Cooking Class Lessons and Confidence | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: After a cooking class, two adults discuss useful techniques, feedback on a dish, and growing confidence to host dinner..

EN → JA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Cooking Class Lessons and Confidence to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

料理教室は、思っていたより役に立ちました。

ROH-ree kyohh-SHEET-soo wa, oh-MOHT-teh-ee-tah yoh-ree yah-kee nee-chee-mah-shee-tah. The cooking class was more useful than I expected.
B

シェフからどんな技術を学びましたか。

SHEH-foo kah-rah DON-nah gee-JOOT-soo oh mah-nah-bee-mah-shee-tah kah? What technique did you learn from the chef?
A

彼女は私たちに、少しずつ味付けをして、こまめに味見をする方法を教えてくれました。

kah-NOH-joh wa wah-tah-shee-tah-chee nee, soo-KOH-shee dzoo-tsoo ah-jee-TSOO-keh oh shee-teh, koh-MAH-meh nee ah-jee-mee oh soo-roo hoh-HOH oh oh-SHEE-eh-teh koo-reh-mah-shee-tah. She showed us how to season slowly and taste often.
B

それはレシピだけではなく、実践的な習慣です。

soh-reh wa reh-SHEE-pee dah-keh deh-wah nah-koo, jee-SHEN-teh-kee nah SHOO-kahn dess. That is a practical habit, not just a recipe.
A

一人分の量をもっと上手に調整する方法も学びました。

hee-toh-ree-boon noh ryoh oh MOHT-toh JOH-zoo nee choh-SAY soo-roo hoh-HOH moh mah-nah-bee-mah-shee-tah. I also learned how to control portion size better.
B

料理について、アドバイスをもらいましたか。

ROH-ree nee TSOO-ee-teh, ah-doh-BYE-soo oh moh-RYE-mah-shee-tah kah? Did you get feedback on your dish?
A

ソースはうまくできましたが、パスタを長くゆですぎました。

SOH-soo wa oo-MAH-koo deh-kee-mah-shee-tah gah, pah-soo-TAH oh nah-gah-koo yoo-deh-soo-GEE-mah-shee-tah. The sauce worked, but I cooked the pasta too long.
B

タイミングを意識すれば、簡単に改善できます。

tie-MEEN-goo oh ee-SHEE-kee soo-reh-bah, KAHN-tahn nee kyeh-ZEN deh-kee-mah-soo. That is easy to improve with timing.
A

この教室のおかげで、友達を夕食に招く自信がつきました。

KOH-noh kyohh-SHEET-soo noh oh-KAH-geh deh, toh-moh-DAH-chee oh YOO-shoh-koo nee mah-NEH-koo JEE-sheen gah tsoo-kee-mah-shee-tah. The class gave me more confidence to invite friends for dinner.
B

それなら、学んだことが少しだけでも、参加した価値はありましたね。

soh-reh-NAH-rah, mah-NAHN-dah koh-toh gah soo-KOH-shee dah-keh DEH-moh, SAHN-kah shee-tah KAH-chee wa ah-ree-mah-shee-tah neh. Then it was worth it, even if you only learned a few things.

