In Lessons 1 and 3, you learned hiragana. In this lesson, you will learn the next writing system, katakana. Upon completing this lesson, you will have finished the entire Sounds and Writing 2 in the textbook (pp.29-34).
When to start this lesson
Take the quiz below several times and confirm your understanding of hiragana. You are ready to start this lesson if you can answer confidently each time you take the quiz.
Hiragana Sound Quiz
Lesson Goals
- Understanding the differences between katakana and hiragana
- Learning katakana
What you will be able to do
By completing this lesson, you will be able to do the following things:
- You can read katakana.
- You can correctly pronounce Japanese katakana words.
Activities
L6 Activity 1 – Learn & Understand (1)
Understand the characteristics of pronunciations of katakana words.
Read “Loan Words and Katakana” on p.29 and “SW2-1. Sounds” on p.30 in the main volume checking the pronunciations of the example words using the audio files below.
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
L6 Activity 2 – Learn & Understand (2)
Confirm the katakana characters and understand the differences in the writing system between hiragana and katakana.
Read “SW2-2. Spelling (Katakana)” on pp.30-32 and “SW2-3. Differences from Hiragana” on p.33 in the main volume. Pay particular attention to the following two points. Use the audio files below to check the pronunciations of the example words on p.33.
- How do I write long vowels in katakana?
- Which sounds are written in small characters in katakana?
(1)
(2)
(2)
(3)
(3)
L6 Activity 3 – Practice (1)
Check the stroke orders and try “Practice Quiz.”
- Check the stroke orders of the first five katakana, ア through オ, on the webpage below:
https://learnjapaninjapanese.com/katakana/katakana-stroke-order/ - On the same webpage, click the “Practice Quiz” link right below the katakana stroke order images and access the practice quiz. Practice katakana using the quiz. You can take the quiz repeatedly by refreshing the browser after submitting your answers.
- In the same manner, continue practicing the remaining katakana characters.
L6 Activity 4 – Practice (2)
Complete “Comprehension Check SW2” on p.34 and check your understanding. You can confirm your answers on the answer key below:
Answer Key
L6 Activity 5 – Practice (3)
Using the four videos in “Practice 4-3” below, practice the pronunciations of the example words in “Comprehension Check SW2.”
Practice 4-3
Following the video instructions, practice the pronunciations of the country and region names that appear in Comprehension Check SW2 A (p.34).
Word by Word
Repeat each word aloud.
Shadowing Practice
Repeat each word aloud again, this time while you listen.
Following the video instructions, practice the pronunciations of the loan words that appear in Comprehension Check SW2 B (p.34).
Word by Word
Repeat each word aloud.
Shadowing Practice
Repeat each word aloud again, this time while you listen.
IMPORTANT!
In Anki, katakana cards will appear in the “Hiragana & Katakana” deck after all hiragana cards have been studied. Continue the consistent and effective practice using the deck.
If you want to begin to practice katakana cards while you still have unstudied hiragana cards in the “Hiragana & Katakana” deck, you can make a filtered deck.
- Open Anki.
- Choose “Tools” in the top menu and select “Create Filtered Deck.”
- Enter the values as shown below. Click SAMPLE IMAGE to view the image for visual instructions.
[Name] Katakana
[Search] tag:katakana
[Limit to] 208
[Cards selected by] Order added - Click “Build.”
The cards in the newly created “Katakana” deck go back to the original “Hiragana & Katakana” deck when you delete the filtered deck. You can safely delete the “Katakana” deck when you have no more new hiragana cards to add in the “Hiragana & Katakana” deck.