About This Lesson
Use Choosing an Online Language Course to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
オンライン語学コースを選びたいです。
on-RAHN goh-GAH-koo KOH-su o eh-REE-bih-TAI dess. I want to choose an online language course.
B
スケジュールと口コミと教え方を比べてください。
skoo-JOO-roo toh koo-chi-KOO-mee toh oh-shee-eh-KAH-tah o koo-RAH-beh-teh koo-DAH-sai. Compare the schedule, reviews, and teaching style.
A
このコースは短いですが、レッスンが少ないです。
KOH-noh KOH-su wa MEE-jah-ee dess-gah, RESS-soon gah soo-NAI dess. This course is shorter but has fewer lessons.
B
もう一つのほうが初心者にやさしそうです。
moh-oo hee-TOH-tsoo noh HOH gah shoh-SHEEN-shah nee yah-shee-SOH dess. The other one looks more beginner-friendly.
A
週末にしか勉強できません。
SHOO-maht-soo nee shee-KAH ben-KYOH deh-kee-mah-SEN. I can only study on weekends.
B
それなら、週末に授業があるコースを選んでください。
soh-REH nah-rah, SHOO-maht-soo nee JOO-gyoh gah ah-roo KOH-su o eh-RAN-deh koo-DAH-sai. Then choose the course with weekend classes.
A
口コミには、先生の説明がわかりやすいと書いてあります。
koo-chi-KOO-mee nee-wah, SEN-say noh seht-soo-MAY gah wah-kah-ree yah-SOO-ee toh KAH-ee-teh ah-ree-mahs. The reviews say the teacher explains clearly.
B
それは短いコースより大切です。
soh-REH wa MEE-jah-ee KOH-su yoh-ree TAI-set-soo dess. That matters more than a shorter course.Word by Word
オンライン
オンライン means “online” here and describes the type of language course. It commonly comes before a service, class, or meeting, as in オンライン語学コース. A learner could use it when choosing a class that takes place through the internet.
語学
語学 refers to language study here, specifically as part of オンライン語学コース. It commonly appears before a word such as コース to identify something related to learning languages. Use it when discussing language-learning programs or study plans.
コース
コース means “course” here, referring to a structured language-learning program. In the dialogue it is marked as the thing being chosen in コースを選びたいです. Use it when comparing or selecting an organized program of study.
を
を marks コース as the thing being chosen in コースを選びたいです. It commonly follows the direct object of an action. Use it after the item someone chooses, compares, or studies.
選びたい
選びたい expresses the speaker’s wish to choose a course in コースを選びたいです. This form combines the idea of choosing with “want to,” so the sentence states a personal desire. A reusable pattern is [thing]を選びたいです when saying what you want to choose.
です
です gives the sentence a polite ending in 選びたいです. Here it makes the speaker’s statement suitable for a polite conversation. Use it after a polite statement about a preference, plan, or description.
スケジュール
スケジュール means “schedule” here, one of the points to compare between courses. It is listed with 口コミ and 教え方 in スケジュールと口コミと教え方. Use it when discussing when classes or other activities take place.
と
と links items in スケジュールと口コミと教え方, meaning “and,” and it marks the quoted content in わかりやすいと書いてあります. The first use joins nouns, while the second introduces what the reviews say. Use と after each item in a list or before quoted content when the context requires it.
口コミ
口コミ means reviews or word of mouth about a course in this dialogue. It is one of the features to compare and also the source of the information in 口コミには、先生の説明がわかりやすいと書いてあります. Use it when referring to other people’s comments or reviews of a service.
教え方
教え方 means “teaching style” or “way of teaching” here. It is one of the course features being compared in 教え方を比べてください. The pattern [person or course]の教え方 can describe how someone teaches.
比べて
比べて asks the listener to compare the schedule, reviews, and teaching style in スケジュールと口コミと教え方を比べてください. It is the form used before ください to make a polite request. Use [items]を比べてください when asking someone to compare specific things.
ください
ください makes 比べてください a polite request to compare the listed course features. It follows the action form 比べて and means “please do it.” Use the pattern [action form]てください for a polite request.
この
この identifies the course currently being discussed in このコース. It means “this” and comes directly before the noun it describes. Use この before a nearby or currently selected person, thing, or option.
は
は marks このコース as the topic in このコースは短いですが. The sentence then gives information about that course and contrasts it with another point. Use は after the topic when describing or comparing it.
短い
短い means “short” here and describes the length of このコース. In 短いですが, the description is followed by a contrast with the number of lessons. Use it before です or before が when describing something as short.
が
が connects the two descriptions in 短いですが、レッスンが少ないです and means “but” in this context. It introduces a point that differs from the first description. Use [description]ですが、[contrasting description] when making a polite contrast.
レッスン
レッスン means “lesson” here, referring to the number of lessons included in the course. In レッスンが少ないです, it is the thing whose amount is described as small. Use it when talking about individual lessons in a course or study program.
少ない
少ない means “few” here and says that the course has a small number of lessons in レッスンが少ないです. It describes the amount of the lessons rather than their length. Use it after a noun when saying that there are few of something.
もう
もう contributes the meaning “another” in もう一つのほう, referring to an additional option besides the course already discussed. Here it works together with 一つ to identify the other choice. Use もう一つ when referring to one more item or another option.
一つ
一つ means “one” in もう一つのほう and helps identify the other option. Together, もう一つ means “one more” or “another one.” Use it when distinguishing an additional choice from the one already mentioned.
