Thanks to UbiSoft's My Japanese Coach for the Nintendo DS, you can carry a tutor in your pocket that lets you learn a new language in as little as 15 minutes a day. With plenty of entertaining lessons, loads of fun-to-play mini-games, and a host of helpful features, this unique language coach will have you not only speaking like a native in no time, but reading and writing like on as well!

Carry a tutor in your pocket with My Japanese Coach. View larger.

Learn in Fun and Interactive Ways
My Japanese Coach is an installment in the My Coach series from UbiSoft series that teaches the basic pronunciations unique to the Japanese language. This convenient and easy-to-use tutor allows users to compare their pronunciation to that of native speakers via the Nintendo DS's microphone. It also lets you use the DS stylus to practice writing Japanese Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji characters.

My Japanese Coach takes you on a virtual tour of Japan while you're learning the language. Lesson plans take place in a wide array of Japanese locations, from the densest of population centers like Tokyo, to the idyllic Japanese country side. You actually get to explore Japan while you learn new vocabulary as you open each point of interest.

Learn From a Master
Meet Haruka, the in-game digital sensei, or teacher, that exists solely for the purpose of teaching you Japanese. After giving you a small placement-style test, Haruka will get you started working through the various stages of your lessons. Gaining mastery points by playing the various learning games allow you to clear each level. Once you master all the words given in a specific level, you move on to the next level.

As you work your way through over a 1,000 lessons, your language skills are constantly tested and sharpened by various mini games. My Japanese Coach includes 12 types of mini games, ranging from Flash Cards, in which you hear a word and have seconds to choose the correct English translation, to Bridge Builder, where you are required to string words together in the correct order to create a complete sentence. And with mini-games that add a clever twist to classic favorites--like Memory that forces you to match the same words in two different languages--you will be sure to have fun while you learn.

My Japanese Coach also features a built-in dictionary and phrase book that includes over 12,000 words and hundreds of useful everyday phrases.

Meet Haruka, the in-game digital sensei, or teacher. View larger.

Sharpen and test your language skills with mini games. View larger.

Use the DS stylus to practice writing Japanese characters. View larger.

User Reviews about My Japanese Coach

This is an excellent introduction to Japanese. The lessons are quick and the games are fun and help you with memorizing the language both written and spoken. There is also an option to help you learn to speak the language correctly by recording and playing back what you say as well as comparing it to a native japanese speaker. The only issue is learning to write the language. There is a specific stroke order and the game does not recognize that what so ever. It also seems that you have a time limit when writing, which seems to be fairly short. When beginning to learn how to write this makes it a little difficult at first but gets easier with time. I personally love the reference part of the game that has a large selection of pre-recorded phrases that you can learn at any time. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone wanting to start learning the language without the high price of other options. -- DS Japanese Coach

I'm really enjoying going through all the levels of this game. It's easier than I thought and it's fun. My son is also learning Japanese and he is picking it up faster than I am. I would recommend this game to anyone who wants to learn Japanese. -- Glad I purchased the My Japanese Coach

I have a hard time focusing on learning one thing at a time and when I picked up this game at Game Stop, I was skeptical and didn't think I'd be motivated enough to really learn the language; but I really wanted to learn. (boyfriend and I plan on moving to Japan in 3 years for martial arts)...I played the game and by the second day, I memorized 6 words I didn't know. This game is perfect for someone who needs repetition because it doesn't rush you, it works at YOUR pace and I learn a little slower than most people so this game, with the mini games and the pronunciation/writing tools, was perfect for me. This game is an excellent learning tool and it's fun! I spent [...] on a program to learn Gaelic and while this game was priced similarly at Game Stop, I found this game to be of more value to me than the program I bought. I must say, I was skeptical because it is a GAME and at the same time, a very useful and very effective learning tool. I highly recommend it! -- WOW!

I studied Japanese at university level for three years but let my language skills go unpracticed for quite a while. I picked up this game hoping to refresh my memory and writing skills.

One thing non-beginners should know, the max level you can start at is 11, which is still rather elementary, so if you have intermediate or advanced knowledge and are using this game as a refresher, you have to plow through many levels (can only advance one at a time after getting the required points by playing mini-games) before you get to a level that might do you any good by introducing any new vocabulary. I scored perfectly all starter questions and could only start at level 11. It was well past level 20 before I found any new words.

That said, this game is helping me how I expected it to. It's reintroducing me to having to write in hiragana/katakana and giving me new words to learn.

As mentioned by previous reviewers, the stroke order and/or number on several hiragana/katakana are OFF! This is really annoying as I keep getting marked that I wrote incorrectly by the game and have to relearn to write certain characters in game style - which is just wrong, and makes my writing look sloppy. If you learned to write properly by taking a beginning Japanese course elsewhere, you will have to adjust to continue with this game (if you insist on writing the *real* way every time, you'll never get enough points to move on).

I would suggest if you are serious about learning Japanese, begin by learning the stroke method elsewhere - either in an actual class or by book, online, etc... don't depend on this game to teach you that correctly. Get this game only AFTER you learn that and then you can use it to continue learning. -- Helpful for vocabulary, non-beginners may find writing frustrating

My 12 year old it crazy for manga, sushi, and just about anything Japanese. It's perfect that the second language window in her brain is open at this time. After bugging me for months, I finally got her this game and a kanji dictionary to go with it. It is working very well for her, and it holds her interest. If nothing else, it is giving her a good solid base to build on until she can get info a real class. It could also be a great suppliment to a regular class. I myself haven't tried it, but I may be forced to do so just to find out what she is saying to me! I recommend this product for kids, if they are serious about learning a second language. -- Great Language Learning Tool for Kids