: K1 (Basic Katakana)
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart
- Nelson Mandela
This course will help you use the book
Japanese For Everyone
by Susumu Nagara
This is the first of two lessons lesson to teach you basic Katakana before you start the book.
Week 3. Preparation 1. Learning basic Katakana
The good news #1: All the sounds are exactly the same as for hiragana. They are all still in the same order. You do not have to learn new sounds.
The good news #2: Japanese love using foreign words so you do not have to learn a new Japanese word for hamburger, orange juice, coffee etc.
The bad news #1: They try to make the sounds of these foreign words fit with their basic syllables so you may not recognize English words when you hear them.
The bad news#2: You have to learn a new writing system for the writing of foreign words. Katakana is usually used to write words that are not Japanese like Westerner’s names or food like hamburgers and orange juice or foreign company names like McDonald’s etc.

Strategy for doing this:
  1. Remind yourself you already conquered hiragana. You can do this!
  2. Enjoy it. Have a sense of humor and laugh at the new sounds of English words.
  3. Skip it and go straight to the textbook now picking up a few phrases of Katakana at a time in context (recommended method).
You have a textbook!
It’s called Japanese For Everyone  Here it is: http://alturl.com/dbcvw
I have both writing systems here as preparation for the truly motivated learners but it may be too much for many. Feel free to go to your textbook now and begin and to use this study of katakana Lessons 3 and 4 as a two week break from regular study only after you have completed 5 chapter of the book.
Either way                   頑張って=Ganbatte = Give it your best!

Ichi Step 1 Day 1: Listen and repeat
Well then, for all of you devoted linguists who stayed, here is your video once more. This time concentrate on the lower line: http://alturl.com/wwuww Keep watching and repeating the sounds as you read along from the video until you recognize the sounds of the letters and can read them easily. Only focus on the second line (Katakana). This is important!
Ni Step 2 Day 2 Read and say aloud. Learn a line at a time.
Now you know the sounds we need to learn the real letters. Try reading the letters in Katakana

a

i

u

e

o

ka

ki

ku

ke

ko

sa

shi

su

se

so

ta

chi

tsu

te

to

na

ni

nu

ne

no

ha

hi

fu

he

ho

ma

mi

mu

me

mo

ya


yu


yo

ra

ri

ru

re

ro
ワ  ヲ ン
wa  o  n
You can use flashcards to help you learn them if you like: http://quizlet.com/3741224/katakana-flash-cards/

Step 3 Day 3
Try to write your name in Japanese. You may need to add vowels to make a syllable or to drop some letters or to choose the nearest equivalent sound from the Japanese syllables.
Listen to the sound of your name and try to get as close as you can to that using Japanese syllables. It’s about the sound, not about the letters.
John Smith is reduced to the syllables jo n su mi su
Mary Black becomes me ri bu ra ku
Spanish names are easier:
María González becomes ma ri a go n sa re su
Enrique Iglesias becomes en ri ke i gu re se a su
Note the problems with si, ti, tu, hu, th and other sounds that do not exist in Japanese.
For now be creative and try to get the closest sounds you can for your name.
My name in Katakana:___________________________________________________

Let’s start reading:
三San READ
A:            ア    イ    ウ    エ    オ
K:            カ    キ    ク    ケ    コ
S:             サ    シ    ス    セ    ソ
N:    ン
Try reading it forwards and backwards and upwards and downwards.
Now try words:
1.アイス __        2.キス__      3.コイン__          4カンカン__  5.センス
1. ice                            2. kiss              3. coin                         4. Can can           5. sense
6. ケーキ__ 7.サーカス__ 8.クーキ__ 9.ウイスキ__ 10.エキス
6.cake                7.  circus                 8. cookie                 9. whiskey                   10. X
How about this word? ソース
Well done. Take a break. Go for a quick walk.

四Yon Step 4 Day 4. Review, then let’s keep going. You’re doing great!
T: タ   チ   ツ    テ    ト
N: ナ   ニ   ヌ    ネ    ノ
H: ハ   ヒ   フ    ヘ    ホ
Try reading it forwards and backwards and upwards and downwards.
Yes, some letters look alike in hiragana and katakana.
Now try words:
1.テニス __        2.ハピ__      3.タイ__          4.ネクタイ__  5.ナイス__
1.        tennis            2. happy            3. tie                4. necktie               5. nice
6. ノート_7.テキスト__8.テスト__ 9.スペイン__10.ハム
6.notebook    7. textbook           8. test                      9. Spain              10. ham
Good job. Reward yourself with a treat. Watch a Japanese Anime.

