Phonetic Scripts (Hiragana & Katakana) #
- Tofugu Blog Posts: Highly recommended as the starting point for all beginners. The site provides comprehensive guides for learning Hiragana and Katakana using mnemonics. The speaker emphasizes learning these before moving on to Roman characters (Romaji).
Dictionaries #
- Jisho.org: The go-to web-based Japanese-English dictionary for PC users.
- Japanese (App): A mobile app for iOS and Android that features a "Lists" tool, allowing users to track and organize new vocabulary directly from search results.
- Weblio: A Japanese-to-Japanese dictionary app recommended for advanced learners, though it requires an internet connection.
Vocabulary Tools #
- Anki: A powerful Spaced Repetition System (SRS) for flashcards. It features community-shared decks, many of which include audio and example sentences.
- Memrise: An alternative to Anki that uses leaderboards and user-generated mnemonics. It is noted as being more "game-like," though it often lacks the example sentences found in Anki decks.
Grammar #
- YouTube (Tokini Andy): The speaker provides free full-length lectures covering the entirety of the Genki and Quartet textbooks.
- General YouTube Study: Exploration of various creators is encouraged to find an explanation style that resonates best with the learner.
Kanji (Chinese Characters) #
- Anki Shared Decks: The primary free resource for Kanji, though the speaker notes that free tools for Kanji are rare.
- Upcoming Series: The speaker announces a new YouTube series focused on Kanji radicals and memorization tips to fill the gap in free quality resources.
Reading Practice #
- Tadoku (Free Section): Offers "graded readers," which are stories written specifically for different proficiency levels. The free section includes several digital books with audio narration.
- Yomou: A website where Japanese authors publish web novels. It hosts the original versions of many now-famous series.
- Yomichan (Browser Extension): A pop-up dictionary for browsers that allows users to see definitions by hovering over words. It can also integrate with Anki for instant card creation.
- Novelgame.jp: A platform featuring free, indie-developed visual novels and reading-heavy games.
Listening and Pronunciation #
- YouGlish (Japanese): A specialized search engine that finds YouTube clips where specific words or grammar points are used. It includes transcripts and is ideal for "shadowing" (repeating after the speaker) and verifying natural usage.
Paid Tools You May Already Own #
- Netflix: Users can switch audio and subtitles to Japanese. Using a VPN to access Japanese Netflix provides a massive library of immersive content.
- Nintendo Switch: Changing the system language to Japanese updates many games (like Pokemon, Animal Crossing, or Ace Attorney) into Japanese.
- Japanese eShop: Creating a Japanese Nintendo account allows users to download Japan-exclusive titles and demos.
Summary #
This guide outlines a comprehensive curriculum for learning Japanese using predominantly free digital resources. It begins with Tofugu for basic scripts, moves into Jisho and Anki for vocabulary building, and utilizes YouTube for structured grammar lessons. For immersion, the speaker highlights Tadoku and Yomou for reading, while identifying YouGlish as a premier tool for hearing 100% natural Japanese usage. Finally, it suggests leveraging existing paid services like Netflix and Nintendo Switch to transform entertainment into active study environments.
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