Skip to main content

What is the best way to learn how to improvise sentences in Japanese?

The best way to practice improvising in any language is to have a conversation in that language, especially if your partner is a native speaker of that language. Do you have any classmates, friends, or family who also study or speak Japanese? If so, maybe you could have a conversation together, coming up with challenging questions that encourage you to think of new answers. If there isn't anyone who can speak with you in-person, you...

The best way to practice improvising in any language is to have a conversation in that language, especially if your partner is a native speaker of that language. Do you have any classmates, friends, or family who also study or speak Japanese? If so, maybe you could have a conversation together, coming up with challenging questions that encourage you to think of new answers. If there isn't anyone who can speak with you in-person, you could consider finding an online "penpal" who can video chat with you in Japanese. Many tutoring companies now offer video-chat for students who are working with their tutors from a distance-- this might be a good way for you to practice with someone who can correct your grammar if need be.


Alternately, you could try the following exercises which do not require conversation partners. The first exercise is essentially writing and re-writing a sentence. Think of a question or phrase which might come up in conversation, such as, "How are you?" Next, write down as many possible answers, in as many possible variations as you can think of. While both, "Good," and "I'm doing very well," carry similar meaning, they express different levels of formality. This is a great way to help you strengthen your mental bank of answers to questions which might come up in conversation, allowing you to improvise more easily. The next exercise I recommend is to create some flash cards of verbs, nouns, and adjectives. Draw several from the "deck" of cards, and challenge yourself to create a sensible sentence using those words! 


You might also enjoy watching films or television programs in Japanese to hear the many different ways one phrase can be said. Japanese language employs different word forms and grammar structures based on level of formality, so watching a variety of films may help you get a feel for when it's appropriate to use certain forms of language. 

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more