Learn Japanese For Kids with Free Apps, iBooks, Songs

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Want to teach your child the Japanese language?

A lot of learning resources out there are meant for adults. They’re complicated. Overloaded with words. Pretty much everything your child would hate. So, if you were to give your kid a nice and gentle introduction to the Japanese language, you’d need something similar to current kids books, coloring books – with colors, sounds, cute characters – except with Japanese translations.

What are the best ways to teach your child Japanese?

Hint: Anything that combines several senses (such as sight, sound, touch, and hearing)

  • iPad, iPhone, or Android. Especially the iPad. And if you have one that they could tap, swipe look at and hear noises from, that would work better than a typical book. 4 out 5 senses used. Total engagement.
    • This includes Apps and iBooks (e-Books for the iPad, Mac or iPhone)
  • Video Lessons. There’s a good reason kids are glued to the TV. Sounds. Colors. Images. 2 of the 5 are senses used and so it’s fairly effective if the lessons are kid-friendly.
  • Songs. Songs are very memorable. If your child sings along, they’ll remember the language faster.
  • Audio Lessons. Again. Very easy engagement if your child can listen and repeat. Your best bet here is with podcast lessons that are designed for Beginners.

So, how can your kids get an easy introduction to Japanese?

  • learn Japanese and speak it
  • Japanese writing
  • culture and facts about Japan

Here are 4 learning tools that are perfect & free.

1. Kids Meet Japan for the iPad, Mac

(Click here to download it free.)

This is an iBook for the iPad or Mac and is a nice introduction to Japan and Japanese culture. Very easy to read and your child will pick up a few phrases as well. This is 23 pages long – an easy read.

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 2. Talking World: Kids vs Japanese for the iPad, Mac.

(Click here to download it free.)

This iBook has touch, sound, and will teach your child 270+ common Japanese words with 80 pages and 16 chapters (numbers, objects found around the home, body parts, etc) . Basically, swipe through scenes, tap on objects, hear how they’re said in Japanese. Then, your child can review the words and read them as well. Probably the best book out there.

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3. Japanese Culture – Traditional Japanese Songs iBook for Mac, iPad

(Click here to download it free.)

This book consists of 10 traditional Japanese songs that you can listen to and read along. Probably a bit more complex to use as learning materials, but good exposure for kids in general. There are 12 pages in total, but the songs play in video mode.

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4. Japanese Audio & Video Lessons with JapanesePod101.com

If you’re really interested in teaching your child (and yourself) Japanese, this website & learning platform is the way to go.

Basically, you’re guided from knowing zero Japanese to speaking, reading, writing, listening and understanding. Lots of cultural information too. There are over 2,000+ Audio and Video Lessons on the site (too much? no – i’ll tell you why) from Beginner Level to Advanced which they guide you through (which makes it very easy to hop from lesson to lesson and know what’s next – that’s why.) 

Here’s a sample lesson belowAbsolute Beginner #1 – Say Hello in Japanese No Matter What The Time of Day. Just press play on the black player below to listen and see how their lessons are like.

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Sign up for free and explore the site for yourself. 

Click here to visit JapanesePod101.com

(You can upgrade to paid subscriptions if too and there are discounts.)

Now, you tell me. What other kind of Japanese learning resources would you want for your kids?

Or, do you know of any other effective materials? Leave a comment below!


Want to learn more Japanese the fast, fun and easy way? Sign up for free at JapanesePod101!

Click here to sign up for free & learn Japanese at JapanesePod101!japanese sentences

 

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