Learn Japanese Pod

In this podcast, Asuka and Alex give you their top 10 pieces of advice for learning Japanese quickly and efficiently. This podcast is perfect for either complete beginners or those who have already started studying Japanese but got stuck or aren't quite sure what to study next.  You can get more free Japanese learning podcasts at http://learnjapanesepod.com

Pdf show notes for podcast #05

Pdf show notes for podcast #05

In this podcast we reveal our top 10 tips for studying Japanese more efficiently. For more Japanese language learning podcasts go to http://learnjapanesepod.com  

In this podcast we reveal our top 10 tips for studying Japanese more efficiently. For more Japanese language learning podcasts go to http://learnjapanesepod.com  

These are just the Japanese dialogues taken from podcast #05 “Top 10 tips for studying Japanese” Top 10 Tips for Studying Japanese  One of the most common questions I get is “I want to study Japanese but where should I start?”. The next most common question is “I’ve hit a wall with my Japanese and don’t seem to be improving, what should I do?”. So, if you are a beginner, or have already started studying Japanese but got stuck, this podcast is for YOU! Asuka and I put our heads together and came up with our top 10 tips for studying Japanese more quickly and effectively. I also wanted to make this podcast to point out that, there aren’t any magical shortcuts or secret techniques for learning to speak perfect Japanese in only a few months. A lot of websites out there would have you believe otherwise! Rather, it is more about discovering your “why” or motivation for studying Japanese. Then, you want to focus on a specific goal. In that way, you won’t waste your time studying non-essential topics and save a lot of time. Podcast Dialog Japanese Pronunciation English Asuka: おはようございます ohayō gozaimasu Good morning Alex: おはようございます ohayō gozaimasu Good morning Asuka: 昨日のパーティー楽しかったですね kinō no paatii tanoshikatta desu ne Yesterday’s party was fun Alex: 楽しかったですね tanoshikatta desu ne It was fun wasn’t it? Asuka: またやりましょう mata yarimashō Let’s do it again Alex: ぜひ! zehi Absolutely! Top 10 Tips for Studying Japanese Tip # 1 – Set a clear goal This one is pretty obvious. Before you start anything, you should set a clear goal, preferably with a deadline. This will help to really focus your studies. If you’re not sure what your goal is, simply ask yourself “why do I want to study Japanese?” Do you want to visit Japan on holiday? Do you want to be able to read your favorite manga? Or perhaps you want to become a ninja. Depending on that answer, you can focus more effectively on a study plan. That might be obvious to you but it is worth saying. And there is one more reason to have a clear goal that people sometimes forget about. And that is, setting a goal avoids wasting time studying stuff you don’t need to know. If your goal is to visit Japan for a week on holiday, then you should just be studying simple phrases for booking tickets, asking directions and perhaps shopping. You don’t need waste your time studying 2500 kanji from a dusty textbook for that. So, why do you want to study Japanese? Think about it and leave a comment below. On to the next tip. Tip # 2 – Know your everyday expressions For those of you who want to visit Japan, work here and be able to hold a conversation in Japanese, learning high frequency everyday expressions is a great place to start. You should know greetings for different times of day, asking how people are and how to say please and thank you. For example: おはようございます – ohayō gozaimasu – Good morning こんにちは – Konnichi wa – Hello (Used around midday) こんばんは– Konban wa – Good evening お元気ですか – ogenki desu ka – How are you? 元気です – I’m fine お願いします – onegai shimasu – Please (Could you do something for me?) ありがとうございます – arigatō gozaimasu – Thank you どういたしまして – dō itashi mashite – You’re welcome Tip # 3 – Learn expressions that don’t translate easily into English After learning some basic daily expressions you should learn phrases that don’t easily translate into English. In other words, learn phrases that give you a deeper insight into Japanese culture. This also helps you to stop translating words from your own language into Japanese which wastes time and makes you sound unnatural.

These are just the Japanese dialogues taken from podcast #05 “Top 10 tips for studying Japanese” Top 10 Tips for Studying Japanese  One of the most common questions I get is “I want to study Japanese but where should I start?”. The next most common question is “I’ve hit a wall with my Japanese and don’t seem to be improving, what should I do?”. So, if you are a beginner, or have already started studying Japanese but got stuck, this podcast is for YOU! Asuka and I put our heads together and came up with our top 10 tips for studying Japanese more quickly and effectively. I also wanted to make this podcast to point out that, there aren’t any magical shortcuts or secret techniques for learning to speak perfect Japanese in only a few months. A lot of websites out there would have you believe otherwise! Rather, it is more about discovering your “why” or motivation for studying Japanese. Then, you want to focus on a specific goal. In that way, you won’t waste your time studying non-essential topics and save a lot of time. Podcast Dialog Japanese Pronunciation English Asuka: おはようございます ohayō gozaimasu Good morning Alex: おはようございます ohayō gozaimasu Good morning Asuka: 昨日のパーティー楽しかったですね kinō no paatii tanoshikatta desu ne Yesterday’s party was fun Alex: 楽しかったですね tanoshikatta desu ne It was fun wasn’t it? Asuka: またやりましょう mata yarimashō Let’s do it again Alex: ぜひ! zehi Absolutely! Top 10 Tips for Studying Japanese Tip # 1 – Set a clear goal This one is pretty obvious. Before you start anything, you should set a clear goal, preferably with a deadline. This will help to really focus your studies. If you’re not sure what your goal is, simply ask yourself “why do I want to study Japanese?” Do you want to visit Japan on holiday? Do you want to be able to read your favorite manga? Or perhaps you want to become a ninja. Depending on that answer, you can focus more effectively on a study plan. That might be obvious to you but it is worth saying. And there is one more reason to have a clear goal that people sometimes forget about. And that is, setting a goal avoids wasting time studying stuff you don’t need to know. If your goal is to visit Japan for a week on holiday, then you should just be studying simple phrases for booking tickets, asking directions and perhaps shopping. You don’t need waste your time studying 2500 kanji from a dusty textbook for that. So, why do you want to study Japanese? Think about it and leave a comment below. On to the next tip. Tip # 2 – Know your everyday expressions For those of you who want to visit Japan, work here and be able to hold a conversation in Japanese, learning high frequency everyday expressions is a great place to start. You should know greetings for different times of day, asking how people are and how to say please and thank you. For example: おはようございます – ohayō gozaimasu – Good morning こんにちは – Konnichi wa – Hello (Used around midday) こんばんは– Konban wa – Good evening お元気ですか – ogenki desu ka – How are you? 元気です – I’m fine お願いします – onegai shimasu – Please (Could you do something for me?) ありがとうございます – arigatō gozaimasu – Thank you どういたしまして – dō itashi mashite – You’re welcome Tip # 3 – Learn expressions that don’t translate easily into English After learning some basic daily expressions you should learn phrases that don’t easily translate into English. In other words, learn phrases that give you a deeper insight into Japanese culture. This also helps you to stop translating words from your own language into Japanese which wastes time and makes you sound unnatural.

