"Easy Japanese" is a 48-lesson course for beginners. The following is an illustration of learning through this website.
The base for learning is the audio for each lesson. First, tap or click the audio-play button with the lesson number 1 on each lesson’s page and listen to the entire lesson. In 10 minutes, you can learn the meaning of the phrases and points of grammar. The explanation of the Key Phrase is especially important, so listen repeatedly until you understand it.
Tap or click the button "Skit" animation 2 and listen to the entire story several times. You can choose a subtitle, 3 such as English or Japanese, or no-subtitle.
Tap or click the speaker-icon button beside the sentence 4 in the Skit section. Practice speaking by listening to each sentence and imitating how the characters speak. Start by repeatedly practicing the Key Phrase and Bonus Phrase.
Deepen your understanding by reviewing the following sections.
This is the entire text and translation of the lesson's skit. You can listen to the audio sentence-by-sentence. 5 Listening repeatedly will allow you to memorize the expressions. This section also helps with comprehension and pronunciation.
Pronunciation is expressed in the Roman alphabet. 6
Prolonged sounds are expressed by repeating vowels. (Example: "tokee" for clock) A consonant letter right after is repeated for the doubled consonant. (Example: "zasshi" for magazine)
Words and phrases used in the skit are listed here. Click "Add to My Notebook" 7 and save as many as you like in a memo.
Search for words and phrases. 8
Goal of the lesson. (Can-do) 9
Explanation about usage and grammar of the Key Phrase, which is necessary to achieve the goal of the lesson. (Can-do) 10
Click "Add to My Notebook" 11 and make a memo of as many key phrases as you like.
Dialogue examples, using the Key Phrase. Listen to the audio 12 and repeat them.
Exercises. Make sentences by using the words shown.
Phrases from the skit that you can use as is in daily conversation. Save as many as you like in "My Notebook." 13
Listen to the audio 14 to get an idea of how the phrase is used in daily conversation.
Learn greetings, how to count numbers, days of week and other useful expressions.
An introduction to Kanji, the ideographic characters.
Information on sightseeing, culture, food, manners, and other matters related to the lesson.
Video clips about interesting sightseeing spot in Japan.
This page is exclusively for you.
Record your progress in "My Record." 15
Earn one of Haru-san's ornamental hairpins 16 each time you visit "Lesson" or "Use It!"
Earn "〇" 17 each time you give the right answer in "Try it Out!"
Make a memo of items from the Key Phrase, the Bonus Phrase, and other vocabulary in "My Notebook." 18
Create your own vocabulary notebook.
Download MP3 audio files and PDF text files free of charge.
Downloading is limited to personal use.
Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji characters. Download charts of the Hiragana and Katakana syllabaries.