Build confidence in phonetics, and Speak Japanese Naturally!
Subscribe To Our Emails
Join our email list and get access to specials deals exclusive to our subscribers.
Hello
Hi, welcome to Speak Japanese Naturally.
Hi, I'm Fumi.
I have loved the English language since I was young. I have loved its sounds. In movies, handsome and beautiful actors spoke the language that I couldn’t understand. How I wanted to understand what they were saying, but not through subtitles on the screen; I wanted to understand with my own ears, and feel it in my heart.
I still remember that feeling.
In the moment, I sometimes still feel amazed that I am speaking English. That language I love.
I wonder whether you feel the same way about the Japanese language.
It would make me happy if you’ve come to this website because you are amazed by the Japanese language. I want to help you improve how you sound in speaking through my course.
You know how Japanese people have accents when they speak English? And have you noticed that they are not always able to differentiate between the L and R sounds? Or maybe that their rhythm sounds very different than the rhythm that you expect to hear in English?
These features of the Japanese accent that you hear when they speak English, are features of the Japanese language that you will need to learn in order to acquire the Japanese way of speaking. This is what you will learn through my course.
I know you want to sound like you’re speaking Japanese. I know you want to make yourself understood in Japanese.
I promise you’ll be able to do that through my course.
Even if you’re already at a high level, you can use my course.
You can upload your recording to the Forum, and I will be happy to give you advice. I’d like all of you to make the most out of my course.
I’m always here for you, and to help you improve how you sound in Japanese.
いっしょに、がんばりましょう！(Let’s do our best!)
Services
Here's what you can gain from my subscription course:
Japanese phonetics and listening practice.
A new video every week.
2. Forum
Ask questions anytime, receive feedback
3. Files
PDFs for Japanese Phonetics videos.
Anki decks for walk-and-talk videos on YouTube.
Online Programs / Japanese Phonetics
Part 1
Pronunciation
Japanese hiragana and katakana are phonograms, which means the characters represent the sounds. So if you know how to pronounce all of the hiragana or katakana, you know all of the Japanese sounds.
So we’ll learn them one by one, then of course we’ll learn small つ, ん, and long vowels, which English speakers tend to have problems with. Then we’ll learn devoicing of vowels, which is an important feature of Standard Japanese.
Part 2
Rhythm
Then in Part 2, we’ll learn about the rhythm of Japanese. When it comes to English, you use syllables to divide a word into smaller units. In Japanese, we have not only syllables but also, mora. Mora plays an important role. If you acquire a sense for mora, your Japanese will definitely sound more natural. You’ll learn about mora using Japanese haiku.
Part 3
Pitch Accent
In Part 3, we’ll learn about the Japanese pitch accent. Unlike tones in Chinese or Vietnamese, the Japanese pitch accent doesn’t necessarily define the meaning of a word. Sometimes, it does, though most of the time, it doesn’t. I guess that’s why most Japanese textbooks haven’t discussed pitch accent over the years. But nowadays it’s changing. Newer textbooks have some pages for pitch accent. I think that people finally realized that pitch accent is important. If you speak with the correct pitch accent, you’ll be more easily understood. So in part 3, we’ll learn about pitch accent.
Part 4
Intonation
Then in part 4, we’ll learn about Japanese intonation. Intonation is the change in pitch in a sentence, while accent is the change in pitch in a word.
Accents are determined for each word. But intonation is not like that; it represents the meaning of the sentence. So we’ll learn the natural intonation for speaking Japanese.
Pricing
Thank you for reading until now.
The subscription fee is $15 a month.
It includes
- Free access to the videos that are uploaded to the course
- One new video every week
- You can ask me to check your speech or questions on the Forum page
You won’t regret joining it.
However, I know that some of you might not be able to afford $15 a month.
This world is unfair, which means depending on which country you’re born in or what situation you’re in, you might find it difficult to pay that much.
I believe everyone should have an equal opportunity to learn.
So for you, I offer a $5 option. You’ll get everything that the $15 course provides. Please don’t hesitate to choose that course in that case.
At the same time, I'd like to say thank you to all of you who chose the "Standard" plan. Thanks to you, I can offer the "Affordable" plan.
Choose your pricing plan
Affordable
5$Every monthFor people who can't afford the "Standard" course but eager to learn Japanese Phonetics- The same as the "Standard" course
Standard
15$Every monthBeginner to advanced-level learners. Because you choose this, I can afford "Affordable." Thank you!- Free access to the videos that are uploaded exclusively here
- One new episode every two weeks
- You can ask me to check your speech or questions on Forum
- Anki deck for walk-and-talk videos
Preminum
150$Every yearFor you, who is eager to improve your Japanese pronunciation! Free sessions with Fumi included!7 day free trial- Get two months free
- Two 45-minute 1-on-1 sessions with Fumi(9am - 5pm JST)
- The same as the "Standard" course
Subscribe To Our Emails
Join our email list and get access to specials deals exclusive to our subscribers.