Some Japanese language materials for beginners

Hi everyone!

This is N, your Japanese Language Peer Tutor! We shall be meeting next week for our third lesson, great! Meanwhile, I hope you have been revising your hiragana with enthusiasm as once that is done, we can fly!

Here are some resources I have found over the internet that I hope you can try one each day as a form of revision:

1. Hiragana

http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/self/site/js/hiragana1.htm [Hiragana 1 (a-so)]

http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/self/site/js/hiragana2.htm [Hiragana 2 (ta-ho)]

http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/self/site/js/hiragana3.htm [Hiragana 1 (ma-n)]

Flash Cards: In each set of exercises, 15 hiragana/katakana are shown one by one. Choose the correct reading for each character from the three options provided.

http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/self/site/gakusyu/hiragana2.html

Listening Quiz: Choose the character from the three options that represents the sound of hiragana/katakana you listen to.

http://www.moelc.moe.edu.sg/japanese/notes/sec1/hiragana/hiragana_intro.htm

Here is a hiragana sheet with the basic characters. Do click on the EXERCISE link at the top of the page and click A, B, C based on the order as indicated on the list! As you click each character, do read it out loud to reinforce! What is your best score? J

2. Daily expressions, self introduction and numbers

http://www.moelc.moe.edu.sg/japanese/notes/sec1/sec1_conv/conver1.htm

Here is an excerpt of what we have gone through in class. Can you read the hiragana and figure out what they mean?

3. Money

http://www.ajalt.org/sfyj/money/money.html

Do you remember that the Japanese yen is the currency of Japan? Let’s go shopping! Do remember to click on the girl on the top left hand corner to hear the price of each item. This is a tough one!

Do remember that we have to hand in homework next week (writing each hiragana 5 times).

See you then!

N

*PS: If you are unable to read Japanese words (funny characters appear instead), please go to the link below to install the Japanese language that will allow you to read (and write) Japanese characters in Windows XP (and others!)

http://www.moelc.moe.edu.sg/japanese/dept/config_instructions/winxp_instructions.doc - Windows XP

http://www.moelc.moe.edu.sg/japanese/dept/config_instructions/win2000_instructions.doc - Windows 2000

http://www.moelc.moe.edu.sg/japanese/dept/config_instructions/win98_me_instructions.doc - Windows 98/ME

http://www.nihongoweb.com/Computing/JLK.html - Mac OS9 - Mac OS 9