Learning Japanese

â I read and enjoyed Learning Japanese: Voices of Experience from two perspectives, both as a learner of Japanese and as a second language teacher/researcher. Firstly, as anyone who has tried to get a handle on Japanese will know, talking with someone who has gone before you and mastered it can be both awe-inspiring and very motivating. If you are lucky, your sempai will even share their experiences and knowledge with you, helping you to get there that little bit faster. In this book the authors have generously gathered thirteen such sempai from a diverse range of backgrounds. Through reading their stories and the concrete advice given by education experts at the end of each chapter, we can learn from their mistakes, find some great learning strategies and add their strengths to our own. Secondly, as a teacher/researcher, I have seen the transformative power of providing opportunities for my students to listen to and learn from near-peer role models. Of particular note here is the inclusion of often under-represented voices discussing how learners of Japanese can negotiate gender and sexual identities in Japanese. I was particularly impressed by the accompanying worksheets that support students in identifying goals, trying new learning strategies and reflecting on the efficacy of their learning. This book would be a great addition to any course of study. Ashley R. Moore, PhD candidate, Language and Literacy Education Department, University of British Columbia, Canada. .. .Learning Japanese: Voices of Experience is a must-read for both students and teachers seeking inspirational and practical advice in improving their Japanese language proficiency. Particularly poignant are the thirteen stories from contributing authors who share their deeply personal and moving experiences in overcoming their learning and teaching difficulties. The 'Sensei's Tips' section at the end of each chapter draw out lessons from these stories to guide readers towards practical application, while the Points for Consideration sections contain well-thought-out questions that are beneficial for individual and group reflective learning (Lin, 2017, p. 360). Michael Lin, instructor at Kobe Shoin Women's University, Konan University and Konan Women's University, Japan.