Kanji-Step - Japanese Language Resource Center
This site provides a straightforward, easy-to-follow method for mastering Japanese
as a written language. Starting from the basics, Kanji-Step provides animated
images of the Japanese syllabic systems, hiragana and katakana, as well as 100
kanji for more advanced readers. Also featured are weekly tests similar
to the Japanese Proficiency Test, a pen-pal service, cultural information, and
more.
http://www.kanjistep.com/index.html
The Japanese Page
This lighthearted site covers a broad spectrum of topics- everything from basic
grammar and the writing systems to cultural notes and animal noises in Japanese.
The grammar explanations are easy to follow, the list of kanji is extensive,
and wav files are included for listening practice. Some of this site's more
unique features include the "Henna Nihongo" dictionary of interesting
phrases, a guide to Japanese onomatopoeia, and a variety of "fun"
Japanese.
http://www.thejapanesepage.com
Japanese-Online
This site aims to teach Japanese through a series of dialogues, written in romanized
letters. While this format may not boost a student's Japanese reading ability,
it does provide a simple way to learn some basic vocabulary and grammatical
concepts. In addition to the lessons, there is an online dictionary, a message
board where you can exchange questions and answers with fellow Japanese enthusiasts,
and an online store offering a wide selection of Japanese language software.
http://www.japanese-online.com
Nihongo Web: Online Japanese Language Course
An online course from the University of Alabama, aimed at students of Japanese
who wish to learn independently. For a fee of $25.00, you can actually get college
credit, but before you sign up, the site offers a free-of-charge "preview"
so you can see if the learning style is right for you. The course covers all
aspects of the language. Reading, writing, and listening assignments are available
on the web page, and the university offers a toll-free tutorial line for speaking
practice. They will even pair you up with other students online to work on group
activities. Interesting!
http://www.ccet.ua.edu/nihongoweb/
Chiron's Survival Japanese
This site introduces the basics of everything: reading, writing, speaking, listening
and grammar. The webmaster provides short romanized dialogues, with certain
phrases accompanied by helpful sound files. Often, a word in each sentence will
be linked to an in-depth grammatical explanation. The sheer volume of information
provided could be confusing to the the more casual student or traveler, so I'd
recommend this site for a person who already has at least a little familiarity
with Japanese, and an interest in developing their skills further.- i.e. learning
how to construct proper sentences, or polishing up their pronunciation.
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~if2n-szk/jcont.html
Chipchat Japanese Training
No need for flash cards- test your hiragana and katakana recognition skills
through this Java based site. The timed drills display a kana character, and
you simply click on the romanized equivalent below. Terrific, convenient reading
practice for beginners!
http://www.chipchat.com/NihonGo/
The Japanese Writing Tutor
Utilizing excellent, easy-to-follow animated graphics, this site demonstrates
the correct stroke order to use when writing hiragana, katakana, and kanji.
The moving images are particularly valuable for getting familiar with kanji,
which can often be confusing due to the sheer amount of strokes involved. For
many people, written Japanese is the most intimidating aspect of the language,
but if this site will help you build a strong foundation in using the proper
stroke order, so you'll be able to tackle even the most complex kanji.
http://members.aol.com/writejapan/
Kanji Names Project
This unique project is a collection of Japanese names and their meanings. A
group of students submitted a explanations of the kanji used to write their
names, sometimes accompanied by their personal reflections on their names. The
characters for each person's name are displayed in graphical format alongside
their explanations, for reference. After learning about the kanji for Japanese
names, one may wish to write their own name in kanji, so this site also provides
a link to a book which will teach you how to do just that.
http://www2.gol.com/users/billp/students/kanjiname/
English/Japanese Flash Cards
This simple site operates as an online flash card quiz... the page displays
a phrase, and you try to translate it, then click the "answer" button
to see if you were right. Simple and fun! The words and phrases seem to be rather
colloquial, so this site may be of interest primarily to those who have studied
Japanese for a few years already, and are seeking to expand their casual vocabulary.