五Go Day 5 Review all katakana work and let’s push on as we’re almost done. This is great!
M: マ   ミ    ム    メ     モ
Y: ヤ        ユ          ヨ
R: ラ   リ    ル    レ     ロ
Try reading it forwards and backwards and upwards and downwards.
Now try words:
1.マイホム __        2.ミスター__      3.メセジ__          4.ヤム__  5.オレンジ
1. My home                 2. Mr.                            3. message             4. Yam          5. orange
6. コカコラ__7.マイケル__8.バーバラ     9.ドナツ__10.パスポート_
6.Coca Cola      7. Michael           8. Barbara             9. donuts              10. passport
Last line:  ワ  ヲ  ン.
Excellent. Now you need to buy yourself something good. How about eating mochi? Start with the ice cream type. Oishii.
Study this over and over until you feel very comfortable you can recognize the letters.
     
Let’s get talking a little again
Are you feeling well after all that work? Genki?
Watch, listen and repeat here: http://alturl.com/yhz7c
 Use extra resources as needed
If you like courses from prestigious universities, feel free to supplement your study with free resources from a course from MIT! 日本語 – MIT Japanese 1: http://alturl.com/2aox
 You have a textbook called Japanese For Everyone   Check it out: http://alturl.com/dbcvw
Go to the vocabulary on page 22 so you can prepare for lesson 2 when we will start our textbook! Here’s some more help with the vocabulary Japanese For Everyone Chapter 1 so you can prepare better for Lesson 1 of the textbook if you are feeling very diligent.
頑張って
You have laid the foundation for a successful course. This will pay off big time for you.
At the end of all this work you need to reward yourself and your mind.
That feels so good.
Yatta! You did it!

 

Japanese For Everyone Hiragana 2

Japanese For Everyone Hiragana 2

Life is plurality, death is uniformity
- Octavio Paz
Japanese For Everyone
Preparatory lesson 2 Week 2, Modified hiragana
This course will help you use the book
Japanese For Everyone
by Susumu Nagara
This is the second lesson to teach you modified hiragana before you start the book.
Week 2. Preparation 2. Learning modified hiragana
Ichi Step 1 
Review the basics differences in vowel sounds: i►E and e►A
so i sounds like E as in easy and esounds like A as in name. Don’t forget.
Let’s get started on the modified sounds and explain how they work.

There are three ways to modify sounds
  1. With “ or °
  2. With a small tsu or a u
  3. With a small version of the ya line
Modification 1
Vowel line:   a   i    u     e    o  cannot be modified.
Ka “►Ga:     ga  gi  gu  ge  go
Sa “►Za :    za   ji  zu  ze  zo         Irregular:  ji (not zi)
Ta “►Da:     da  dji  dzu  de do    Irregulars:dji (not di),  dzu (not du)
Na line:       na  ni  nu   ne  no      cannot be modified
Ha “►Ba      ba  bi  bu   be  bo
Ha­°►Pa      pa  pi  pu   pe  po        a 2nd way to modify this line
Ma line :      ma mi mu me mo       cannot be modified
Ya line:        ya        yu        yo        cannot be modified
Ra line:       ra   ri    ru   re   ro        cannot be modified
Last line!      wa        o          n         cannot be modified

Ni Step 2

Watch and listen to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNTPbcjOzdw

Now you know the sounds we need to learn the real letters, the Japanese kana as they write them.

ga

gi

gu

ge

go

za

ji

zu

ze

zo

da

dji

dzu

de

do

ba

bi

bu

be

bo

pa

pi

pu

pe

po
Watch/listen/ repeat the basic and modified Japanese letters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c_ECnGDgKI&feature=r
Keep watching and repeating the sounds as you read along from the video
頑張ってGanbatte

