Small Thing Number Twenty Three: Learn Katakana

In my Japanese class, many kids forgot katakana as soon as we passed the katakana test. All they knew how to write is their own names. The reasoning behind this is that katakana is for non Japanese words so we won't exactly be using it that much. It is true that you don't see katakana too much in the textbook, but a textbook and real life are very different.

Look at all the katakana on this sign! すごい！

And this menu! So much katakana when it comes to food.

When I got to Japan, I found that there is katakana absolutely everywhere. Especially in food establishments. Grocery stores and restaurants use a lot of katakana which means if you can read it you can figure out what it says even with a limited Japanese vocabulary. Luckily for me, I actually remembered some katakana and have gotten quite good at reading it since being in Japan because there is so much of it the second I walk out my front door I can practice (quite literally. There is a sign across the street that says ヤマハ). Most of my practice comes from reading the back of ingredient labels on food or on restaurant menus when I feel adventurous. My Japanese tutor brought in some clothing and food ads yesterday to test my katakana skills and I was able to read them all.

For just taking lessons, you don't necessarily need katakana, but it is beyond useful if you actually want to come here. So if you don't know katakana, get out your textbook, a whiteboard, and start writing lots of katakana. Then find some pictures of Japanese food menus (like for a fast food restaurant or something with a lot of English words) and test your skills!