http://www.schei.com/cgi-bin/flash.cgi
Randomly Chosen Japanese Words
Another learning tool in a flash card format, this site randomly generates
twenty commonly-used Japanese words in kanji and kana. The readings and English
translations are hidden in drop-down menus below each word, making it convenient
to
test
yourself
and check your answers. This site is aimed at intermediate-level learners and
is particularly
good
for
practicing
kanji
compounds.
http://www.manythings.org/c/r2.cgi/edict
Japanese Listening Comprehension Exercises
The dialogues on this site are likely too challenging
for the absolute beginner, but will be just perfect for someone who's been studying
Japanese for about a year. Each dialogue is accompanied by a charming illustration,
and followed by questions about the content. You can even submit your email
address to get your results mailed to you!
http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/japanese/listen/
Listen and Spell
A fun way to test both listening and katakana comprehension, this Flash-based
game is perfect for beginners. A voice dictates the names of sea creatures
in Japanese, and the player spells the words using the katakana buttons on
the screen. You
can choose the pace at which you play the game ("Fast," "Faster," or "Furious"),
depending on your comfort level.
http://www.manythings.org/wbg/9101s.html
Japanese Textbook Discussion Board
Interested in buying a Japanese textbook but aren't sure which one is right
for you? Teachers at this site share their opinions on many textbooks
for all levels, making your decision a little easier.
http://www.japaneseteaching.org/projects/textbook/
Shodouka
This handy web-based tool allows you to view Japanese websites in Japanese even
if you don't have Japanese-language software installed! It requires no downloading-
simply type in the URL of a website you'd like to view, and the Page Viewer
will display all the text on that page as it's supposed to appear, in kana and
kanji. Even the correct text colours show up! It's great.
http://www.lfw.org/shodouka/
Japanese Software and Information
The generous webmaster of this site provides a free, downloadable Japanese word
processing program as well as other educational tools. Convenient... and you
can't beat the price!
http://www.physics.ucla.edu/~grosenth/j_main.html
Welcome to AsiaSoft
For those who are willing to invest some money into Japanese software, AsiaSoft
offers a wide variety of programs, from simple word processing to website building
software.
http://www.asiasoft.com/english/index.html
The Japan Foundation
An organization devoted to promoting understanding of the Japanese language
and cultural exchange. The site provides listings of local branches of the foundation,
academic publications, information on the Japanese Proficiency Test, and more.
http://www.jpf.go.jp/
Japan Association of Translators
If you are a Japanese translator, or need one, this is the place to go. For
those in need of translation services, the site provides a directory of Japanese-English
translators. For those involved in the profession, there is information about
joining the organization, as well as an extensive collection of helpful articles
about being a translator in Japan.
http://www.jat.org
Jim Breen's WWWJDIC
In addition to performing typical online dictionary
functions, this site is unique in that you can copy text from a Japanese website
or document, paste it, and the dictionary server will translate the basic vocabulary
in the sentence. This, of course, leaves you responsible for translating the
grammar... but it's an extraordinary resource for overcoming more obscure words.
Very convenient when you're surfing the web for Japanese reading practice.
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/wwwjdic.html
Kanjidict
This dictionary is easy to use and offers a variety of advanced features. You
can limit or expand your search to specific categories, such as law terms, financial
terms, and proper names. In addition to providing English-Japanese and Japanese-English
translation, kanji and kana are shown for each word. The definitions are linked
to synonyms, allowing you to expand your vocabulary, and you can also click
on the kanji provided for more information and a list of similar characters.
http://kanjidict.stc.cx/dict
Japanese (The Languages of the World by Computer and the Internet)
This simple page provides a linguistic overview of Japanese, an explanation
of how to write in Japanese using a computer, contact information for retailers
who carry Japanese word processing products, and other miscellaneous information.
Most worthy of note, there is a detailed section on various dialects on Japan,
and information about the origins of the language.
http://www.threeweb.ad.jp/logos/japanese.html
Studies in Japanese Linguistics
For the serious student of Japanese linguistics, this site provides thorough
reviews of several books on the subject. Also included are the books' ISBN numbers,
to facilitate finding and purchasing of the texts.
http://csli-publications.stanford.edu/site/SJL.html
Alternative sci.lang.japan FAQ
This extremely thorough list of questions and answers is an an incredibly informative
resource, covering every aspect of the Japanese language, from vocabulary to
syntax to the historical origins of words and phrases.
