Want to get better at Japanese? Reading is one of the best ways to improve your language skills. It’s especially important to read a lot when you’re learning a language with a different writing system, like Japanese. Hiragana, katakana and kanji can be overwhelming at first. But with enough reading practice, reading these characters will … Read more
If you’re starting Japanese from scratch, learning hiragana is your very first step. Japanese uses three writing systems, but beginners begin with the two phonetic alphabets – hiragana and katakana. Together, they’re known as the kana. They represent sounds, not meanings. And once you can read them, you can pronounce any Japanese word correctly. That’s … Read more
Most Studio Ghibli movies feel totally magical, and that’s why we love them! But many of the details they show are very real, and we can actually learn a lot about Japanese culture from watching Ghibli movies. Look closely, and you’ll spot everyday Japanese traditions and customs woven into the stories. Shrines, school routines, shared … Read more
Most Studio Ghibli films feel so complete and original that it’s easy to assume they were written purely for the screen! But several of them actually began as novels, manga, or even much older folktales. It’s not always obvious which is which. In some cases the film follows the original closely. In others, Studio Ghibli … Read more
For many learners, anime is their first real exposure to Japanese. And watching anime in the original version is many people’s motivation to start learning Japanese. It’s no wonder so many people ask if you can learn Japanese watching anime! Well, anime can be a useful tool for learning Japanese – but only if you … Read more
Studio Ghibli movies are often recommended to Japanese learners, but not all of them are equally helpful for language practice! Some feature dramatic speech, unusual vocabulary, or fantasy settings that don’t reflect how people talk in everyday life. If your goal is to improve listening skills and get used to natural Japanese, it helps to … Read more
The Studio Ghibli movies are some of Japan’s most beloved creative works. For many, it’s our first introduction to Japanese culture. Not all Studio Ghibli films are set in Japan. Many take place in imagined worlds or European-inspired settings. But a small group of Ghibli films are unmistakably set in Japan – from post-war countryside … Read more
In an ideal world, we would understand everything in any language! Unfortunately, we are only human and that cannot always be the case. This is why it is important to know how to express our confusion when we didn’t quite get the message! There are two common phrases to say ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I … Read more
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to attend school in Japan? Or maybe you are thinking about attending yourself, or perhaps even teaching in Japan! The Japanese education system is quite unique and you may find it slightly different to your own school experience growing up. In this post we will go … Read more