FAQs

Question: Is a textbook necessary?
Answer:I believe Japanese teaching methods can be divided into two main types: teacher-led and student-led.

The first type: Beginners are included in this category. They start with the 50 Japanese syllables and follow the textbook to learn basic expressions, everyday expressions, and long sentences, ultimately progressing to comprehension, problem description, and logical expression. Textbooks are designed for non-native Japanese speakers, providing a professional, step-by-step approach that doesn't miss any key points. Therefore, I recommend using textbooks for beginners. I once had a classmate who insisted on studying without a textbook for 20 years, but still couldn't express herself correctly. The reason was that she skipped many basic, essential topics. As a result, she could only speak very short sentences in 20 years. She hadn't even reached N5 level, let alone problem description or logical expression. I sorted out her problems and recommended a textbook (she was initially resistant). Within a year and a half, her Japanese improved rapidly. She has now reached N3 level and no longer resists textbooks.

The second category: students with a basic Japanese language foundation (especially those at advanced levels), who are aware of their weaknesses and know how to set goals and design learning content. Therefore, they can avoid using textbooks and engage in comprehensive Japanese conversations based on topics such as daily life and news.

Today, the "textbook uselessness" theory is prevalent, and many people believe that textbooks are rigid and dogmatic. I believe this idea itself is a form of dogma. Please remember that we are not in a comprehensive Japanese language environment. While textbooks are inevitably rigid and dogmatic, they can help you quickly build a framework for learning Japanese and clarify your goals. Using textbooks is a shortcut. In Yuma classes, the textbook content is usually the main focus. However, I focus on listening and speaking skills. Listening comprehension and conversation remain the core content of the course.

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