Japanese Course for Absolute Beginners (Letters, Alphabet) from Udemy

"Japanese Course for Beginners (Alphabet)" is designed for Japanese beginners to master Hiragana and Katakana (Japanese Letter), the most essential and fundamental part of Japanese language. With a strong foundation of Hiragana and Katakana, students can go further learning of Japanese (N5 level to N1 level).

Distinct from the traditional teaching method, this course not only enables you to master how to pronounce and write each Japanese letters, but also provides you with various supplementary knowledge:

English-based instruction creating a totally foreigner- friendly environment especially for beginners;
the proper ways to do self-practice after class;
the downloadable PDF learning material of each section with corresponding writing practice;
culture note session that explains aspects of the culture and everyday life of japan, and deepens your understanding of Japanese culture;
vocabulary builder that enables you to practice pronunciation and acquire a basic level of Japanese words on completing the whole lectures;
the learning of daily phrases that are frequently used in daily life in Japan
comprehensive guidance that helps you to avoid common mistakes students tend to make to each Hiragana and Katakana.

Each of your comments and questions will be carefully handled and students are totally welcome to discuss anything related to the course.

The upcoming N5 and N4 course is being recorded and will be available soon. N3, N2 and N1 courses are also scheduled.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Master japanese characters: hiragana and katakana system
Totally understand japanese writing system
Acquire a strong foundation to start elementary japanese

Master the pronunciation and intonation system in japanese
Master the most commonly used phrases for greetings in daily life
Acquire a broad knowledge of japan through information on japanese culture and daily life

Master japanese characters: hiragana and katakana system
Totally understand japanese writing system
Acquire a strong foundation to start elementary japanese
Master the pronunciation and intonation system in japanese
Master the most commonly used phrases for greetings in daily life
Acquire a broad knowledge of japan through information on japanese culture and daily life

Syllabus

Introduction of the courses series of FELICITY Online Japanese

Lesson 1: Gojuonzu (Japanese Alphabet) Fundamentals

Introduction

Self-introduction

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides an English-based instruction, creating a foreigner-friendly environment, which is especially helpful for learners who are new to the Japanese language

Offers downloadable PDF learning material with corresponding writing practice, which reinforces learning and allows for self-study outside of the course

Includes culture notes that explain aspects of Japanese culture and daily life, deepening the understanding of the language within its cultural context

Focuses on mastering Hiragana and Katakana, which are the most essential and fundamental parts of the Japanese language, providing a strong foundation for further learning

Vocabulary builder enables learners to practice pronunciation and acquire a basic level of Japanese words, which is useful for building a practical understanding of the language

Upcoming N5 and N4 courses are being recorded and will be available soon, which may indicate that learners will need to take additional courses to advance

Reviews summary

Foundation in japanese letters and sounds

According to learners, this course offers a strong foundation for absolute beginners focusing on the essential Japanese writing systems. Students find the explanations of Hiragana and Katakana clear and easy to follow, and appreciate the inclusion of helpful supplementary materials like PDFs for writing practice. The culture note sections are also highlighted as an engaging addition. However, prospective students should be aware that the course has a focused scope and only covers letters and basic pronunciation, meaning further study or subsequent courses are necessary to learn grammar and more complex language structures.

Covers only letters, requires more study.

"It's important to know this course is strictly for learning the alphabets and basic sounds, not grammar yet."

"This course provides a solid foundation, but you will definitely need to take follow-up courses to learn how to actually speak and form sentences."

"Great for letters, but expect to seek other resources for conversational skills beyond basic phrases."

Engaging segments on Japanese culture.

"The little sections on Japanese culture were a nice bonus and kept things interesting."

"Enjoyed learning bits about Japanese customs and daily life alongside the language basics."

"Culture notes added good context and motivation."

Provides useful downloadable practice sheets.

"The downloadable PDF worksheets were really useful for practicing writing the characters after the lessons."

"I appreciated having the vocabulary lists and writing guides available to download."

"The materials provided complemented the video lessons very well."

Excellent starting point for absolute beginners.

"This course is perfect for someone starting from zero with Japanese, explaining everything from scratch."

"I found the explanations of both Hiragana and Katakana very clear and easy to understand as a total beginner."

"Great first step into the Japanese language, felt welcomed and not overwhelmed."

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 Japanese Course for Absolute Beginners (Letters, Alphabet) with these activities:

Review Basic English Phonetics

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Reviewing English phonetics will help you better understand the pronunciation of Japanese characters and words, especially since the course uses English-based instruction.

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Study the IPA chart for English sounds.
Practice pronouncing different English vowel and consonant sounds.
Listen to native English speakers and try to mimic their pronunciation.

Read 'Genki: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese'

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Reading 'Genki' will provide a broader context for learning Hiragana and Katakana, as it introduces basic grammar and vocabulary.

