How to Have a Conversation in Japanese
I struggle to have conversations with Japanese people in Japanese. Not because of a lack of Japanese ability, but because of a lack of conversational ability. I can converse (somewhat)…
Intermediate Japanese
5 MORE Japanese Light Novels for JLPT N3 Level Learners
A few years ago I recommended a list of light novels for JLPT N3 level learners. Each book on that list ramps up in difficulty, from an easy book about…
How to Teach Yourself Japanese Through Anime and Manga
In 2023 I attended KumoriCon in Portland, Oregon where I did a talk on “How to Teach Yourself Japanese” and “How to Teach Yourself Japanese Through Anime and Manga”. This…
Tips for Effective Japanese Immersion Learning
Immersive learning is basically learning from Japanese materials made for native Japanese speakers. Some people will suggest you spend you daily life immersed in the language, which you can do,…
5 Manga for JLPT N3 Level Japanese
Manga can be surprisingly difficult for Japanese learners to get into. For one thing, manga is made for native Japanese speakers and a lot of casual conversational Japanese is used.…
Should I Read for Fun or Read for Study?
Read for fun or read for study? AKA extensive or intensive reading? I’m specifically referring to reading books in Japanese, but this can be applied to any subject or language…
5 Japanese Light Novels for JLPT N3 Level Learners
What makes a Japanese light novels a “light” novel? I honestly don’t know. I used to think it was because they were written with easier to understand Japanese for younger…
Studying Japanese Through Translation
There are a plethora of English translations of Japanese novels and out there. But is reading translations a good way to study Japanese? Can you learn Japanese effectively through translation?…