Let's Start Learning Japanese Hiragana by Starsphere is a language app for Japanese children to learn to read and write Hiragana. Kids learn the basics, and extended forms of hiragana. It uses flash cards and audio to learn the sign and learn how to pronounce and also offers practice exercise to learn how to write.
When learning Japanese kids need to learn the syllables and their pronunciation in order to be able to read and write. Let's Start Learning Japanese Hiragana has been designed to support Japanese kids learning the language with 3 activities:
Learn the Characters
To learn basic and extended character kids can access full tables showing interactive flash cards of all the hiragana characters. Each card shows a picture of the word with the character next to it. Children can tap on a card to listen and learn how to pronounce and as the card flip over they can view the spelling of this word in hiragana.
Learn How to Trace the Characters
The app lets children learn the stroke order for each basic character by showing an animation of how the character is written. Kids can then practice and trace the sign on screen. (Note that font used are the ones currently used in Japanese schools).
Learn everyday expressions
This sections offers 10 illustration of everyday expressions.
What Fun Educational Apps Liked
Let's Start Learning Japanese Hiragana is a nice language app. It is aimed at Japanese kids to help and support them learn how to read and write the language. Japanese looks so hard to write for us occidentals that we liked the writing section where kids can see and practice the writing. The animations are well done and shows the correct order for the stroke which we think is mandatory when learn how to trace the characters.
The use of interactive flash card offers a nice way to learn and the audio features helps kids to learn how each character is pronounced. Kids can tap on the each card as many times they want allowing to learn via repetition. As with many educational apps, we think it is best to use the with your kids to reinforce learning. Remember that this app is aimed at Japanese kids so if you want to teach Japanese to your kids and do not speak the language, the app may not support you. We think the app is well suited for kids already knowing the language or adults already learning the language.
Note to the developer, as non Japanese, the kids here liked the everyday expression but wished all illustrations would have the English equivalent, three of them have no text under.
Overall, Let's Start Learning Japanese Hiragana offers great support to Japanese kids learning how to read and write Japanese Hiragana. The use of interactive flash card reinforce learning and the audio helps with pronunciation. The writing activities are well done and help kids with tracing.
Let's Start Learning Japanese Hiragana is available for download via the iTunes App Store – iPad App
Also Available: Let's start learning Japanese Katakana
View it in action on YouTube:
App reviewed by Nathalie founder of Fun Educational Apps, mom of three, always looking for great app to help and support kids learning the fun way!
Have fun with app!
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Disclosure: This review was move up the waiting list priority-services. All opinions expressed are purely that of the author.
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