When you learn a foreign language, it is essential to memorize words and expressions and practice them repeatedly until you achieve mastery. This is among the most important yet challenging tasks. PANORAMA uses the app called Anki to facilitate effectively these repeat practice exercises. As a preparation to start the first lesson of this course, let’s learn how to memorize and retain words and expressions efficiently using Anki.

Lesson Goals

Learning three vocabulary words and seven greeting expressions
Learning an effective way to practice words and expressions using Anki

What you will be able to do

By completing this lesson, you will be able to do the following things:

You can recall the meanings of some basic Japanese greeting expressions.
You can effectively continue learning words and expressions using Anki.

Activities

L0 Activity 1 – Learn & Understand (1)

Confirm the meanings and pronunciations of words (1)-(3) on p.15 of the textbook’s main volume.

(1)

はい [hai] – yes
(2)

いいえ [iie] – no
(3)

わたし [watashi] – I; me

L0 Activity 2 – Learn & Understand (2)

Using practice 1-1 on p.05 of the textbook’s activity booklet and the videos in Practice 1-1 (click “VIDEOS” below), confirm the meanings and pronunciations of the following seven greeting expressions.

(1)

おはよう（ございます）。[Ohayou (gozaimasu).] – Good morning.
(2)

こんにちは。[Konnichiwa.] – Good afternoon.
(3)

こんばんは。[Konbanwa.] – Good evening.
(4)

じゃあ、また。[Jaa, mata.] – See you again. (to a friend)
(5)

しつれいします。[Shitsurei shimasu.] – Excuse me. / Goodbye. (to a teacher)
(6)

ありがとう（ございます）。[Arigatou (gozaimasu).] – Thank you.
(7)

おねがいします。[Onegai shimasu.] – Please. (when asking a favor)

Practice 1-1

Greeting Expressions

Paying attention to the vowel-ending rule that you learned on pp.15-16 in the textbook, watch the scenes where two people greet each other. Then, repeat each expression aloud after them.

1-1

1-2

2

3

4

5 6-1

6-2

7

Using Anki’s repetition method, let’s practice the three words and seven expressions that you learned in the previous activities!

L0 Activity 3 – Learn & Understand (3)

Download and install Anki.
The Anki program is available on various devices (smartphone, tablets, etc.) but setting up Anki for the study with PANORAMA is easiest to complete using the Anki on the computer. The steps 2-4 below are based on the computer version of Anki. You can sync the computer version with Anki on other devices after you complete the installation on the computer.

Bearing the three questions below in mind, read the ANKI AND SPACED REPETITION section in the LEARNING APP page on the website.
1. Why am I recommended to use Anki?
2. Why am I recommended to use the spaced repetition method?
3. How do I use Anki?
Download Anki from https://apps.ankiweb.net/ and install it.
Download one of PANORAMA’s Anki Decks “Sound & Writing Systems Module Vocabulary” from the link below and open the downloaded .apkg file.
PANORAMA Sound & Writing Systems Module Vocabulary deck
Following the instructions below, change the Anki default settings. More detailed instructions can be found in the CHANGING ANKI DEFAULT SETTINGS section.
1. Click the gear icon located next to the deck.
2. Click “Options.”
3. Change the value of “New cards/day” under “Daily Limits” to “0.”
4. Set “Leech action” to “Tag Only.”
5. Turn all the options in “Burying” on.
6. Click “Save.”

Now, you are ready to practice the words and expressions using the spaced repetition!

L0 Activity 4 – Practice (1)

Practice using Anki’s spaced repetition.

Click the deck “Sound & Writing Systems Module Vocabulary.” (Because we have set the “New cards/day” to “0,” a message such as “Congratulations! You have finished this deck for now” will appear. Disregard this message and proceed to the next step below.)
Click “Custom Study.”
Set the value of “Increase today’s new card limit” to “5.”
Click “OK.”
Click “Study Now.”
Recall the meaning of the Japanese word/expression that appeared on the card and click “Show Answer.”
Choose when you want to practice the card next time.
“1m” means that the card will appear again after one minute. “1d” means it will appear the next day. “5d” after five days and “1w” after a week. Choose a shorter interval first and eventually increase it as you can recall it more quickly, accurately, and confidently.
Continue practicing the five cards until the “Congratulations!” message appears.
Add another five cards by repeating Steps 2 through 4 above.
Practice the added five cards until you see the “Congratulations!” message.

You have finished learning the first 10 words/expressions. Congratulations!
PANORAMA provides Anki decks for practicing not only for words and expressions but also hiragana, katakana, kanji, grammar, reading, and listening. By using these decks, you can continue learning Japanese efficiently and steadily!

IMPORTANT!

One of the most important factors in spaced repetition learning is to practice each card keeping its optimal interval in mind. The cards with which you chose “1d” (1 day) during today’s session will appear in Anki tomorrow as review cards. Make sure to open Anki and practice these cards again tomorrow. You will find that you can recall the meaning of each word/expression much more easily than today and can confidently choose a longer interval such as “2d” (two days) or longer.
Another important factor of this practice is “active recall.” A lot of digital flashcard applications are designed in a multiple choice format, in which you choose the right answer from given options. Though this kind of passive practice is still helpful, you will not be given such choices when you use the language in the real world. Active recall is the most effective vocabulary building practice. Engage in such active activities as much as possible.
The “Sound & Writing Systems Module Vocabulary” deck includes all vocabulary that appears in “Module I: The Japanese Sound and Writing Systems.” Add new cards whenever you can and make consistent efforts to increase vocabulary at your own pace.
Anki provides the service called AnkiWeb that enables you to use Anki on multiple devices. Making Anki available on multiple devices will allow you to use your time more effectively. We encourage you to install Anki on other device(s) and sync them following the instructions in the section SYNC YOUR ANKI ON THE COMPUTER WITH AN ANKI APP ON OTHER DEVICE(S) if you regularly use more than one device for studying.