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. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

Follow the relationship between Pi and Richard Parker. They endure over two hundred days of hardship together, but in the end Richard Parker leaves...

When Pi and Richard Parker are at the beginning of their journey, after Pi's family is killed in the shipwreck, Pi fears Richard Parker, but he is forced to find a way to co-exist with him in order to survive.  Over time the two develop a somewhat co-dependent relationship.  Richard Parker depends on Pi to feed him by catching fish, while Pi's will to live is bolstered by Richard Parker's presence.  Richard Parker recognizes that... When Pi and Richard Parker are at the beginning of their journey, after Pi's family is killed in the shipwreck, Pi fears Richard Parker, but he is forced to find a way to co-exist with him in order to survive.  Over time the two develop a somewhat co-dependent relationship.  Richard Parker depends on Pi to feed him by catching fish, while Pi's will to live is bolstered by Richard Parker's presence.  Richard Parker recognizes that he also needs Pi to survive.  At one point in the book, Pi's starvation and thirst reduce him to a st...
Post a Comment
Read more