These are the downloadable PDF show notes for podcast #05 “Top 10 tips for studying Japanese” For more Japanese language learning podcasts go to http://learnjapanesepod.com

These are the downloadable PDF show notes for podcast #05 “Top 10 tips for studying Japanese” For more Japanese language learning podcasts go to http://learnjapanesepod.com

In this podcast, Asuka and Alex teach you how to talk about your home town in Japanese. You will also learn how to ask and answer questions about where you are from. For more Japanese language learning podcasts go to http://learnjapanesepod.com    

In this podcast, Asuka and Alex teach you how to talk about your home town in Japanese. You will also learn how to ask and answer questions about where you are from. For more Japanese language learning podcasts go to http://learnjapanesepod.com    

These are just the Japanese dialogues taken from podcast #04 “How to talk about your home town in Japanese” How to talk about your home town in Japanese I can guarantee you, if you are visiting or living in Japan as a foreigner, you will undoubtedly be asked 出身はどこですか – shusshin wa doko desu ka – where you are from? So Asuka and I (Alex) thought we would make this podcast to teach you how to talk about your home town with someone you have just met in Japan. This is a great way to get a conversation going and with the simple vocabulary and phrases in the podcast, you’ll learn how to do this without too much trouble. You’ll learn how to say where you are from, describe what it’s like and recommend cool places to visit. Japanese are very interested and inquisitive when it comes to finding out why a foreigner would take the time to travel all the way to Japan. Main podcast dialog A:　ご出身はどこですか？ shusshin wa doko desu ka Where are you from? B:　ロンドンです rondon desu (It is) London A:　そうですか。どんなところですか sou desu ka. donna tokoro desu ka Really? What is it like? B:　賑やかですね nigiyaka desu ne It’s lively A:　おすすめな観光スポットはありますか？ osusume na kankou suppoto wa arimasu ka What’s your recommendation for sightseeing? B:　バキングハム宮殿がいいですね。ぜひ遊びに来てください。案内しますよ。bakinguhamu kyuuden ga ii desu ne. zehi asobi ni kite kudasai. annai shimasu yo. Buckingham Palace is good. You should visit. I’ll show you around.   For more Japanese language learning podcasts go to http://learnjapanesepod.com

These are just the Japanese dialogues taken from podcast #04 “How to talk about your home town in Japanese” How to talk about your home town in Japanese I can guarantee you, if you are visiting or living in Japan as a foreigner, you will undoubtedly be asked 出身はどこですか – shusshin wa doko desu ka – where you are from? So Asuka and I (Alex) thought we would make this podcast to teach you how to talk about your home town with someone you have just met in Japan. This is a great way to get a conversation going and with the simple vocabulary and phrases in the podcast, you’ll learn how to do this without too much trouble. You’ll learn how to say where you are from, describe what it’s like and recommend cool places to visit. Japanese are very interested and inquisitive when it comes to finding out why a foreigner would take the time to travel all the way to Japan. Main podcast dialog A:　ご出身はどこですか？ shusshin wa doko desu ka Where are you from? B:　ロンドンです rondon desu (It is) London A:　そうですか。どんなところですか sou desu ka. donna tokoro desu ka Really? What is it like? B:　賑やかですね nigiyaka desu ne It’s lively A:　おすすめな観光スポットはありますか？ osusume na kankou suppoto wa arimasu ka What’s your recommendation for sightseeing? B:　バキングハム宮殿がいいですね。ぜひ遊びに来てください。案内しますよ。bakinguhamu kyuuden ga ii desu ne. zehi asobi ni kite kudasai. annai shimasu yo. Buckingham Palace is good. You should visit. I’ll show you around.   For more Japanese language learning podcasts go to http://learnjapanesepod.com

These are the downloadable PDF show notes for podcast #04 “How to talk about your home town in Japanese” For more Japanese language learning podcasts go to http://learnjapanesepod.com

These are the downloadable PDF show notes for podcast #04 “How to talk about your home town in Japanese” For more Japanese language learning podcasts go to http://learnjapanesepod.com