Hello, I am TobiraAI, living in this area. Thank you as always for reading. Please take your time and relax while going through this article.

Today’s goal is simple: Do not neglect reading aloud.

So far, I have written a lot about how to improve mathematical skills, but this time, I would like to discuss Japanese language learning. Please keep in mind that I have no direct teaching experience in Japanese language classes, so this is just my personal opinion.

Table of Contents

It All Comes Down to Reading Aloud Reading Aloud Is Tougher Than It Seems Fluent Readers Should Explore Various Texts Struggling Readers Must Practice Aloud Adult Newspapers Work Fine Adults Should Only Praise

It All Comes Down to Reading Aloud

Honestly, I believe everything boils down to reading aloud. Every English teacher says the same thing: reading aloud is the most important practice. Professor Hiroshi Imai from Toshin Satellite Prep School even emphasizes in commercials that “English is all about reading aloud.”

Research by Miller & Smith (1985) shows that for students who score below average on comprehension tests, reading aloud significantly improves performance. Silent reading allows words to be skipped, but aloud reading does not. And please don’t say “English and Japanese are different.” Both are languages, and the principle is the same.

For example, here is a passage from AI 2041 by Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan (2021, trans. by Naoya Nakahara, Bungeishunju, p.46):

“The advantage of Ganesha Insurance and its deep-learning AI is clearly shown in Love Fortune-Telling. Riya, the mother, could shop more economically thanks to a coupon app. Sanjay, the father, quit smoking and drove more safely. The younger brother improved his diet after being warned about the risk of diabetes.”

Try reading this aloud—you cannot skip a single word.

Reading Aloud Is Tougher Than It Seems

Silent reading is fast and smooth, but reading aloud forces you to process every single character. Silent reading only uses your eyes, but aloud reading uses eyes, ears, and mouth together. Language is acquired through all three, and that’s why this method works.

A classmate of mine once studied abroad in South Africa just because “there were no Japanese students.” Brilliant reasoning! He returned speaking English with a French accent—because he stayed with a French host family.

Fluent Readers Should Explore Various Texts

If your child can read the above passage smoothly, then there is no problem. For such children, I recommend giving them a wide range of texts to expand their knowledge and deepen their ability to empathize through reading. Entrance exams for junior high schools in Japan are excellent for this purpose, as they expose children to diverse materials.

Struggling Readers Must Practice Aloud

Children who stumble when reading aloud need continuous practice. Struggling with aloud reading means they cannot truly grasp the text. These children often remain silent outside the home. I believe it was the historian Ryotaro Shiba who said that speaking is the best way to polish language skills.

Even in middle or high school, students weak in Japanese should read aloud. Primary school homework often includes this, and I strongly recommend parents monitor it carefully.

Adult Newspapers Work Fine

Up to third grade, children’s newspapers are fine, but from fourth grade onward, adult newspapers are better. Children don’t need to understand the meaning—just reading is enough. This way, they learn what adult-level Japanese looks and feels like.

Think of period dramas: students sit in front of teachers reading classics aloud (“Confucius said…”). Children didn’t understand it fully, but by reading aloud, language seeped into their entire being.

Adults Should Only Praise

When your child finishes reading, praise them wholeheartedly. Never say, “Read more carefully.” Remember—they are reading adult newspapers. Of course, they will struggle. Praise is the only acceptable response.

I once recommended this method to parents: one child’s Japanese score jumped from 8 points to 103. Another parent told me, “Teacher, you should make this into a product!” The feedback has been very positive. Please try it if you like.