Learn to Read and Write in Japanese - From Zero to Hero

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Meet the Instructor: Learn about Masha’s life in Japan, her experiences overcoming language challenges, and her deep passion for Japanese culture.

• Learning Tips: Gain practical tips for adult learners on staying motivated and efficient in learning Japanese.

• Personal Interests: Discover Masha's hobbies and unique experiences that enrich her teaching style.

In this lesson, we will explore several key areas to help you begin your journey in mastering the Japanese writing systems. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Japanese Writing Systems: Gain an understanding of the three primary systems—Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.

• Course Materials: Access to workbooks provided in PDF format for practice, with optional printed versions available for purchase.

• Writing Practice Tips: Learn the importance of practicing writing using appropriate tools such as gridded notebooks and brush pens to closely mimic traditional Japanese writing tools.

Here's what we'll cover:

• History and Evolution: Learn about the origins of the Japanese writing systems, including the introduction of Kanji from China around the 2nd century and the development of Hiragana and Katakana in the 9th century.

• Functional Use of Writing Systems: Understand how Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana are currently utilized in Japanese writing:

  • Kanji are used primarily for nouns, some adjectives, and verbs, representing the core of words.

  • Hiragana is employed for grammatical endings and words not typically written in Kanji, aiding readability for children and beginners.

  • Katakana marks foreign words and names, indicating their non-Japanese origin.

• Practical Learning Sequence: We will start with Hiragana, move on to Katakana, and then introduce Kanji. The structured learning will enhance understanding and retention of each system.

This lesson will introduce you to the foundation of Hiragana, exploring the Gojyuon table which organizes all the characters systematically.

In this session, we will dive into the first vowel row of Hiragana, covering the characters あ, い, う, え, お.

We will focus on mastering the K-row (か, き, く, け, こ) and its voiced counterpart (が, ぎ, ぐ, げ, ご) in this lesson.

This lesson covers the S-row (さ, し, す, せ, そ) along with its voiced sounds (ざ, じ, ず, ぜ, ぞ), enhancing your Hiragana knowledge.

Explore the T-row (た, ち, つ, て, と) and its voiced variations (だ, ぢ, づ, で, ど) in this detailed session.

In this lesson, we will thoroughly examine the N-row characters: な, に, ぬ, ね, の.

This session will guide you through the H-row (は, ひ, ふ, へ, ほ), and its voiced (ば, び, ぶ, べ, ぼ) and p-sound variants (ぱ, ぴ, ぷ, ぺ, ぽ).

We'll delve into the M-row characters (ま, み, む, め, も), expanding your repertoire of Hiragana.

This lesson will focus on the Y-row, covering the characters や, ゆ, よ, and their roles in Japanese syllabary.

Join us as we explore the R-row (ら, り, る, れ, ろ), a crucial part of Hiragana crucial for forming many Japanese words.

This session will conclude our Hiragana series by covering the characters わ, を, and ん, completing your basic understanding of the script.

This lesson will provide a comprehensive introduction to Katakana, utilizing the Gojyuon table to organize and present the characters.

In this session, we will delve into the first vowel group of Katakana, focusing on ア, イ, ウ, エ, オ.

We will explore both the K-row (カ, キ, ク, ケ, コ) and its voiced counterpart (ガ, ギ, グ, ゲ, ゴ), enhancing your understanding of Katakana.

This lesson covers the S-row (サ, シ, ス, セ, ソ) along with its voiced sounds (ザ, ジ, ズ, ゼ, ゾ), broadening your Katakana skills.

Explore the T-row (タ, チ, ツ, テ, ト) and its voiced variations (ダ, ヂ, ヅ, デ, ド) in this detailed session.

In this lesson, we'll thoroughly examine the N-row characters: ナ, ニ, ヌ, ネ, ノ.

This session will guide you through the H-row (ハ, ヒ, フ, ヘ, ホ), including its voiced (バ, ビ, ブ, ベ, ボ) and p-sound variants (パ, ピ, プ, ペ, ポ).

We'll delve into the M-row characters (マ, ミ, ム, メ, モ), expanding your Katakana knowledge.

This lesson focuses on the Y-row, covering the characters ヤ, ユ, ヨ, and their use in Japanese writing.

Join us as we explore the R-row (ラ, リ, ル, レ, ロ), crucial for forming various words in Japanese.

This session concludes our Katakana series by covering the characters ワ, ヲ, and ン, ensuring your comprehensive understanding of the script.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this lesson:

• Overview of Kanji: Revisit the origins of Kanji, initially borrowed from Chinese pictograms around the 2nd century AD, and understand their evolution from simple drawings to the complex characters used today.

• Understanding Radicals: Discover the role of radicals in Kanji—fundamental elements like 'human', 'tree', 'sun', and 'mouth' that form the building blocks of more complex Kanji. Learn how these radicals can help decipher meanings and construct new Kanji.

• Learning Strategy for Kanji: Learn about the systematic approach to studying Kanji, including memorizing basic radicals and understanding how Kanji combine to express various concepts.

• Kanji in Context: Explore how Kanji add depth to the Japanese language, from enhancing word plays in literature to providing contextual clues in media through closed captions.

• Practical Applications: See how an understanding of Kanji not only aids in reading and writing but also enhances comprehension of spoken Japanese through visual representation of words.

Here's what we’ll cover:

• Introduction to Kanji Readings: Learn the difference between On'yomi (Chinese origin) and Kun'yomi (Japanese origin) readings and their applications.

• Practical Application of Readings:

  • On'yomi is typically used when Kanji are combined with other Kanji to form words.

  • Kun'yomi is used when Kanji stands alone or is combined with Hiragana.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Introduction to Radicals: Learn about radicals, the building blocks of Kanji, using the example of the Kanji for "rest" (yasumi), which combines elements representing a "tree" and a "human." Understanding these components helps decipher the meanings and relationships within Kanji.

• Understanding Strokes: Explore the importance of stroke order and the number of strokes in writing Kanji correctly. Learn why these elements are vital for dictionary look-ups and proper Kanji writing.

In this lesson, you will embark on your journey into the world of Kanji, starting with the essential Kanji for numbers. We'll cover the basic numeric Kanji from 1 to 10.

You'll learn both the On (Chinese-origin) and Kun (Japanese-origin) readings for each number, as well as their correct stroke orders.

By the end of this lesson, you will not only recognize and write these Kanji but also understand their usage in context, such as in dates.

In this lesson, we'll expand your Kanji knowledge by introducing ten commonly used characters, enhancing your ability to read and continue learning new Kanji independently.

By focusing on practical examples and radicals, you'll learn not only to write these Kanji but also to recognize their components and variations in different contexts. This session is designed to equip you with foundational skills for self-directed study of Kanji, using the book attached to this course as a guide.

Here's how to solidify and expand your Kanji knowledge:

• Kanji Flashcards: Utilize the cut-out flashcards from the course materials for active recall practice. Review the Kanji, their readings, and meanings regularly to reinforce memory.

• Writing Practice: Continuously practice writing Kanji. Incorporate new Kanji into your written Japanese, replacing Hiragana where possible to enhance familiarity.

• Kanji Treasure Hunt: Engage with real-world Japanese texts, such as newspapers or product packaging. Identify known Kanji and decipher new ones using the radicals and components you've learned, expanding your vocabulary and understanding of Kanji usage.

• Continuous Learning and Practice: Develop intuition for Kanji through consistent practice and exposure. This ongoing effort will enhance your ability to understand and use Japanese effectively.