Day 1
You can check your answers and the sounds from the flashcards and the audio symbols from :http://quizlet.com/3569014/modified-hiragana-flash-cards/
一Ichi READ
Ga:          が    ぎ    ぐ    げ    ご
Za:         ざ    じ    ず    ぜ    ぞ
Try reading it forwards and backwards and upwards and downwards.
Now try words:
1.がんこ __        2.ぎんこう__      3.ぐんま__     4.げんき__  5.__
1.  stubborn            2. bank                3. Gunma (place)4. healthy           5. five
6.ざっし__  7.__       8.いず__  9.ぜんぜん__10.ぞう__
6.magazine   7. time (o’clock)8. Izu (place) 9. not at all         10. elephant
Well done. Yoku dekimashita. Take a break. Go for a quick walk.
Day 2.
Review then let’s keep going. You’re doing great!
二Ni  Read
Da: だ   ぢ   づ   で    ど
Ba: ば   び   ぶ    べ   ぼ
Pa: ぱ   ぴ   ぷ    ぺ   ぽ
Try reading it forwards and backwards and upwards and downwards.
Now try words:
1.だいいち __        2.ぢょうし __     3.あづき__  4.です__  5.いちど__
1. number 1                 2. tweezers            3. adzuki      4. be/is/are      5. once
6.ばら__  7.えび__ 8.あぶない__  9.あべ__  10.ぼく__
6.rose              7. shrimp            8. watch out!   9. Abe(surname)  10. I (male)
*In the next line you meet the small っ. Do not pronounce it.
Just pause on that letter and stress the next syllable.
11. いっぱい 12.えんぴつ 13.いっぷん 14.かんぺき 15.いっぽん
11. full           12.pencil       13. one minute 14. perfect 15. one (cylindrical object)
** The long o can be written as oo but more commonly as ou even though it is still pronounced oo. This applies to letters that end in o.
oo:おお
oo:おう
too:とう
soo: そう
These will sometimes be written as ou or tou or sou etc. but they are always pronounced as an o that is held twice as long as normal.
otoosan or otousan (pronounced otoosan) is おとうさん
Good job. Reward yourself with a treat. Go to a Japanese restaurant?

Day 3
Konnichiwa means Hello or Good day. But how do you pronounce that double consonant? Pause instead of saying the first n and stress the second n.
Watch out. That last letter is not ha, it’s wa because it’s a particle, a topic marker. It’s like saying kon (this) nichi (day) wa (is).
こんにちは。The response is こんにちは。too.
Apart from the letter n, double consonants are written in Japanese with a small っ.
Ganbatte meaning Give it your best has a double consonant in the form of tt. In Japanese it is written がんばって.
Review Day 1 and Day 2’s work and let’s push on as we’re almost done. This is great!
三San Focus on the column in red.
か    く   け  こ
さ  し  す  せ  そ
た    つ  て  と
な    ぬ  ね  の
ま    む  め  も
ら     る  れ  ろ
Each of these red letters can be combined with a small version of the ya line to produce to modified syllables. If the letters of the ya line are normal size, they are pronounced as separate syllables. If the letters are smaller they get joined joined together with the other syllable to make one syllable.
きゃ
kya
きゅ
kyu
きょ
kyo
ぎゃ
gya
ぎゅ
gyu
ぎょ
gyo
しゃ
sha
しゅ
shu
しょ
sho
じゃ
ja
じゅ
ju
じょ
jo
ちゃ
cha
ちゅ
chu
ちょ
cho
ぢゃ
dja
ぢゅ
dju
ぢょ
djo
にゃ
nya
にゅ
nyu
にょ
nyo
ひゃ
hya
ひゅ
hyu
ひょ
hyo
びゃ
bya
びゅ
byu
びょ
byo
みゃ
mya
みゅ
myu
みょ
myo
りゃ
rya
りゅ
ryu
りょ
ryo
Try reading it forwards and backwards and upwards and downwards.
Listen to the sounds of these letters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG21iLZyLvY Now you can read とうきょう and きょうと
Excellent. Now you a treat. How about a Japanese movie?W
Watch Shall We Dance (the original Japanese version) instantly streaming on Netflix.