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/afaq/afaq.html
Nihongo Ryokousha no Tame no
This page's title translates simply to "Japanese for Travelers," and
indeed, the site provides an easy resource for travelers to get a grasp on some
basic words and phrases that may prove useful in their journey. There are several
categories to choose from, such as Basic Words, Numbers, and Shopping/Dining,
and sound files are provided for each word in a given category. There are also
short quizzes available, to test what you've learned, and quite a few useful
links to other sites dealing with topics in Japanese travel.
http://www.travlang.com/languages/cgi-bin/langchoice.cgi?lang1=english&lang2=japanese&page=main
Survival Japanese
A practical overview of common words and phrases, this easily-navigable
site offers audio samples and attractive PDFs that can be printed as pocket-sized
references. The site's only drawback is that it features romaji
only, without any accompanying examples in Japanese text.
http://www.ajalt.org/sj
Sushi Vocabulary
Just what every hungry traveler in Japan needs- a quick list of sushi terms!
Print this one out and use it as a handy reference on your trip- or use it
to impress the chef in your favourite local sushi bar.
http://www.bento.com/sushivoc.html
Japanese slangs you won't find in a dictionary
If you're hoping to move beyond that formal, textbook-style Japanese, this brief
but informative page will supply you with some fun phrases for use outside the
office or classroom. Learning slang will allow you to develop a more natural
pattern of speech, as well as aid your comprehension skills when you're watching
Japanese TV or movies.
http://japan-cc.com/slang.htm
Japanese Slang for Peter
It's not clear who Peter is, but anyone will be bound to enjoy this thorough
look at commonly used slang and casual words. Admittedly, some of the terms
introduced are not exactly slang (i.e. kabuki) but nevertheless, the explanations
provided for each term are definitely worthwhile reading. The knowledge gained
from this site can certainly put some "oomph" into your Japanese vocabulary.
http://www.geocities.co.jp/SweetHome/2852/English/slang-e.htm
Try to learn the Kyoto dialect
Another great site about Kansai-ben, this site focuses on the dialect specific
to Kyoto. It's more refined than Osaka-ben, but equally fun to learn. If you
ever wanted to try speaking like a geisha, here's your chance!
http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/kp/ojikoji/kotoba/kotoba_e.html
How to Speak Nagoya Dialect
Sample sentences written in both Japanese characters and romaji help
illustrate the use of common regionalisms from the Nagoya area, located south-west
of Tokyo. Each phrase is accompanied by the standard Japanese version
for
contrast.
http://mediazone.tcp-net.ad.jp/MISO/EBITENW/NB
Manifestations of Gender Distinction in the Japanese Language, by Alexander
Schonfeld
This informative article analyzes the way in which written and spoken Japanese
differentiate between the sexes. The author provides clear explanations of the
various forms of the words "I" and "you" as used by men
and women, the levels of politeness and how they are used in Japanese society,
and examples of the ways in which men's speech differs from women's speech.
Extremely useful for those who wish to speak naturally according to their gender.
http://www.coolest.com/jpfm.htm
Remember...? by Stephen Trussel
The expressiveness of the Japanese adjective "natsukashii," as opposed
to its English near-equivalent, "nostalgic," is discussed in this
thoughtful article. The author touches upon the interesting question of why
native speakers of English sometimes prefer to use a Japanese word to communicate
a feeling or idea. He uses short anecdotes to illustrate his points, and supports
his opinions with linguistic analysis.
http://www.trussel.com/jap/remember.htm
Strategies for Effective Study of Foreign Languages: Learning Japanese
This paper explores the general principles of language learning
and applies them to the study of Japanese. The author provides an overview
of several practical strategies for learning a foreign language, including
memorization, putting together known elements in new ways, guessing
meaning from context, and thinking positively.
http://www.tci.ac.jp/~naphtali/SenseiOnline/EffectiveStrategies.htm