English Reference

Mistakes to avoid

Don't worry. Almost every new teacher makes these mistakes, and most of your students will forgive you on the spot. Still, it helps to know the traps before you fall in. Here are the ones I see most often. Each one has an example sentence to try out loud.

  1. 1. Reading は as "ha" in a sentence In the hiragana chart, は is "ha". When it marks the topic of a sentence, it is read "wa". Read it as "wa" every time you see it as a particle. 私は先生です。 watashi wa sensei desu. I am a teacher.
  2. 2. Reading を as "wo" The particle を is read "o". It marks the object of the verb. You will never say "wo" in modern Japanese. 水を飲みます。 mizu o nomimasu. I drink water.
  3. 3. Putting the verb in the middle In Japanese the verb goes at the end of the sentence. Say what you do last. Do not try to follow English word order. Not this: I apple eat. 私はりんごを食べます。 watashi wa ringo o tabemasu. I eat an apple.
  4. 4. Answering a negative question with the wrong yes or no In Japanese, はい means "that is right". So if someone asks a negative question, はい means "yes, that is right", and it confirms the fact. When someone asks "Aren't you going?", the answer はい、行きません means "No, I'm not going" in English. Your students will find this confusing at first, so it is worth practising. 今日は行かないんですか。 はい、行きません。 kyou wa ikanai n desu ka. hai, ikimasen. Aren't you going today? No, I'm not going.
  5. 5. Thinking はい always means "I agree" Often はい only means "I hear you" or "I am listening". Do not take it as agreement. When you need to be clear, say はい、わかりました (I understand) or はい、そうです (that is right). はい、わかりました。 hai, wakarimashita. Yes, I understand.
  6. 6. Adding さん after 先生 Never put さん after 先生. Say 田中先生 (Tanaka-sensei) for a teacher. Do not say 田中先生さん. Also, do not call yourself 先生. Use your own name, with desu, if you introduce yourself. Not this: 田中先生さん 田中先生、おはようございます。 tanaka-sensei, ohayou gozaimasu. Good morning, Teacher Tanaka.
  7. 7. Speaking casually to parents and staff Casual speech is for close friends. With parents, staff, and visitors, use the polite form. Add お and ございます where you can. It shows respect, and it makes a good first impression. Not this: 元気？ お元気ですか。 ogenki desu ka. How are you? (polite)
  8. 8. Using 一つ or 二つ for everything Japanese counts things with different counters. Books use 冊, people use 人, cars use 台, and flat things like paper use 枚. Learn the counter with each noun, and you will sound much more natural. 本を三冊買いました。 hon o sansatsu kaimashita. I bought three books.
  9. 9. Saying 4, 7, and 9 the English way for times Four o'clock is 四時 (yoji), seven o'clock is 七時 (shichiji), and nine o'clock is 九時 (kuji). Do not say "yonji" or "kyuuji". Say the time slowly, and check it with your colleague if you are unsure. 九時に来てください。 kuji ni kite kudasai. Please come at nine o'clock.
  10. 10. Using 好き for people 好き means "like" for things, hobbies, and food. Said to a person, it can sound like a confession. Keep it for things and say 仲がいい (naka ga ii, we get along well) for people. Not this: 田中さんが好きです。 私は音楽が好きです。 watashi wa ongaku ga suki desu. I like music.