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Naoko Kinoshita

The exchange student Andy is asked to join the university yosokoi dance club. And he decides to join. Through interaction with his yosokoi club mates and his Japanese class teacher, he describes his experiences and we learn more about Andy’s character and how he tries his hardest in these situations.

What you'll learn

・To invite someone
・To describe your experience
・To request permission
・To explain relationships

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Is appropriate for students who want to improve their Japanese language skills
Is ideal for students interested in Japanese culture
Provides opportunities for students to interact with Japanese language learners
Is instructor-led by Naoko Kinoshita
Requires no prerequisites
Teaches students how to invite someone, describe their experiences, request permission, and explain relationships in Japanese

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Reviews summary

Practical conversational japanese through story

According to learners, "Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3" is a highly engaging and effective continuation of the Japanese series. Students particularly praise its unique storytelling approach centered around Andy and the Yosakoi dance club, which makes learning enjoyable and aids retention. The course is highlighted for its strong focus on practical, conversational Japanese, helping learners apply grammar and vocabulary in real-life situations. Many appreciate the seamless integration of cultural insights. While largely celebrated for its innovative method, a few learners noted it might not be ideal for those seeking a traditional, explicit grammar-heavy approach or as a standalone initial grammar course, suggesting it benefits from prior parts.
Best for those who have completed earlier parts or have some basic grammar.
"Good course, though sometimes the pace felt a little fast for a complete beginner. I had taken Part 1 and 2, which helped."
"A must-take if you've done Part 1 and 2."
"The structure builds well from previous parts. Highly recommend to those serious about conversational Japanese."
Naturally weaves in valuable cultural insights.
"The cultural insights are a big plus."
"I've been looking for a course that truly integrates language with culture, and this series delivers."
"I love how it integrates cultural aspects naturally. It's challenging but rewarding."
Emphasizes conversational skills and real-life usage.
"The dialogues are practical and I can see myself using these phrases. The focus on real-life situations is excellent."
"This course significantly improved my conversational skills. The dialogues are natural and realistic."
"The real-life dialogues and scenarios are perfect for building practical communication skills."
"Truly excellent for a beginner series. The emphasis on conversational Japanese and real-life scenarios is exactly what I needed."
Innovative narrative makes learning fun and memorable.
"I absolutely loved this course! It's so well-structured and the storytelling approach with Andy makes learning engaging."
"The storytelling format is unique and helps remember vocabulary. I really feel like I'm making progress."
"The way they weave grammar and vocabulary into a story makes it so much easier to understand and retain."
"The narrative with Andy and the Yosakoi club is a clever way to teach. I felt immersed in the language."
May not suit learners preferring explicit grammar drills over narrative.
"Honestly, this course wasn't for me. I prefer a more traditional grammar-focused approach. The story aspect felt distracting..."
"...not a standalone grammar course."
"I think some parts could use more detailed grammar explanations, but overall it's effective for practical communication."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 with these activities:
Review basic Japanese grammar
This course builds on basic Japanese grammar. Reviewing basic Japanese grammar will help you strengthen foundational skills, making it easier to engage with the course content.
Browse courses on Japanese Grammar
Show steps
  • Review Hiragana and Katakana
  • Review basic sentence structure
Review of basic Japanese grammar
Refreshes the student's knowledge of basic Japanese grammar, which is essential for understanding the course material.
Browse courses on Japanese Grammar
Show steps
  • Review the basics of Japanese grammar, such as sentence structure, parts of speech, and verb conjugation.
