Japanese Language

You may want to download a Japanese Language app (or several) on to your smartphone as a way to study Japanese or to help you maneuver around the streets and shops of Japan. You can search online; there are many. These following are some recommendations from past MISTI Japan interns on the types of online dictionaries and apps that people have found useful.

Before you go out shopping, to the doctor, or on another errand where you may need new vocabulary try to prepare beforehand by looking up words and preparing possible things to say. If you are going to be in the Kansai region you may want to familiarize yourself with the local dialect, which is quite different from standard Japanese. Shingu-sensei, a former instructor at MIT created a Kansai-ben self-study course that can help you prepare: Some interns have found it very helpful to learn some technical terms relevant to their field or project to hit the ground running.

Japanese learning apps

30 best apps for learning Japanese like a boss good for intermediate to advance learners!!

Japanese white paper lanterns

Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese was recommended by an MIT student on how they began learning Japanese before coming to MIT.

Website Resources

Jisho is a JapaneseEnglish  online dictionary that is popular among studnets. This site allows you to look up text as well as single-words.

Imiwa?: A popular dictionary for iPhone that is free via Apple store

"Japanese" is an offline dictionary for iOS and Android; I've been using this app since 2007. You can create your own study list. The app already has KANJI to study for your JLPT or Kanji Kentei tests, with kanjis for every level. 

NHK's Begin Japanology "This program explores many aspects of Japan, both traditional and contemporary: arts, sports, entertainment, food, technology, nature, etc."

Japanology +plus Getting to know the diversity of real Japanese culture "With Englishman Peter Barakan as the host, each edition of Japanology Plus presents fresh insights into Japanese life and culture. In the Plus One segment, Matt Alt from the US introduces uniquely Japanese experiences that you can try yourself when you visit Japan! The show also has an occasional talk series: Japanophiles features lively interviews with foreigners doing big things in Japan. Watch Japanology Plus, and you may end up knowing more about Japan than the Japanese do!"

For those who want to study Japanese using Genki, the Textbook that the Japanese language program at MIT is using:

Genki (Japanese textbook used @ MIT)

(Online Drills at MIT: only for MIT-community)

http://web.mit.edu/21f.501/www/review.html

http://web.mit.edu/21f.502/www/review.html

http://web.mit.edu/21f.503/www/review.html

http://web.mit.edu/21f.504/www/review.html

(Genki Videos from the Japan Times)

http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/site/video/en/

(Genki_Self_Study_Room from the Japan Times)

http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/self_en

Nihong E-na: portal to online tools for studying Japanese NIHONGO eな Portal for Learning Japanese is a site dedicated to introducing all kinds of websites and online tools useful for studying Japanese!

Japan Foundation: Japanese Learning Materials

https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/project/japanese/education/resource/index.html

NHK: Easy Japanese

https://www.nhk.or.jp/lesson/english/

NHK: Learn Japanese

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/learnjapanese/