SmileTalk

Showing posts with label Japanese language. Show all posts

Friday, 26 September 2014

Reviewing hello talk

This amazing app is great. The translation is a bit spotty but it is a pretty safe way to do language exchanges. You can search for online partners to talk to and speak or text or take pictures . it's like a language learning lab crossed with Facebook messenger. I was really impressed with this app and think it will be one that falls into regular use for me. I found it's the perfect supplement to the pimsleur course I'm doing (the review of which is on this blog).

It's definitely worth checking out if only to see if it's your cup of tea. You can talk to people of different languages and see what time it is inn their part of the world. It is automatically set not to disturb you between 11pm-7am.

I've put a link below but you can find it on the google play apps market.

This is my #HelloTalk# screen. HelloTalk – Social Network for Language Learning & Exchange with native speakers. http://hellotalk.com/iOS.html

Monday, 22 September 2014

Reviewing Lingua.ly Android App for Japanese

While lingua.ly is an excellent app for learning French or other European languages it performs poorly for Japanese. 5/10

Lingua.ly

What is Lingua.ly

Lingua.ly is a free language learning app available on the google play store

Features

Dictionary: the app has a Japanese-English basic dictionary. You use this to add words to your learning list.

Read: This feature currently isn't supported for Japanese (thus the low rating) but in future hopes to provide reading materials in the target language for learners. You can browse foreign news papers by topic and add words to your learning list but like I say this has not made it to Japanese yet.

Practice: a test where the Japanese word is shown and you are asked 'Do you know this word?' assuming you say yes you are given a multiple choice answer for the English meaning.

Scoreboard: keep track on progress including your score from the past seven days, how many words you've added, how many times you've practiced and articles read.

Positive Aspects

It has an easy to use and interact with interface.
Appealing colour scheme
You choose the words you want to learn
Everything is stored in the cloud leaving space on your device
It allows multiple languages to be learnt at once (with a little configuration).

Where it Needs to Improve

Everything is kept on the cloud meaning internet is required to use.
It doesn't say the words in the dictionary or give you the hiragana/katakana/romanji for you to learn pronunciation.
No support for reading Japanese articles

After notes

This app is good for French and other European languages but has yet to impress me with Japanese

Saturday, 6 September 2014

Narendra Modi Calls For Japanese to be Taught Online

English: Image of Narendra Modi at the World Economic Forum in India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Prime minister Narendra Modi (the 15th Prime minister of India) wants Japan to take the time to create Japanese language courses online so that more people can learn the language. He said that Indian languages could also be introduced to Japan, but what prompted this?

In India they had introduced Japanese as a language to be learnt in schools. However, there was a shortage of Japanese teachers to teach the subject. If Japanese was more readily available to learn this could be prevented. Narendra Modi believes that mutual language learning support would help their countries.

Modi arrived in Kyoto on Saturday and was received by Shinzo Abe and is scheduled to hold a talk with him.

I certainly would not object to more Japanese language learning material becoming available, especially if it was free and open source and hopefully all in one place!

What support do you think the Japanese government should add?

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.

This is a link to Lentil

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!

Wednesday, 30 July 2014

Smiletalk Updates That'll Put A Smile On Your Face

It has finally happened! Smiletalk now has an option to listen to Japanese talks!

Now you have a supply of Japanese listening comprehensions that will undoubtably be invaluable resources to you! You should check out our article on how to effectively use listening comprehensions. Don't forget to help support learners in Japan by contributing your own talks!

Don't forget to check out the facebook page for more information and of course the actual website. If you have any ideas please drop them in the forum where I personally read all of them.

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 (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 (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 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.'

Tuesday, 3 June 2014

Chopsticks

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

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

Tuesday, 13 May 2014

Motivational Fun: Abe Chan

Common Myna found in Karachi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In 2012 a video of a Japanese speaking pet Common Hill Myna bird was uploaded onto YouTube.

Myna birds are part of the starling family and the Common Hill Myna is pretty well known for it's ability to copy human speech.

Abe Chan has a surprising grasp of the Japanese language and is able to carry out small conversations with it owner.
Here is a YouTube clip of Abe Chan trying to answer the phone for the family.

In English this is what they are saying:

Abe-Chan: Urm Hello, this is the Ono family. What’s wrong?

Owner: Abe-chan, you’re a little too early. Once the phone’s picked up, then properly say 'hello'.

Abe-Chan: Okay, understood.

If you would like to see more Abe-Chan Youtube clips here is a link to their Youtube account: https://www.youtube.com/user/newSuperAbechan

Here are a few Myna Related Facts!

In India it is referred to as 'Farmers Friend' because it eats all kinds of crop destroying insects.
Common Indian Mynas were brought to Melbourne in 1862.
Mynas cause a number of problems since they are noisy and smell when they gather in large numbers. They are also very competitive and fearless and have been known to attack people.