JAPANESEPOD101

Japanesepod101 is a free/paid podcast service based in Tokyo, Japan.

It truly is one of the best language learning resources I have ever come across. If you are serious about learning Japanese, want to bridge the gap between beginner and advanced, or want to learn some cool expressions, I highly recommend Japanesepod101.

The best features are:

• Daily updates & lots of content
• Lessons for “Newbies” to “Upper Intermediates” (University Advanced)
• Large and diverse cast of native Japanese speakers
• Real Japanese spoken at real speed
• Optional paid services

Their approach is very effective, and the materials are interesting and useful. You won’t be bored, falling asleep here. Like in your Japanese 101 class. You can listen to the podcasts on the Japanesepod101 website, iTunes, or download them to your mp3 player. Best of all, it’s FREE for the most part. Here’s a quote from the website:

“Situational Japanese is heavily stressed, and our team role plays various situations to demonstrate the proper form of Japanese to use when speaking with friends, customers, executives, and so-on. Knowing the proper form to use separates good speakers from great speakers.”

Most lessons start with an introduction, follow by a dialogue in Japanese, the dialogue is then repeated with a line by line translation, the lesson concludes with a commentary that explains grammar/vocab/etc. Some lessons are folk tales, cultural notes, or consist of some kind of interesting information.

Another great thing is that many lessons are linearly connected. For example, the intermediate level consists of 2 seasons of 85 lessons. 29 out of 35 lessons from season 1 follow the same story line. 30 out of 49 lessons from season 2 the same story line. (recurring main characters)

Lessons available as of 07.12.2009
Survival Phrases: 60 lessons
Newbie: 130 lessons
Beginner: 301 lessons
Lower Intermediate: 119 lessons
Intermediate: 85 lessons
Upper Intermediate: 61 lessons
Many more video & misc lessons

This brings me to the Basic Subscription, and the reason you should shell out money to sign up for it – the transcripts. Each lesson on Japanesepod101 comes with a transcript, which is only accessible with a paid account.

You may be thinking, “why should I pay for podcasts, when…”

Again, the transcripts are like a goldmine. If you are serious about learning Japanese, the Sentence Method is the most effective and most efficient way to do it. However, finding good sentences is the hardest part. That’s where Jpod comes in. Think about it, with the transcripts to 700 skits/dialogues, you have a lot of sentences.

Anyways, most of the lessons are free. So sign up and check them out. Also, when you sign-up you will receive 1 week free access to transcripts and other paid services. See for yourself just how good the transcripts are for sentence mining.

Japansepod101.com

12-Month Basic Subscription: $60.00 (20% Student Discount Available)

Further Reading:
Guide to Learning Japanese
How Long will it Take to Learn Japanese?
Spaced Repetition Software
Are My Kanji Being Displayed Correctly?
School Supplies

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