  • Complete practice exercises to reinforce your understanding.
Watch online tutorials on yosakoi dance
Watching online tutorials on yosakoi dance will help you to learn the basic steps and movements of the dance, and will also help you to improve your technique.
Show steps
  • Search for online tutorials on yosakoi dance.
  • Watch the tutorials and follow the instructions.
  • Practice the steps and movements you learn from the tutorials.
Ten other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 13 activities
Practice Using Yosakoi Vocabulary
Review and practice using the new yosakoi dance vocabulary you are learning in class.
Browse courses on Japanese Vocabulary
Show steps
  • Use Japanese language learning apps.
  • Take practice quizzes and flashcards.
  • Immerse yourself in the language through music, movies, and shows.
Volunteer at a yosakoi dance event
Volunteering at a yosakoi dance event will help you to learn more about the dance and support the local yosakoi dance community.
Show steps
  • Find a yosakoi dance event in your area.
  • Contact the event organizers and offer to volunteer.
  • Help out with the event in any way you can.
Join a yosakoi dance club or group
Joining a yosakoi dance club or group will help you to improve your dance skills, learn new techniques, and make new friends who share your interest in yosakoi dance.
Show steps
  • Find a yosakoi dance club or group in your area.
  • Attend regular practices and performances.
  • Learn from more experienced dancers.
  • Make new friends who share your interest in yosakoi dance.
Practice Japanese conversation
Provides opportunities to practice speaking Japanese, which is essential for improving fluency and communication skills.
Browse courses on Japanese Conversation
Show steps
  • Find a language partner or tutor to practice speaking Japanese.
  • Engage in regular conversation practice, focusing on topics related to the course material.
Attend a yosakoi dance workshop
Attending a yosakoi dance workshop will help you to learn the basic steps and movements of the dance, and will also help you to improve your technique and learn from experienced dancers.
Show steps
  • Find a yosakoi dance workshop in your area.
  • Register for the workshop.
  • Attend the workshop and learn from experienced dancers.
  • Practice the steps and movements you learn from the workshop.
Create a yosakoi dance performance
Creating a yosakoi dance performance will help you apply the dance techniques and knowledge you learn in the course, and will also help you to develop your creativity and teamwork skills.
Show steps
  • Learn the basic steps and movements of yosakoi dance.
  • Create a dance routine that incorporates the basic steps and movements.
  • Rehearse the dance routine regularly.
  • Perform the dance routine for an audience.
Japanese Language Enhancement
Enhance your overall Japanese language ability and understanding beyond what is taught in this course by enrolling in a separate Japanese language course or using online resources.
Browse courses on Japanese Language
Show steps
  • Enroll in a Japanese language course or join a language learning group.
  • Use online resources such as Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, or Genki.
  • Attend Japanese cultural events or meetups to practice speaking.
Write a short dialogue in Japanese
Writing practice will help you apply grammar rules, expand your vocabulary, and improve your sentence structure.
Browse courses on Japanese Language
Show steps
  • Choose a topic
  • Write a rough draft
  • Revise and edit your dialogue
Create a video or blog post about yosakoi dance
Creating a video or blog post about yosakoi dance will help you to learn more about the dance and share your knowledge with others.
Show steps
  • Choose a topic for your video or blog post.
  • Research your topic.
  • Create your video or blog post.
  • Share your video or blog post with others.
Write a short story in Japanese
Allows students to demonstrate their understanding of Japanese grammar and vocabulary by creating their own original content.
Browse courses on Japanese Writing
Show steps
  • Choose a topic that interests you and is related to the course material.
  • Brainstorm ideas and create an outline for your story.
  • Write the first draft of your story, focusing on using correct grammar and vocabulary.
  • Revise and edit your story for clarity, accuracy, and flow.

