What YOU Should be Saying

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

Learning a new language can be stressful, especially when you’re trying to recall odd phrases you only use a handful of times a week. Really, how often do you ask people out for coffee or tell someone else what time it is? Sure, these are helpful phrases that you should put time into learning, but there are more helpful words and phrases that you should be studying alongside these seldom used ones. Which words and phrases? Glad you asked. 

TAKE NOTE

First and foremost, take note of all the things you say every day. Everyone has a particular speaking style and a set of personal favorite phrases they just love to say. Do you talk to your pets a lot? Do you find yourself saying a set phrase like “I’m hungry” many times during the day? Learn to say these phrases in Japanese! That way, the phrase will be repeatedly hammered into your brain. Eventually you won’t even have to think about how to say the phrase, you’ll just say it!

Here are some phrases that could help you get a list started:

• I’m hungry.
• I’m thirsty.
• I’m going to the bathroom.
• I’m tired.

Sounds like a lot of whining, but just trust that it helps!

TALK TO FIDO!

As I said earlier, maybe you talk to your pets a lot when you’re at home. Talking to animals is actually a really good way to improve your language skills. Talk to them as much as you want, they love it and won’t judge you for any errors you make. Here are some phrases you could use in this regard:

• Move.
• Stop!
• Good morning.
• Goodnight.
• Are you hungry?
• What are you doing?
• Oh my lord, what in the world do you have in your mouth?!

Okay, maybe not that last one, but you get the point. Practicing set phrases or short little filler words with your animals can help you practice in an environment where you don’t feel judged and can also help you to sound more fluent when you’re speaking with a Japanese speaker as these random filler words will be second nature. If you have to think about the use of a filler word, it’s not a filler word, right? 

CONSCIOUS TALKING

So what exactly do you need to do? Consciously think about all the words and phrases you say throughout the day. Write the ones you want to learn in a notebook or on an app in your phone. Then ask someone fluent in Japanese — such as a friend or teacher — to help you translate these phrases. Then practice, practice, practice! 

Hopefully these tips get you speaking more Japanese throughout your day. がんばって！