せっけんさん Sekkensan (Mr Soap) Japanese Kids Song (with subtitles)

Sekkensan (Mr Soap) is a Japanese kids' song that my three-year-old daughter is learning in Japanese preschool. She and my older daughter are singing it on this video. I subtitled it three ways ... in hiragana, romaji, and in English. The song is about the wonderful smells of soap and the association with one's mom! Grammatically, it's more like phrases than sentences, so it's easy for even the youngest children or Japanese beginner student to learn.

Japanese Lesson: Use verb stems + に to say why you go somewhere

Learn how to use the Japanese verb stem to say why you go somewhere. For example: I'm going to the store to buy you a Christmas present. I'm going to Japan to get away from my ex. I'm going to Hollywood to star in a new movie. YOU NEED this sentence structure! A verb stem is, simply, a Japanese verb with the "masu" taken off. Simple!

For best studying results, this video is best viewed without closed captioning.

Japanese Katakana Lesson (first five): a~o ア～オ

Learn to read and write Japanese katakana ア～オ (a-o) using the correct stroke order. Then, test your memorization of their pronunciation and writing. I don't speak English in my videos so that you can learn faster. アイウエオ (aiueo)

Japanese Lesson 10: Halloween Witch's Brew ハロウィーン

Bloody fingers, severed ears, loose teeth, eyeballs, rats, a spider, and a little soy sauce -- all in Japanese -- go into this Halloween witch's brew. In the end, will these Japanese-speaking kids say おいしい or おいしくない?

There is usually no English in my Japanese language-learning videos. Kids learn better this way. It is called the "Natural Approach" to foreign language learning.

Japanese Lesson 9: Giving Information About People, Asking for Information, and Answering Questions

In this video, learn to state, ask and answer information about someone, specifically their name, hometown, and where they live. Because I'm making this video with my six-year-old daughter, Princess Cadence makes a guest appearance.

なまえ (na-ma-e) = NAME
しゅっしん (shu-s-shin) = PLACE OF ORIGIN/HOMETOWN
～にすんでいます (~ni-su-n-de-i-ma-su) = LIVES IN ~
なん = what?
どこ = where?

There is usually no English in my Japanese language-learning videos. Kids learn better this way. It is called the "Natural Approach" to foreign language learning.

Extra Japanese Lesson: Mail a Letter at the Post Office

In this video, you will learn how to talk about mailing a letter in Japanese. The page in the notebook you will see is a journal entry for my three-year-old who is learning Japanese. Yes, I wrote it, not her. The purpose is for me to read it to her so she can remember the different things she did at her Japanese school as well as read it eventually and incorporate personal, relevant vocabulary into her Japanese. I suggest you keep a journal in Japanese to help your studies as well. It helps your long-term retention of new vocabulary.

Japanese Lesson 8: Type in Japanese Hiragana ひらがな

Type in Japanese hiragana (or katakana or kanji) using Windows IME on your computer. First, toggle Japanese input on and then input Japanese characters in different software applications on your computer.

Japanese Lesson 7: Hiragana あ～お (a-o)

In this Japanese video lesson, you will read and write Japanese hiragana あ～お (a-o) using the correct stroke order. Then, you will create Japanese picture flashcards to help you remember words that start with each of the first five hiragana characters.

I don't speak English in my videos so that you can learn faster. Kids learn better this way. It is called the "Natural Approach" to foreign language learning.

Japanese Lesson 6: Asking and answering what something is

The objective is to ask what something is and be able to answer that question. Since this video is in all hiragana, it's a good hiragana review, too.

There is usually no English in my Japanese language-learning videos. Kids learn better this way. It is called the "Natural Approach" to foreign language learning.

Japanese Lesson 5: Days of the Month in Japanese (a song)

Sing your way to memorizing the days of the month in Japanese. Most follow a pattern (number plus にち), but 13 of them are exceptions! That's a lot to memorize, so start singing!

There is usually no English in my Japanese language-learning videos. Kids learn better this way. It is called the "Natural Approach" to foreign language learning.

Japanese Lesson 4: Using Japanese Particles に (ni) and で (de) after a location

Confused about when to use に (ni) or で (de) after a location word in a sentence? View the tutorial to practice the three main usages of these particles after a location word.

Japanese Lesson 3: Asking and Answering Questions About Activities

Practice asking whether or not someone does an activity. Learn to answer yes or no in complete sentences.

Extra Japanese Lesson: Particle Board / Particle Cheat Sheet

If you do not feel strong with using particles correctly, please create a Japanese particle board, as shown in this video.

Japanese Lesson 2 - Pet Store

Japanese Lesson 1 - Numbers & Addition