の
の links 一つ with ほう in もう一つのほう, showing which option is meant. It commonly connects a noun or noun-like expression to another noun. Use the pattern [option]のほう when referring to one side or choice in a comparison.
ほう
ほう refers to the side or option being selected in もう一つのほうが初心者にやさしそうです. The phrase compares this option with the course already under discussion. Use [option]のほうが when saying that one choice has a certain quality more than another.
初心者
初心者 means “beginner” here, referring to people who are new to the subject. In 初心者にやさしそうです, it identifies the learners for whom the course seems friendly or easy. Use it when describing a course, guide, or explanation intended for beginners.
に
に marks the people considered in 初心者にやさしそうです, giving the meaning “easy or friendly for beginners.” In the dialogue it also marks time in 週末に. Use it after a person or group when expressing suitability, and after a time expression when marking when something happens.
やさしそう
やさしそう says that the other course seems friendly or easy for beginners in 初心者にやさしそうです. The form presents this as an impression rather than a confirmed fact. Use it when making a cautious judgment about how approachable something appears.
週末
週末 means “weekend” here, the only time when the speaker can study. In 週末にしか勉強できません, it identifies the available study period. Use it when making plans for activities that happen on Saturday or Sunday.
しか
しか limits the available time in 週末にしか勉強できません, meaning “only on weekends.” It is used together with the negative form できません, so the sentence excludes other study times. Use the pattern [limited item]しか[negative expression] when saying that only one option is available.
勉強
勉強 means “study” here and is the activity the speaker can do only on weekends. It appears before できません in 勉強できません to describe the activity that is possible or impossible. Use 勉強する when talking about studying a language or another subject.
できません
できません means that the speaker cannot study at other times in 勉強できません, and with しか it gives “can study only on weekends.” It is a polite negative expression of inability or non-possibility. Use it after an activity or task when politely saying that it cannot be done.
それ
それ means “that” in それなら and refers to the situation just mentioned, namely being able to study only on weekends. It points back to information already known in the conversation. Use it when responding to the other person’s preceding statement.
なら
なら makes それなら mean “then” or “in that case,” connecting the weekend-only schedule to a recommendation. It introduces a conclusion based on the situation just described. Use それなら before advice or a decision that follows from what someone has said.
授業
授業 means “class” here, referring to the scheduled lessons offered by the course. In 週末に授業があるコース, it identifies a course that has classes on weekends. Use it when discussing regular classes or lessons held at a particular time.
ある
ある says that weekend classes exist or are offered in 週末に授業があるコース. It describes the course by stating that 授業 is available on the weekend. Use [time]に[thing]がある when saying that an event or class takes place at a certain time.
先生
先生 means “teacher” here, the person whose explanations are discussed in the reviews. It appears in 先生の説明 to connect the teacher with the explanation. Use it when referring politely to a teacher or instructor.
説明
説明 means “explanation” here and refers to what the teacher provides in 先生の説明がわかりやすい. The sentence evaluates the explanation as easy to understand. Use it when talking about someone’s explanation of a topic, rule, or process.
わかりやすい
わかりやすい means “easy to understand” or “clear” here, describing the teacher’s explanation. In 先生の説明がわかりやすいと書いてあります, it is the content reported by the reviews. Use it for explanations, instructions, or language that learners can understand easily.
書いて
書いて is used in 書いてあります to say that the information has been written in the reviews. Together with あります, it describes written information that is present there. Use the pattern [content]と書いてあります when reporting what a notice, review, or document says.
あります
あります completes 書いてあります and says that the written statement is present in the reviews. In this expression, the focus is on information that is written and available to read. Use it politely when saying that something exists or that written information appears somewhere.
より
より marks the comparison point in 短いコースより大切です, meaning “more important than a shorter course.” It follows the thing used as the standard of comparison. Use the pattern [comparison item]より[quality] when comparing one thing with another.
大切
大切 means “important” here and says that clear teaching matters more than having a shorter course. It describes the value of the teaching quality in the comparison. Use it when explaining that something deserves priority or careful consideration.
Grammar Points
〜たい
コースを選びたいです。
KOH-su o eh-REE-bih-TAI dess.I want to choose a course.
Attach たい to the verb stem to express the speaker’s desire to do something.
〜てあります
説明が書いてあります。
seht-soo-MAY gah KAH-ee-teh ah-ree-mahs.The explanation has been written.
てあります shows that someone has done something and the resulting state remains.
Japanese Vocabulary
オンライン
adj
on-RAHN
online
オンライン語学コース
コース
noun
KOH-su
course
オンライン語学コース
スケジュール
noun
skoo-JOO-roo
schedule
もう一つ
phrase
moh-oo hee-TOH-tsoo
the other one; one more
レッスン
noun
RESS-soon
lesson
教え方
noun
oh-shee-eh-KAH-tah
teaching style; way of teaching
語学
noun
goh-GAH-koo
language study
オンライン語学コース
口コミ
noun
koo-chi-KOO-mee
reviews; word-of-mouth reviews
少ない
adj
soo-NAI
few; not many
選ぶ
verb
eh-RAH-boo
to choose
選びたい、選んで
短い
adj
MEE-jah-ee
short
比べる
verb
koo-RAH-beh-roo
to compare
比べて
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
online
Show Answer
オンラインschedule
Show Answer
スケジュールlesson
Show Answer
レッスンthe other one; one more