Blog Post 3 - Irasshai

If you’re still frustrated trying to find an easy way to learn Japanese, frustrate no longer!  I have come across a rather interesting site that I think will help even the most advance students in learning Japanese!

    Introducing...Irasshai!

   

    Never heard of it?  That’s ok.  I didn’t know about it either until just recently.  Though I’m glad I learned about it!  Irasshai is a show provided by the television production studio ‘Georgia Public Broadcasting’ that teaches Japanese through a series of videos and printable worksheets.  Anyone can learn Japanese with Irasshai.  From high school students to college students and from businessmen to professionals.

    Originally, you had to buy the VHS or DVDs to Irasshai to show them to the classroom.  Recently, Irasshai made all it’s videos and review worksheets publicly available on it’s website: Irasshai

    The show consists of two seasons: Japanese I and Japanese II.  Japanese I covers the basics in Japanese.  By the end of the first season, you should know enough Japanese to visit Japan and be able to hold decent conversations.  Japanese II becomes more in depth and you will begin to speak fluent Japanese.

    The show is hosted by a Japanese/American, Emmy award winner instructor, Tim Cook.  While he seems goofy, you will actually learn a lot from him.  On the show, Tim Cook teaches other students learning Japanese, so it’s easy to follow along as you learn with them.

   

The Pros:

• You will learn a lot of Japanese easily.
• There are a lot of native speakers in the show who pronounce things properly.
• The show is entertaining, making viewing the show more enjoyable than other Japanese instruction videos.
• Includes other lessons such as “Culture Shock,” Hiragana Lessons, and “Moo Ichido (Say It One More Time).”
• The show gives you pointers on how to study and remember what you study more effectively.
• The show involves you and even though you may feel silly talking back at a screen, you will find that it helps.
• The show helps with grammar as well as spelling and explaining Japanese particles.

The Cons

• The students also learning Japanese in the show sometimes confuses you by pronouncing phrases or words incorrectly or grammatically wrong.
• Scenes that show an all Japanese conversation by native speakers can be difficult to follow and understand at first.
• Usually the show is meant to be studied with a teacher or native speaker study partner to help you, so studying on your own may be difficult.

    Over all, Irasshai is a great tool for beginners, intermediates, and advanced students for learning Japanese.  You can learn a lot in a fun, easy way.  I encourage anyone trying to learn to check out the site and take advantage of their free videos.

 --Written June 2011 for Tofugu
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