Launching today
Yokoso
Japanese for the life you're actually living in Japan
35 followers
Japanese for the life you're actually living in Japan
35 followers
Free Japanese learning for real life in Japan. Yokoso adapts around what you know, teaches signs, prices and grammar in context, imports WaniKani progress, works offline, and has no ads, streaks or locked lessons.
Alconost Localization Lab
@james_ketolaΒ Hi James, kudos on making a practical language learning product! Though I am not studying Japanese, I used to study Chinese (and a few other languages). I remember the frustration over books and apps NOT being adapted to everyday practical speech. I am pretty sure the app is very useful, the fact you built it to match your own situation (living in Japan) and that the app adapts to your level says it all for me ^__^
Good luck on the launch, hope Yokoso gets noticed by learners of Japanese!
Congratulations on the launch, James! π
I'm Japanese, born and raised, and I just want to say β seeing someone move to northern Japan and build something this thoughtful for learners made me really happy. The name made me smile too (γγγγ!).
What resonated most with me is the philosophy: no streaks, no lives, no paywalls, and respecting what learners already know. That's rare. And as a native speaker, I can confirm that counters, prices, and signs are exactly the things textbooks skip but real life throws at you on day one.
For your second question β a few situations I'd love to see Yokoso teach, because they trip up every foreign friend I've helped:
The pharmacy / clinic: describing symptoms and understanding dosage instructions (ι£εΎ, 1ζ₯3ε, etc.)
City hall paperwork: δ½ζ°η₯¨, δΏιΊ, εΉ΄ι β the vocabulary is brutal but unavoidable
Garbage separation rules: ηγγγ΄γ vs θ³ζΊγ΄γ, and the collection-day signage
Train delay announcements: ι ε»Ά, ιθ»’θ¦εγγ, ζ―ζΏθΌΈι β these are stressful even to half-understand
Rooting for you from Japan. εΏζ΄γγ¦γγΎγ!
TimeCamp
Congratulations on the launch!
I've been learning Japanese for 6 years so far, and I've been satisfied with how my sensei teaches, but I must admit I'm still afraid to use the language in everyday situations. And I think it's mostly because I try to speak it the European way; I'm still not good at aizuchi, so all my conversations feel a bit stiff, like taken straight from a workbook. Watching anime doesn't help at all, maybe because seiyuu are doing a great job articulating... Reading the launch desc, I feel like Yokoso may be the help I need, so I'll definitely give it a try ;)