Why "Minna no Nihongo"?

I believe that Japanese language schools and Japanese teachers all over the world have had their share of difficulties in choosing textbooks.

There are many well-known beginner-level textbooks available, including "Minna no Nihongo," "Japanese for Busy People," "Genki," "Marugoto," "Dekiru Nihongo," "TRY!," and so on.

Choosing a textbook involves several considerations, such as

Whether the curriculum should focus on reading, writing, listening, speaking comprehensively or concentrate on strengthening one aspect?

Should the order of learning verbs progress gradually from "masu form" or start by teaching the "dictionary form"?

Should "masu form" and "dictionary form" be taught together from the beginning?

Should supplementary materials cover all aspects of reading, writing, listening, and speaking?

Just thinking about it casually, there are already numerous questions to consider, and I'm sure there are even more considerations when carefully examined or actually used.

After some deliberation, I chose "Minna no Nihongo" as the designated beginner textbook (for N5 and N4 levels) for my classes. There are several reasons for this choice:

① Introduction of Grammar through Scenarios:

"Minna no Nihongo" introduces each lesson with a scenario dialogue, and the grammar taught in the lesson is designed to fit that scenario. This makes the whole lesson coherent. Students can relate each grammar example to a real-life situation, making it easier for them to apply it in practical situations and leaving a deeper impression of the grammar and vocabulary.

② Starting with the "Masu Form" for Verb Learning:

Learning verb conjugations can be one of the most challenging aspects for beginners. While most anime or Japanese dramas use everyday spoken language, for learners outside Japan, starting with the "masu form" (polite form) is essential for travel, making friends, and studying in Japan without being impolite. Starting with the "masu form" initially and gradually moving on to other verb forms allows students to become familiar with verbs and have a clearer understanding of verb concepts.

③ Comprehensive Supplementary Materials:

"Minna no Nihongo" includes grammar, listening, conversation, and writing exercises within the textbook itself. Additionally, there are separate practice books available for each skill, as well as translations in different languages. While teachers can create their own exercises, resources like listening recordings can be challenging to produce due to limitations in teacher resources. Using "Minna no Nihongo" provides ample practice resources.

Furthermore, to avoid overwhelming students, I try to use only the vocabulary and grammar covered in the textbook in assignments or in the classroom, although additional vocabulary may be introduced based on students' abilities and needs. The supplementary materials in "Minna no Nihongo" align with the content learned by students and allow teachers to tailor instruction to the students' abilities and needs, promoting more comprehensive development of Japanese language skills.

④ Detailed Analysis of Japanese Language Usage:

Through years of experience and training, teachers have found that "Minna no Nihongo" teaches Japanese in great detail. In addition to teaching the main grammar points of each lesson, the textbook often includes sentence examples or conversations with various nuances of Japanese language usage.

Some of these nuances can be challenging to directly translate into other languages. Japanese teachers not only need to understand how these nuances are used but also expose students to a multitude of examples to develop a "feel" for the language. This "language sense" cannot be developed without prolonged exposure over months and years.

Additionally, each lesson in "Minna no Nihongo" not only teaches the correct form of a sentence but also breaks down the different nuances and meanings that can be derived from the same sentence structure in different contexts. This helps students gain a concrete understanding of how to use the sentence pattern.

So, is "Minna no Nihongo" an unbeatable textbook? Not necessarily. Some teachers or schools have valid reasons for not using it:

① The Course Progresses "Too Slowly":

If students want to complete N5 or N4 levels in a short time frame, "Minna no Nihongo" might not be as quick as some other textbooks. Additionally, since the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) only assesses reading and listening abilities, using "Minna no Nihongo" might be seen as overly extensive.

② Outdated Vocabulary:

Some words in "Minna no Nihongo" may no longer be in common use. For example, "ハンサム (hansamu)" is used to describe handsome individuals, but in contemporary Japan, it is mostly applied to older men. However, teachers can address outdated vocabulary during lessons and provide alternative vocabulary.

③ Difficult for Self-Study:

The textbook does not provide any foreign language explanations, only numerous examples. Without the guidance of a teacher, students may need to purchase additional materials for translation and explanations, making it challenging to fully appreciate the benefits of starting lessons with scenario-based learning.

Under the teaching philosophy of my teaching, which aims to foster students' comprehensive development and according to my teaching training and experience, I believe I can minimise these disadvantages, and enjoy all the advantages "Minna no Nihongo" brings us.

Would you like to explore the Japanese language? Don't hesitate to get in touch with me by sending an email to cadenceleungms@gmail.com or visiting my website at www.cadenceleung.com.

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