Ro's Recz

As I mentioned before in a previous post about Duolingo, I am using different methods to try and learn Japanese. Although it is a slow process, I am trying to take it step-by-step and gradually improve.

While I think that Duolingo is a very effective tool to learn a language, I have also been using a podcast called Easy Japanese by NHK World to help me learn Japanese. NHK is Japan’s national broadcaster, so it is definitely a reliable company to make a podcast teaching Japanese.

In total, there are 48 lessons on a variety of topics that you may encounter while living in Japan. Each lesson is exactly 10 minutes, so it is perfect if you are trying to listen to something in the shower/in the car. I have listened to all of the episodes multiple times, and I think that it has helped. Each episode is sequential, and it is best to listen to it from lesson 1-48 the first time. After you listen to all of them though, you can start to repeat listen to them in any order.

In addition to teaching you about Japanese language, the podcast also gives insights about Japanese culture and historical sites. It is a really well produced podcast, and I think it is a great way to start for anyone looking to learn Japanese. While listening to it is not going to make you fluent, it can help to hear proper pronunciations and native speakers.

Even if you are not trying to learn Japanese (if you are trying to learn some other language), I think listening to local podcasts can be a great resource to help learn any language!

NHK Japan Recommendation Rating: 4

1: Something worth checking out if you have time

2: Something that is a hit for some people, but not a must for everyone

3: Something worth prioritizing if interested

4: Something worth making time to check out

5: An absolute home run, worth going out of your way for