Welcome

00:00

Lesson 4 · Review day

Let's speak Japanese, JJ!

Today is about using what you already know — not memorising lots of new grammar.

Our goal

Speak with confidence

Daily life, work, weather, hobbies and free time

Today's approach

Try → Get a hint → Try again

Mistakes are part of learning.

Teacher intro: We've learnt quite a lot recently. Today we'll review and practise speaking, so you can feel more comfortable using Japanese in real conversations.

Part 1 · Warm-up · 4 min

How are you today?

Genki desu ka?

How are you?

Genki desu.

I'm well.

Genki janai desu.

I'm not feeling well.

Chotto kaze o hiite imasu.

I have a bit of a cold.

Kyou wa yasumi desu.

I'm off today.

Ask a follow-up: Nande desu ka? — Why?

Part 1 · Weather · 5 min

What's the weather like?

Kyou no tenki wa dou desu ka?

How's the weather today?

Hare · sunnyAme · rainyKumori · cloudyAtsui · hotAtatakai · warmSuzushii · coolHadazamui · chillySamui · cold

Kyou wa nan-do desu ka?

What's the temperature today?

Kyou wa nijuu-ichi do desu.

It's 21°C today.

Speaking challenge: Describe today's weather in two sentences. Use totemo (very) if you can.

Part 2 · Daily routine · 5 min

Tell me about your day

Kyou wa nan-ji ni okimashita ka?

What time did you wake up today?

Kyou wa shigoto ni ikimashita ka?

Did you go to work today?

Nan-ji ni nemashita ka?

What time did you go to bed?

Shigoto wa dou deshita ka?

How was work?

Hachi-ji ni okimashita.

I woke up at 8.

Teacher: Start without showing examples. Reveal support only when JJ needs a hint.

Part 2 · Grammar check · 5 min

Present or past?

Present

Ikimasu

I go / will go

Past

Ikimashita

I went

Negative

Ikimasen

I don't go / won't go

Past negative

Ikimasen deshita

I didn't go

Say these in Japanese:

I didn't go to the gym yesterday.
I went to work today.
Work was busy.

Kinou wa jimu ni ikimasen deshita.
Kyou wa shigoto ni ikimashita.
Shigoto wa isogashikatta desu.

Part 2 · Personal conversation · 4 min

Work, gym & recovery

Kinou wa shigoto ni ikimashita ka?

Did you go to work yesterday?

Jimu ni ikimashita ka?

Did you go to the gym?

Kokansetsu no rihabiri ni ikimashita ka?

Did you go to physical therapy for your hip?

Yoyaku wa arimashita ka?

Did you have an appointment?

Follow-up prompt: Dou deshita ka? — How was it? Accept short answers and help JJ build a full sentence.

Part 3 · Hobbies · 5 min

What do you enjoy?

Shumi wa nan desu ka?

What are your hobbies?

Saafin o shimasu.

I go surfing.

Shashin o torimasu.

I take photos.

Jimu ni ikimasu.

I go to the gym.

Inu no sanpo o shimasu.

I walk the dog.

Ask JJ to describe three hobbies without reading the examples. Other useful words: ryokou (travel), dokusho (reading), jitensha (bicycle).

Part 3 · Grammar review · 5 min

“O” or “Ga”?

Action + o

Saafin o shimasu.

I go surfing.

Shashin o torimasu.

I take photos.

Likes + ga

Saafin ga suki desu.

I like surfing.

Shashin o toru no ga suki desu.

I like taking photos.

Key rule: Verb dictionary form + no ga suki desu = “I like doing…”
Example: Ryouri suru no ga suki desu. = I like cooking.

JJ's turn: Say two things you like doing.

Part 4 · Frequency · 5 min

How often?

Mainichi · every dayTokidoki · sometimesShuu ni ikkai · once a weekShuu ni sankai · 3 times a weekNen ni nikai · twice a year

Shuu ni nan-kai jimu ni ikimasu ka?

How many times a week do you go to the gym?

Donokurai saafin o shimasu ka?

How often do you go surfing?

Shuu ni sankai kara yonkai ikimasu.

I go three to four times a week.

Motto shitai desu.

I want to do it more.

Part 4 · Weekend & food · 4 min

What did you do?

Fudan, yasumi wa itsu desu ka?

When are your days off usually?

Shuumatsu wa nani o shimashita ka?

What did you do at the weekend?

Kinou wa nani o tabemashita ka?

What did you eat yesterday?

Donokurai ryouri o shimasu ka?

How often do you cook?

Challenge: Answer using past tense and one frequency expression. Example: Kinou, suteeki to jagaimo o tabemashita.

Part 5 · Independent speaking · 4 min

My life in Japanese

Speak for 45–60 seconds. Try to include at least five ideas.

What you do for work
When you work or have days off
What you did yesterday
What hobbies you like
How often you do them

Watashi wa kangoshi desu. Byouin de hataraite imasu. Yasumi no hi wa jimu ni ikimasu. Shashin o toru no ga suki desu. Shuu ni sankai jimu ni ikimasu. Kinou wa ie de ryouri o shimashita.

Teacher: First listen without interrupting. Note 2–3 improvements, then let JJ try again.

Part 6 · Feedback & recap · 2 min

Look how much you can say!

Can-do check

✓ Talk about weather
✓ Describe a daily routine
✓ Use past tense
✓ Talk about hobbies and likes
✓ Say how often you do things

Next step

Food & Restaurant Conversations

Ordering, asking questions, and speaking in real-life situations.

Homework (optional): Record a 30–60 second voice note about your day and hobbies. Try to use ikimashita, no ga suki desu, and shuu ni....