For the last two days review all you have done.
Basic hiragana
Modified  1
Modified e

a

i

u

e

o

きゃ
kya
きゅ
kyu
きょ
kyo

ka

ki

ku

ke

ko

ga

gi

gu

ge

go
ぎゃ
gya
ぎゅ
gyu
ぎょ
gyo

sa

shi

su

se

so

za

ji

zu

ze

zo
しゃ
sha
しゅ
shu
しょ
sho

ta

chi

tsu

te

to

da

dji

dzu

de

do
じゃ
ja
じゅ
ju
じょ
jo

na

ni

nu

ne

no

ba

bi

bu

be

bo
ちゃ
cha
ちゅ
chu
ちょ
cho

ha

hi

fu

he

ho

pa

pi

pu

pe

po
ぢゃ
dja
ぢゅ
dju
ぢょ
djo

ma

mi

mu

me

mo

にゃ
nya
にゅ
nyu
にょ
nyo

ya


yu


yo

ひゃ
hya
ひゅ
hyu
ひょ
hyo

ra

ri

ru

re

ro

びゃ
bya
びゅ
byu
びょ
byo

wa

wi


we

wo

ぴゃ
pya
ぴゅ
pyu
ぴょ
pyo

n

みゃ
mya
みゅ
myu
みょ
myo


(pause mark)
りゃ
rya
りゅ
ryu
りょ
ryo
You can use these Flashcards to help if you want:
http://quizlet.com/9923000/japanese-for-everyone-modified-hiragana-flash-cards/
Study this over and over until you feel very comfortable you can recognize the letters. This is essential before you start your textbook.
San Step 3. Your textbook has a chart of all the letters
Remember you have a textbook! It’s called Japanese For Everyone                                            
Here it is: http://alturl.com/dbcvw
Go to the vocabulary on page 22 so you can prepare for lesson 2 when we will start our textbook! Here’s some more help with the vocabulary Japanese For Everyone Chapter 1 so you can prepare better for Lesson 1 of the textbook if you are feeling very diligent.
頑張って
You have laid the foundation for a successful course. This will pay off big time for you.
At the end of all this work you need to reward yourself and your mind.
Relax again with http://alturl.com/7jcgj
That feels so good.
Yatta! You did it!

Japanese For Everyone Hiragana 1

Japanese For Everyone
Preparatory lesson 1 Week 1Basic hiragana

Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

This course will help you use the book
Japanese For Everyone
by Susumu Nagara
This is the first lesson to teach you basic hiragana before you start the book.

Preparation 1
Week 1. Preparation 1. Learning basic hiragana

一Ichi Step 1

The basics: i►E and e►A
First you need to know the sounds of vowels. There are two changes you need to watch out for. It’s like Spanish: i►E and e►A so i sounds like E as in easy and esounds like A as in name. That’s what you need to remember as you read.
The order of the vowels in Japanese is a, i, u, e, o                                                       Vowel sounds: a as in app, i ►e as in easy, u as in lunar, e►a as in name, o as in only.
With that knowledge see if you can read the following introduction. Read syllable by syllable.
頑張って=Ganbatte = Give it your best!
Ha ji me ma shi te.
Wa ta shi wa sen sei de su.
Yo ro shi ku o ne gai shi ma su.
Good. Now read it again. Let it flow more.
Hajimemashite.
Watashi wa sensei desu.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Well done. One last time and make the final u in desu and masu disappear.
Hajimemashite.
Watashi wa sensei desu.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Well done! You just read my introduction. Now try yours as you watch
Watch and learn from:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYiEcPEZS2U&feature=fvst
Now that we’ve introduced ourselves, let’s get started. We have been reading with regular English letters. They are called Romaji (Roman letters). We already know the vowels so let’s talk about consonants.
Information about consonants:
G is always a hard g as in got. Sometimes it’s nasal but it never sounds like j as in gentle.  J is always an English J as in Jester and never sounds like a French J. Usually you will have a combination of a consonant and a vowel to make a letter or syllable. N is the only consonant that is a letter without a vowel.

Ni Step 2

Now you know the sounds we need to learn the real letters, the Japanese kana as they write them. Try reading the letters in hiragana (the Japanese writing).

a

i

u

e

o

ka

ki

ku

ke

ko

sa

shi

su

se

so

ta

chi

tsu

te

to

na

ni

nu

ne

no

ha

hi

fu

he

ho

ma

mi

mu

me

mo

ya


yu


yo

ra

ri

ru

re

ro
わ を んwa o n
Day 1 You can use flashcards to help you learn them if you like: http://alturl.com/yqb5w

Day 3

Now you know the sounds we need to learn the real letters, the Japanese kana as they read them and practice them. First of all, here’s some  information about ways to write Japanese. There are three systems.
1. Hiragana is the phonetic system for regular Japanese words. You already know its sounds.
2. Katakana is the phonetic system for foreign words. They are the same sounds.
3. Kanji are pictographs or Chinese characters and are not phonetic.
In lesson 1 we only focus on basic hiragana.
Watch/listen/ repeat the Japanese letters focusing only on the top line: http://alturl.com/wwuww Keep watching and repeating the sounds as you read along from the video until you recognize the sounds of the letters and can read them easily. Only focus on the top line (Hiragana). This is important!

