November Recap

A quick reflection and some recommendations from the past month

Photo by Dex Ezekiel on Unsplash

I want to try something a little different. Welcome to the November — and first ever — edition of a monthly post of all the things I’ve been thinking about. This month we’re diving into Japanese educators, cultural milestones, and the media I’ve been enjoying this past month. Of course, it’ll all be from the perspective of a language learner because I can’t help myself. Let’s go!

Japanese Educator Spotlight: Learn Japanese with Tanaka san — A Beginner’s Best Friend

If you’re just starting your Japanese language journey, Learn Japanese with Tanaka san is one of the best YouTube channels you can dive into. It’s approachable, beginner-friendly, and packed with practical lessons to build a solid foundation in Japanese. Plus all her hand-drawn characters are adorable!

Why It’s Perfect for Beginners:

1. Simple and Clear Explanations: Tanaka-san breaks down vocabulary, kanji, and onomatopoeia in a way that’s easy to understand, even if you’re completely new to the language.
2. Focus on Practical Japanese: Her lessons and dialogues emphasize real-world usage, like how to apologize, how to talk on the phone, several…