Showing posts with label Japanese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japanese. Show all posts

Thursday, 7 August 2014

Lesson Plan: 1


Weeks 1-2
Day 1: Today you start to learn Japanese from the very start. It may be intimidating at first, but we are going to take baby steps. The first thing you need to do is get a sum copy (that's the one with the boxes) for this first week you have to learn to read and write hiragana. I've already written an article about the importance of learning hiragana Here that includes some resources but I recommend using Lentil, an online memorization tool to first learn to recognise them.


Using this program it should be easy to learn how to recognize the characters.

Day 2: Test yourself with flash cards on paper to make sure you know the hiragana you have learnt so far. You should know at least twelve by now. Continue using lentil and start practicing writing the ones you have learnt already. Repeat this process over the next couple of days.

Day 3: Be creative and get an A3 or A2 sheet of paper and add your neatest Hiragana characters to it ad stick it to your wall. Be sure to save enough space to add katakana later. Slowly add to it as you learn your Kana.

Day 6: Look up some Japanese words and practice writing them in hiragana, be sure to use Smiletalk to make sure you are pronouncing them correctly and be sure to say each hiragana character as you write it to reinforce the link in your brain.

Day 7: Review your progress and see how well you have learnt hiragana. If satisfied you can recognize and write them correctly then repeat all the above steps substituting hiragana with katakana.
Goodluck!

Thursday, 26 June 2014

Fred's Phrases: Anime: Fruits Basket Vocabulary

Earlier this week we reviewed the anime 'Fruits Basket' so why don't we learn a bit of the vocab used in the anime?

Daoist (Taoist) symbols carved in stone: yin-y...
Daoist (Taoist) symbols carved in stone: yin-yang and animals of the Chinese zodiac. Qingyanggong temple, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Anime Vocabulary Lesson 1: Fruits Basket

Animals of the Zodiac
Eng:             Jap:              Kanji
Mouse:        Nezumi :       鼠
Ox:              Osuushi:       雄牛
Tiger:           Tora:            虎
Rabbit:         Usagi:          ウサギ
Dragon:        Ryū:            竜
Snake:          Hebi:            蛇
Horse:          Uma:            馬
Sheep:          Hitsuji:         羊
Monkey:       Saru:            猿
Rooster:        Ondori:        雄鶏
Dog:             Inu:              犬
Pig:               Buta:            豚
And the extra...
Cat:               Neko:          猫

Miscellaneous words
Landslide:    Jisuberi:        地滑り
Handsome:  Hansamu:      ハンサム
Schoolgirl:   Joshi seito:    女子生徒
Hot spring:   Onsen:          温泉
Curse:          Noroi:           呪い
Hug:            Hōyō:            抱擁


Wednesday, 18 June 2014

Some Free Language Learning Hacks


So you want to learn Japanese but you can't get a hold of any textbooks, you are just too broke or nowhere near you sells them. Your only means to learn Japanese is the internet but oh my goodness it's so confusing, where do I even start? How do I measure my progress? Am I going to have to buy those really expensive Genki Japan books that everyone is talking about?!

No.

Japan Characters - Food
Japan Characters - Food (Photo credit: Teratoiid)
This is the internet generation and trust me you don't need a book to help you learn when you have the media.

Every day you are bombarded by thousands of advertisements trying to sell you something, pictures of scantily clad woman brandishing bottles of perfume and promising that for just $69 you too could be this beautiful. Adverts are designed to get their message across clearly and quickly to a wide audience and usually have visual aids. This makes them the perfect tool to practice you're Japanese or any language you are learning on.

It doesn't just stop their though listen to Japanese music, get a hold of some lyrics and scratch out some of the Japanese words. Learn the meanings of the one you scratched out, if it's a verb learn all of the parts to it. Do this with a few songs especially if you can find common words in them. Next listen to the song and write down the words you scratched out and their meaning. If you get it right why not treat yourself to some gorgeous plum wine? Keep this up until you learn the whole song and don't forget to sing along to those lyrics. I must admit I get up and do a jig every time I hear Gackt's song Vanilla. Find the music you like and use it as your springboard into the language. Submerge yourself in the Japanese language, watch Japanese commercials on Youtube (it's actually incredibly entertaining and freaky).

Tuesday, 10 June 2014

ICE Phrases

In Case of Emergency Phrases

Something that seems only rarely to be taught in schools or in any language class is what to say in case of an emergency. This seems strange to me considering that when you are in trouble that's when you need to know the language most. Here are some phrases to help you in the event of the emergency. I've tried to cover the basics.

I have indicated gender on some of these with (F) meaning female and (M) meaning male. However, using the correct gender will probably be the least of your worries in the event of an emergency.

