Hi, I’m Norie, a certified Japanese teacher living in Japan. I run Ganbare Nihongo to help English speakers learn real, natural Japanese, for free and at their own pace.
Many learners start with the GENKI textbook and get stuck when there is no teacher to ask. This site is the teacher’s notes I wish every GENKI learner had: clear explanations in simple English, example sentences, quizzes, worksheets and videos.
What you can find here
- GENKI grammar lessons. Lesson-by-lesson explanations with quizzes and free worksheets. Start with Lesson 1
- Reading practice. Stories and travel diaries written at JLPT N4 level, with vocabulary and grammar notes. Try the Cebu travel diary
- Tips on natural Japanese. The things textbooks don’t tell you. Why “anata” can sound rude
- A free GENKI video course. Watch the lessons on my YouTube channel.
Going to Japan? Travel Japanese Pack
If you are planning a trip and need Japanese fast, I made a short course just for travelers. It covers the phrases you really use at stations, restaurants, shops and hotels.
- 10 short lessons with illustrated PDFs
- Audio recordings of every phrase, so you can copy the sounds
- Bonus lesson: Osaka dialect
My background
- Passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test (日本語教育能力検定試験)
- Teaching Japanese online to learners around the world
- 2022–2024: Consultant at a language learning company, supporting business English learners
- 2021–2024: Navigator at a kids’ English learning company
- Also worked as a voice actor, and as a nurse for about 20 years (Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from a national university in Japan)
I have taught both English and Japanese, so I know where learners get stuck. I try to explain Japanese the way I would to a friend: short sentences, real examples, and no difficult grammar words when simple ones work.
A little more about me
I love yoga, iaido (the Japanese art of drawing the sword), gardening, reading books and manga, and watching movies and anime. My favorite anime is Dragon Ball! That is also why the sections of this site have dojo names: The Training Hall, The Sparring Zone and The Armory.
I am also a mother of three. My kids have been learning English with me since they were babies, so I know how much patience language learning takes, for children and adults alike.
Private lessons
I am not taking new private students at the moment. If you want to practice speaking, you can find many friendly Japanese teachers on italki and book a short trial lesson.
This is an affiliate link. If you book a lesson, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Say hello
Questions about the site, a request for a new article, or an idea to work together? Send me a message through the contact form. You can also follow me on YouTube, Instagram and X.
がんばって！ (Ganbatte! Good luck with your Japanese!)