Watch /listen to the Audio here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNTPbcjOzdw

Let’s start reading:

You can check your answers and the sounds from the flashcards and audio symbols at http://quizlet.com/9739613/japanese-for-everyone-h1-flash-cards/
一Ichi READ
A:            あ    い    う    え    お
K:            か    き    く    け    こ
S:             さ    し    す    せ    そ
Try reading it forwards and backwards and upwards and downwards.
Now try words:
1.あい __        2.うえ__      3.__          4.あおい__  5.いいえ
1. love           2. up/on/above     3. picture      4. blue           5. no
6.あかい__  7.かお__ 8.__  9.いけ__  10.ここ__
6.red                7. face             8. tree              9. pond         10. here
How about this word? すし

Well done. Take a break. Go for a quick walk.
Day 2. Review then let’s keep going. You’re doing great!
二Ni  Read
T: た   ち   つ    て    と
N: な   に   ぬ    ね    の
H: は   ひ   ふ    へ    ほ
Try reading it forwards and backwards and upwards and downwards.
Now try words:
1.いち __        2.いつ__      3.__          4.そと__  5.あと__
1. one                 2. when            3. hand             4. outside      5. after
6.__  7.いぬ__ 8.ねこ__  9.この__  10.なに__
6.two              7. dog            8. cat              9. this               10. what
The H line has secrets.
i) can be pronounced ha or wa depending on its function.
Watashi is pronounced watashi wa. It’s a topic marker.
ii)  as it can be pronounced he or e depending on its function。
Yama ikimasu is pronounced yama e ikimasu. It’s a directional verb marker.
For now just know there are two possible ways to pronounce and .
Good job. Reward yourself with a treat. Go to a Japanese restaurant?
Day 3 Review Day 1 and Day 2’s work and let’s push on as we’re almost done. This is great!
San Read
M: ま   み    む    め     も
Y: や        ゆ          よ
R: ら   り    る    れ     ろ
Try reading it forwards and backwards and upwards and downwards.
Now try words:
1.いま __        2.もも__      3.むし__          4.みみ__  5.あめ
1. now                 2. peach            3. insect             4. ear           5. rain
6.やま__  7.ゆき__ 8.よこ__  9.あたま__  10.なまえ__
6.mountain   7. snow           8. beside              9. head               10. name
これ means this. それ means that.  あれ means that over there.
Last line:  わ  を  ん
Now try words:
1.わたし____ 2.すみさせん ___ 3.これ を ください。
1.I          2.Excuse me。      3.This please.
Excellent. Now you need to buy yourself something good. How about a kendama? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOiB8CEDQlU
For the last two days review all you have done.
Study this over and over until you feel very comfortable you can recognize the letters. This is essential before you start your textbook
San Step 3. Gifts for you to reward you for your hard work ♥.
  1.       You have a textbook! It’s called Japanese For Everyone                                            Here it is:http://alturl.com/dbcvw
Let’s get talking a little again
Are you feeling well after all that work? Genki?
Watch, listen and repeat here: http://alturl.com/yhz7c
San Step 3. Use extra resources as needed
If you like courses from prestigious universities, feel free to supplement your study with free resources from a course from MIT!
日本語 – MIT Japanese 1: http://alturl.com/2aox
As you have a textbook called Japanese For Everyone                                            Check it out:http://alturl.com/dbcvw

Go to the vocabulary on page 22 so you can prepare for lesson 2 when we will start our textbook! Here’s some more help with the vocabulary Japanese For Everyone Chapter 1 so you can prepare better for Lesson 1 of the textbook if you are feeling very diligent.
頑張って
You have laid the foundation for a successful course. This will pay off big time for you.
At the end of all this work you need to reward yourself and your mind.
Relax with http://alturl.com/7jcgj
That feels so good.
Yatta! You did it!