View GENKI 1 2 an Integrated Course in Elementary... on Amazon

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Read the introductory chapters on Japanese writing and pronunciation.
Focus on the sections that cover Hiragana and Katakana.
Practice writing the characters as you read along.

Hiragana and Katakana Writing Practice

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Practicing writing Hiragana and Katakana characters repeatedly will reinforce your memory and improve your handwriting skills.

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Download and print practice sheets for Hiragana and Katakana.
Use a pencil or pen to trace and copy each character multiple times.
Focus on stroke order and proper proportions.
Review characters you find difficult more frequently.

Three other activities

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Create Flashcards for Hiragana and Katakana

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Creating flashcards will help you memorize Hiragana and Katakana characters by associating them with their corresponding sounds and example words.

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Create flashcards with Hiragana/Katakana on one side and pronunciation/example words on the other.
Use the flashcards to quiz yourself regularly.
Review the flashcards frequently, especially for characters you find difficult.

Explore 'Remembering the Kana' by James Heisig

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Using 'Remembering the Kana' can provide a different perspective on memorizing Hiragana and Katakana, using mnemonics to aid recall.

View Remembering the Kana: The Hiragana / The... on Amazon

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Read the introduction to understand the mnemonic approach.
Work through the lessons for Hiragana and Katakana, focusing on the images and stories.
Review the characters regularly to reinforce your memory.

Write a Short Story Using Hiragana and Katakana

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Writing a short story will force you to actively use the Hiragana and Katakana characters you've learned, solidifying your understanding and improving your fluency.

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Choose a simple topic for your story.
Write the story using only Hiragana and Katakana characters.
Use a dictionary or online resources to look up words you don't know.
Review your story for errors and make corrections.

Career center

Learners who complete Japanese Course for Absolute Beginners (Letters, Alphabet) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Translator

A translator converts written material from one language into another, ensuring the meaning and context are accurately conveyed. This course helps build a foundation for anyone looking to translate Japanese documents, literature, or other written content. By mastering Hiragana and Katakana, the essential building blocks of the Japanese writing system, one can improve their ability to read, understand, and translate Japanese texts. The lessons on vocabulary and daily phrases equip learners with practical language skills that are invaluable for effective translation. The course's emphasis on cultural context further enhances a translator's ability to accurately interpret and convey the nuances of the original text.

See salaries and explore the career path for Translator

Market Research Analyst

Market Research Analysts study market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. This course helps build a foundation for those interested in researching Japanese markets. By mastering Hiragana and Katakana, one can access and interpret written market data and reports in Japanese. The course’s focus on cultural context can improve the analyst's understanding of consumer behavior and market trends in Japan, which is important for accurately interpreting and analyzing data. Furthermore, the knowledge of daily phrases facilitates communication with local sources.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst

ESL Teacher in Japan

An English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher in Japan instructs Japanese speakers in the English language. This course helps build a foundation in the Japanese language, which helps communicating with students and navigating daily life in Japan. Mastering Hiragana and Katakana enables the candidate to understand basic written communication and signals a commitment to learning the local language. The course's focus on pronunciation and daily phrases provides practical skills for interacting with locals and creating a more immersive experience. An ESL Teacher can leverage the included cultural notes to show their appreciation for Japanese customs.

See salaries and explore the career path for ESL Teacher in Japan

Cultural Liaison

A cultural liaison facilitates communication and understanding between people from different cultural backgrounds. This course helps build a foundation for those interested in working with Japanese individuals or organizations. By mastering Hiragana and Katakana, one can improve their ability to effectively communicate with Japanese speakers. The lessons on vocabulary and daily phrases provide practical language skills. The inclusion of cultural notes, which deepen one's understanding of Japanese customs and social norms, is important for a cultural liaison.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cultural Liaison

Customer Service Representative

A Customer Service Representative provides support and assistance to customers, addressing inquiries, resolving issues, and ensuring customer satisfaction. This course helps build a foundation for those interested in working with Japanese-speaking customers. Mastering Hiragana and Katakana allows the representative to understand written communication and provide clear and accurate responses. The course's focus on pronunciation and daily phrases comes in handy when helping customers. Also, the included cultural notes help reps show respect for Japanese customs.

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Japanese Language Teacher

A Japanese Language Teacher instructs students in the Japanese language, culture, and customs. This course is useful for prospective teachers, as it helps solidify their own understanding of the foundational elements of Japanese. You can improve your teaching abilities by mastering Hiragana and Katakana. The course’s structured approach, with lessons on pronunciation, vocabulary, and daily phrases, models effective teaching techniques. The inclusion of cultural notes provides valuable supplementary material. The upcoming N5 and N4 courses can further inform the teacher's curriculum.

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Foreign Service Officer

A Foreign Service Officer represents their country's interests abroad, engaging in diplomacy, consular services, and public affairs. This course helps build a foundation for those aspiring to work in Japan. Mastering Hiragana and Katakana enables the officer to understand written communication and signage, which is important for navigating life in Japan. The course's focus on pronunciation and daily phrases helps the officer communicate effectively with local individuals. A Foreign Service Officer can leverage the included cultural notes to show their understanding of Japanese customs.