Career center

Learners who complete Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Japanese Language Specialist
Japanese Language Specialists work with Japanese language and culture in a variety of settings, such as education, government, and business. In order to be successful in this role, they must have a deep understanding of the Japanese language and culture. Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming Japanese Language Specialists build a foundation in Japanese language and culture, which will be useful in their future roles.
Japanese Translator
Japanese Translators convert written words from Japanese to another language, or from other languages to Japanese. In order to be successful in this role, they must have a deep understanding of the Japanese language and culture, as well as the language(s) they translate to and from.  Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming Japanese Translators build a foundation in Japanese language and culture, which will be useful in their future roles.
Japanese Interpreter
Japanese Interpreters convert spoken words from Japanese to another language, or from other languages to Japanese. In order to be successful in this role, they must have a deep understanding of the Japanese language and culture, as well as the language(s) they translate to and from.  Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming Japanese Interpreters build a foundation in Japanese language and culture, which will be useful in their future roles.
Japanese Language Teacher
Japanese Language Teachers help students learn Japanese. In order to be successful in this role, they must have a deep understanding of the Japanese language and teaching methodology. Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming Japanese Language Teachers build a foundation in Japanese language and teaching methodology, which will be useful in their future roles.
Japanese Culture Specialist
Japanese Culture Specialists work with Japanese culture in a variety of settings, such as education, government, and business. In order to be successful in this role, they must have a deep understanding of Japanese history, culture, and society. Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming Japanese Culture Specialists build a foundation in Japanese culture, which will be useful in their future roles.
Japanese Studies Professor
Japanese Studies Professors teach Japanese language, culture, and history at universities and colleges. In order to be successful in this role, they must have a doctorate in Japanese studies as well as a passion for teaching and research. Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming Japanese Studies Professors build a foundation in Japanese language, culture, and history which will be useful in their future roles.
Language Teacher
Language Teachers help students learn a foreign language.  They must have a strong understanding of language teaching methodology and the grammatical structure of the language they are teaching. Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming Language Teachers build a foundation in Japanese grammar and sentence structure, which will be useful in their future roles. Additionally, the course will expose them to various teaching techniques that they may find useful.
Foreign Language Professor
Foreign Language Professors teach foreign languages at universities and colleges. In order to be successful in this role, they must have a doctorate in their field as well as a passion for teaching and research.  Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming Foreign Language Professors build a foundation in Japanese grammar and syntax, which may be useful in their future roles.
Cross-Cultural Trainer
Cross-Cultural Trainers help people from different cultures understand each other. In order to be successful in this role, they must have a deep understanding of cultural differences and a strong grasp of at least one foreign language.  Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming Cross-Cultural Trainers build a foundation in Japanese culture and language, which will be useful in their future roles.
International Business Consultant
International Business Consultants help businesses expand their operations into foreign markets. In order to be successful in this role, they must have a deep understanding of international business and a strong grasp of at least one foreign language. Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming International Business Consultants build a foundation in Japanese, which will be useful in their future roles.
Translator
Translators convert written words from one language to another. Similar to Interpreters, they must have a comprehensive understanding of the languages they work with. Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming Translators build a foundation in Japanese sentence structure and grammar, which may be useful in their future roles.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers create instruction manuals, help articles, and other explanatory documents. In order to be successful in this role, they must have a strong grasp of sentence structure and grammar as well as the ability to explain complex topics clearly and concisely. Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming Technical Writers build a foundation in Japanese grammar and syntax, which may be useful in their future roles.
ESL Teacher
ESL (English as a Second Language) Teachers help non-native speakers learn English. In order to be successful in this role, they must have a deep understanding of the English language and a strong command of grammar. Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming ESL Teachers build a foundation in English grammar and sentence structure, which may be useful in their future roles.
Diplomat
Diplomats represent their countries abroad and negotiate with foreign governments. In order to be successful in this role, they must have a deep understanding of international relations and a strong grasp of at least one foreign language.  Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming Diplomats build a foundation in Japanese, which will be useful in their future roles.
Interpreter
Interpreters convert spoken or written words from one language to another. In order to be successful in this role, they must have a deep and nuanced understanding of the grammatical structure, syntax, and usage of the languages they work with. Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 can help those interested in becoming Interpreters build a foundation in Japanese grammar and sentence structure, which may be useful in their future roles.

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3.
A staple for many Japanese language learners, this volume focuses on teaching the first 293 essential kanji characters, providing a solid foundation for reading and writing Japanese.
Is the official guidebook for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). It provides information about the test format, and it includes practice questions and exercises. It good resource for students who are preparing for the JLPT.
This novel by one of Japan's most famous contemporary authors tells the story of a man who is searching for his missing wife. It valuable resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about Japanese culture and history.
This popular textbook for beginners who are just starting to learn Japanese. It provides a clear and concise explanation of basic grammar concepts.
Provides a comprehensive overview of Japanese grammar patterns. It good resource for students who want to improve their understanding of Japanese grammar.
This novel by one of Japan's most famous contemporary authors tells the story of two people who are living in parallel worlds. It valuable resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about Japanese culture and history.
This classic work on strategy and warfare must-read for anyone who is interested in Japanese culture and history. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the principles of samurai warfare.
This novel by one of Japan's most famous authors tells the story of a young man who travels to a remote温泉(onsen) town in search of love and meaning. It valuable resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about Japanese culture and history.
This guidebook provides a comprehensive overview of Tokyo, including its history, culture, and attractions. It valuable resource for anyone who is planning a trip to Japan's capital city.

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