General

Law & Order
Law & Order (Photo credit: uzaigaijin)
Help! 
Tasukete

Somebody help! 
Dareka tasukete

Run!
Hashire (M) / Hashitte(F)

Run (away)!
Nigero (M) / Nigete (F)

Hurry!
Isoge (M) / Isoide (F)
SVG'd version of File:Asahikage.png, per Graph...
SVG'd version of File:Asahikage.png, per Graphic Lab request. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Stop! (Stop running.)
Tomare (M) / Tomatte (F)

Stop! (Stop doing.)
Yamero (M) / Yamete (F)

Wait!
Mate (M) / Matte (F)

Get down!
Husero (M) / Husete (F)

Hide!
Kakurero (M) / Kakurete (F)

Look out!
Kiotsukero (M) / Kiotsukete(F)

Be careful!
Kiotsukero (M) / Kiotsukete (F)

Call an ambulance!
Kyuhkyuhsha o yonde

Call the police!
Keisatsu o yonde

Natural Disaster

Earthquake
Jishin da

Fire (on a building)
Kaji da

Fire (on a mountain)
Yama Kaji da

Tsunami
Tsunami da

Flood
Kouzui da

Storm
Arashi da

Remember

You are going to sound foreign and therefore be harder to understand, you need to make an effort to speak slowly and clearly which will be hard if you are panicking.

The symbol of the Japanese law enforcement is featured above along with a photo of an officer seek them out.

If someone is following you get to a busy street with lots of witnesses.

Even if you don't know how to express something in Japanese use your body language and gesture to convey it.

'Unlike many emergency number services, the 119 system in Japan only services fire or ambulance services. Police are called using a separate emergency number, 110. Operators proficient in English and other foreign languages are available in Tokyo.'
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Tuesday, 3 June 2014

Chopsticks

English: Chopsticks for cooking Français : boi...
English: Chopsticks for cooking Français : bois à manger (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You are probably well aware that in Japan rather than using knives or forks, chopsticks are the most common eating implement. How much do you really know about chopsticks?


The chopsticks お箸(Ohashi)

At the home in Japan, each family has their own chopsticks. Parents tend to use long chopsticks and children use short chopsticks. There are a variety of colors and designs in department and other stores in Japan.

Many Japanese people carry around their own set of chopsticks. By doing this they avoid having to use the cheap throw away chopsticks (waribashi) that are often supplied at bento shops. Most Japanese find chopsticks easier to use that a knife and fork.

When eating at a restaurant in Japan you will see a Chopstick rest (箸置き hashioki) on the table. If there is no chopstick rest and you need to put your chopsticks down then simple fold the wrapper your chopsticks came in, into an accordion shape and use that as the rest.

Never ever ever

  1. Lift chopstick above mouth height.
  2. Tear food apart by holding one chopstick in each hand
  3. Shake off liquid on tip of chopstick.
  4. Swing hand that is holding chopstick.
  5. Shovel food into mouth with chopsticks, with the edge of you mouth on the rice bowl
  6. Let chopsticks roam around plate while you are deciding what next to eat.
  7. Hold chopsticks with hand that is already holding dish.
  8. Put food in your mouth that is dripping.
  9. Lick cop sticks.
  10. Use chopsticks upside-down.
  11. Eat with unmatched pair of chopsticks.
  12. Tap plate with chopsticks.
  13. Pass food from one person to another using chopsticks.
  14. Use as toothpick.

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Wednesday, 28 May 2014

Smiletalk website update

I am excited to tell you avid Smiletalk users and eager learners, about Smiletalks latest features. As you know the site at the moment is still in it's infancy and with each passing month we boldly stride forward to improve it for the users. This month we have added a more social element to the website but stay tuned because even bigger and better updates are in the works. Thank you so much for your support!
Now lets take a closer look at these new features!

The Latest Features

Smiles

English: Hitch-hiker's gesture Русский: Жест а...
English: Hitch-hiker's gesture Русский: Жест автостопщика (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Hey you, someone just gave you a smile! This means that they found your recording helpful and wanted to show their appreciation with a little smile. It's basically a thumbs up meaning you did a good job and just a little something to help motivate you!

This will help you decide on the content you can upload by seeing what people like. It will also help you to improve your posts by mimic the ones you made that got a lot of smiles.






Comments

We have finally created a comments feature! This means that people can now comment on your talk to tell you if it was helpful or not and to thank you for uploading. You can also comment on other users talk and maybe even ask for a specific talk! More features like this coming real soon

Plays

Now you can see how many time your talk has been played. If it is being played a lot then you know a lot of users are using it. You should feel proud that you are helping break down the language barrier!

Thank you all once again for your support and remember, by just sharing a few words you are helping billions of people by providing listening comprehensions



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Thursday, 17 April 2014

10 Things that Japan invented

PlayStation brand logo
PlayStation brand logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


  1. PlayStation: That gaming console we all know and love was invented by Ken Kutaragi and has been making Nintendo weep ever since!
  2. Nintendo: rival to the PlayStation (well it tries) the virtual boy and game boy were both created by Gunpei Yokoi who also did extensive work in other areas.
  3. Instant noodles: mm that instant lunch that students everywhere adore was created by none other then Momofuku Ando
  4. Compact Disc player (CD Player): back in the day when we didn't have mp3s or Itunes.
  5. Nintendo
    Cover of Nintendo
  6. Pocket Calculators: And thank goodness
  7. Ninja Robot: if you aren't in love with the title then this seven ton building climbing robot's going to impress you but helping prevent landslides.
  8. Blu Ray disc: We can thank Sony for this one.
  9. Quartz wristwatch: revealed in 1967 who couldn't love it?
  10. Katana: A sword all Manga/Anime fans know and love.
  11. Bullet Train: Traveling up to 210kmph speeds through Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka!
Well that's our top ten, comment below with your suggestions for the next top ten

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