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Localization Specialist

A localization specialist adapts products or content to a specific target market, ensuring it resonates with the local culture and language. For those who want to specialize in the Japanese market, this course is a great beginning. This course helps build your capability to localize content for a Japanese audience. By learning Hiragana and Katakana, the fundamental components of the Japanese writing system, one will be able to effectively adapt written materials. The course's vocabulary builder and daily phrases sections provide practical language skills. The cultural notes enhance understanding of Japanese customs and preferences, which is important for localization projects.

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Tour Guide

A tour guide leads groups of people on trips or excursions, providing information and insights about the destination. This course helps build a foundation for those interested in guiding tours in Japan or for Japanese-speaking tourists. By mastering Hiragana and Katakana, one can read signs and understand basic written information, improving the ability to navigate and provide context to tourists. The lessons on pronunciation and daily phrases equip learners with essential communication skills, while the cultural notes enhance the tour guide's ability to provide insightful commentary on Japanese culture and customs. A tour guide may find the upcoming N5 course useful.

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Travel Blogger

A travel blogger creates content about their travel experiences, sharing tips, recommendations, and stories with their audience. This course helps build a foundation for those interested in blogging about Japan. By learning Hiragana and Katakana, the building blocks of the Japanese writing system, one will be able to read signs, menus, and other written information. The knowledge can enrich their blog posts. The lessons on pronunciation and daily phrases equip bloggers with the language skills needed to interact with locals, while the cultural notes provide insights for crafting engaging content. A travel blogger may find the upcoming N5 and N4 courses useful.

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Interpreter

An interpreter facilitates spoken communication between individuals or groups who speak different languages. If you are interested in interpreting Japanese, this course may be useful. By learning Hiragana and Katakana, the most fundamental elements of the Japanese language, you can improve your understanding of spoken Japanese. The course's focus on pronunciation and intonation, along with its coverage of daily phrases, equips learners with practical skills needed to accurately and effectively interpret spoken conversations. The course also introduces cultural insights, deepening one's understanding of Japanese customs and communication styles, essential for an interpreter.

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International Business Development Manager

An international business development manager identifies and pursues new business opportunities in foreign markets. This course may be useful for individuals who want to focus on the Japanese market. Mastering Hiragana and Katakana allows one to navigate written materials and gain a deeper understanding of the Japanese business environment. The cultural notes included in this course can improve how a business development manager engages with clients and partners. Familiarity with daily phrases helps build rapport and trust.

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Librarian

A librarian assists patrons, manages collections, and promotes literacy and learning within a library setting. A librarian specializing in Japanese materials can access materials more easily after taking this course. A librarian working with Japanese texts or serving a Japanese-speaking community would benefit greatly from mastering Hiragana and Katakana, the core components of the Japanese writing system. This course provides a foundation for cataloging, organizing, and assisting patrons with Japanese language materials. Also, the course includes learning proper pronunciation.

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Technical Writer

A technical writer creates clear and concise documentation for technical products and services. A technical writer focused on documentation for Japanese-speaking audiences or products in the Japanese market can improve the quality of their work by taking this course. Mastering Hiragana and Katakana allows the writer to understand the basic structure and nuances of the Japanese language. This course may be useful for anyone looking to translate or adapt technical content. A technical writer is able to localize content for the Japanese market.

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Archivist

An archivist appraises, collects, preserves, and provides access to historical records and documents. This course may be useful for individuals working with Japanese archives and historical materials. Mastering Hiragana and Katakana enables the archivist to read and understand Japanese script, which is important for cataloging and preserving documents. The course helps build a foundation in Japanese writing and pronunciation. Ultimately, an Archivist is able to provide valuable historical interpretation to those seeking information, while the upcoming N5 and N4 courses will deepen one's knowledge of Japanese.

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Reading list

We've selected two 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 Japanese Course for Absolute Beginners (Letters, Alphabet).

Remembering the Hiragana

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Focuses specifically on memorizing Hiragana and Katakana using a mnemonic system. It's a great resource for learners who struggle with rote memorization. It provides a structured approach to learning the characters and can be used alongside the course. It is particularly useful for visual learners.

Remembering the Kana: The Hiragana / The Katakana

Paperback

GENKI 1 2 an Integrated Course in Elementary...

Save

Widely used textbook for beginner Japanese learners. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the language, including grammar, vocabulary, and cultural notes. While this course focuses on Hiragana and Katakana, 'Genki' will be a valuable resource for continuing your Japanese studies beyond the alphabet.

GENKI 1 2 an Integrated Course in Elementary...

Paperback

Check price

GENKI 1 2 an Integrated Course in Elementary...

Kindle Edition

Check price

Japanese Course for Absolute Beginners (Letters, Alphabet)

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Foundation in japanese letters and sounds

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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