Word by Word

料理 料理 means cooking or food here, as part of 料理教室, “cooking class.” It is commonly used in patterns such as 料理をする and 料理を作る. You can use it when talking about cooking or a dish in everyday conversation.
教室 教室 means a class or classroom here, and 料理教室 refers to a cooking class. It follows the subject or activity that identifies the class, as in 料理教室. Use it when referring to a place or organized class for learning.
は は marks 料理教室 as the topic of the sentence: “As for the cooking class...” It sets the topic before the comment 役に立ちました. Use は after the topic when describing or evaluating it.
思って 思って means “thinking” or “expecting” in 思っていたより, referring to what the speaker had expected. It connects with いた to describe an expectation held before the class. A reusable pattern is 思っていたより followed by a comparison.
いた いた completes 思っていた, meaning that the speaker had been thinking or expecting something. In this dialogue, 思っていたより compares the result with the earlier expectation. Use it after a connected verb form when describing a continuing past state or thought.
より より marks the standard of comparison in 思っていたより役に立ちました: “more useful than I expected.” It follows the thing or situation used as the comparison point. A common pattern is AよりB, meaning “B more than A.”
役に立ちました 役に立ちました means “was useful” or “was helpful” here. In this expression, 役 refers to a useful role, に marks the relation, 立ち is the connecting form of 立つ, and ました gives the polite past form. Use it for a class, idea, tool, or advice that proved helpful.
シェフ シェフ means “chef” here, referring to the professional who taught the class. It appears in シェフから, with から showing the chef as the source of what was learned. Use it when referring to a chef in a restaurant or cooking setting.
から から means “from” in シェフから, showing the person from whom the speaker learned. It follows the source of information, teaching, or an object. A reusable pattern is 人から学ぶ, “learn from a person.”
どんな どんな asks “what kind of” before the noun 技術. In どんな技術, it asks the listener to describe the type or nature of the technique. Use どんな＋noun when asking about a kind, quality, or category.
技術 技術 means a technique or skill here, referring to a cooking technique learned from the chef. It is modified by どんな and marked by を in 技術を学びました. Use it for a practical skill or technique in cooking, work, or another activity.
を を marks 技術 as the object of 学びました in 技術を学びました. It shows what was learned. Use を after the direct object of an action verb.
学びました 学びました means “learned” here, referring to acquiring a cooking technique. It is the polite past form used for something learned in the class. A common pattern is Xを学びました, “I learned X.”
か か marks the sentence as a question in 学びましたか. It turns the polite statement into a question about what the listener learned. Place it at the end of a polite question.
彼女 彼女 means “she” here and refers to the chef who taught the class. It is the subject of 彼女は私たちに...教えてくれました. Use it when identifying a female person already understood from the context.
私たち 私たち means “we” or “us” here, referring to the people taught by the chef. In 私たちに, に marks the people who received the teaching. Use it as the subject or recipient depending on the particle that follows.
に に marks 私たち as the people to whom the chef taught the method in 私たちに...教えてくれました. It identifies the recipient of an action such as teaching or giving. A common pattern is 人に教える, “teach a person.”
少し 少し means “a little” here and is combined with ずつ in 少しずつ, “little by little.” It describes a small amount at each stage of seasoning. Use 少し before a quantity or action when referring to a small amount.
ずつ ずつ gives 少しずつ the meaning “little by little” or “a small amount at a time.” It distributes the action across repeated small amounts rather than doing it all at once. Use it after a quantity or amount in patterns such as 少しずつ.
味付け 味付け means seasoning food, or the act of adding flavor. In 少しずつ味付けをして, it is the object of する and describes seasoning gradually. Use 味付けをする when talking about adding seasoning to a dish.
して して connects 味付けをして with the following action 味見をする: “seasoning and then tasting.” It is the connected form used to link actions in sequence. Use it when one action leads into or accompanies another action.
こまめに こまめに means frequently and attentively here, describing repeated tasting during cooking. In こまめに味見をする, it modifies the action of tasting. Use it for regular small checks or actions that help maintain good results.
味見 味見 means tasting food to check its flavor. In 味見をする, it forms the common expression “taste the food.” Use it while cooking when checking whether the seasoning is right.
する する means “do” in 味見をする, the expression for tasting food. It follows the noun 味見 to make an action expression. A common pattern is noun＋をする for activities such as checking or practicing.
方法 方法 means a method or way here, referring to the way of seasoning and tasting. It is modified by the preceding actions in ...する方法. Use 方法 when explaining how to perform an action or solve a problem.
教えて 教えて means “teaching” or “showing” in 教えてくれました, referring to the chef explaining the method. It connects the teaching action with くれました, which shows that the action benefited the speaker’s group. Use 教えて followed by a person or method when asking or describing teaching.
くれました くれました shows that someone did something for the speaker or the speaker’s group, here in 教えてくれました. Together, 彼女は私たちに...教えてくれました means “she taught us.” Use it after a connected verb form when another person’s action is viewed as a benefit to you or your group.
それ それ means “that” here and refers to the technique or habit just described. It is the topic in それは実践的な習慣です. Use it to point back to something already mentioned or understood.
レシピ レシピ means “recipe” here. In レシピだけではなく, it is the first item in a contrast: not only a recipe, but also a practical habit. Use it when referring to written or understood cooking instructions.
だけ だけ means “only” in レシピだけではなく, limiting the meaning to a recipe alone. The following ではなく cancels that limitation and adds another description. Use noun＋だけ when saying that something is the only item or extent.
ではなく ではなく means “not just” or “not being” in レシピだけではなく、実践的な習慣です. Here, で links the noun description, は adds contrast, and なく expresses the negative connection. Use XではなくY to contrast X with Y, as in “not X but Y.”
実践的 実践的 means “practical” here, describing a habit that can be used in real cooking. It comes before な when modifying the noun 習慣. Use it for knowledge, advice, or methods that are useful in actual practice.
な な links the noun-like adjective 実践的 to the noun 習慣 in 実践的な習慣. It allows the description “practical” to modify “habit.” Use な between this type of adjective and the noun it describes.
習慣 習慣 means a habit here, referring to the repeated practice of seasoning gradually and tasting often. It is described as 実践的な習慣. Use it for a repeated behavior or routine.
です です means “is” here and politely identifies the subject as 実践的な習慣. It gives the sentence a polite present form. Use it after a noun or noun phrase when making a polite identification or description.
一人分 一人分 means one person’s portion or one serving. In 一人分の量, it specifies the amount intended for one person. Use it before の量 or another noun when talking about a single serving.
の の links 一人分 to 量 in 一人分の量, meaning “the amount for one person.” It connects a modifying noun phrase to the noun it describes. Use AのB when B is related to or specified by A.
量 量 means amount or quantity here, specifically the amount of food in 一人分の量. It is the object being adjusted in 量を調整する. Use it when discussing how much food, liquid, or another substance there is.
もっと もっと means “more” here, showing that the speaker wanted to adjust the portion size better than before. It modifies 上手に in もっと上手に調整する. Use it before an adjective, adverb, or action to request or describe a greater degree.
上手に 上手に means “skillfully” or “better” here, describing how the speaker wants to adjust the portion size. It modifies 調整する and focuses on performing the action well. Use it before a verb when describing a skillful way of doing something.
調整 調整 means adjustment or control here, referring to changing the portion size to an appropriate amount. In 量を調整する, it is used with を for the thing being adjusted. Use it for measured changes to an amount, setting, or condition.
も も means “also” here in 方法も学びました, adding portion control to the other technique already mentioned. It replaces the usual topic or object marker to include an additional item. Use it after a noun when adding “also” or “too.”
について について means “about” or “concerning” here in 料理について, identifying the topic of the advice. It follows the topic and can be used before verbs such as 話す or ask-related expressions. Use it when discussing information, opinions, or advice about something.
アドバイス アドバイス means advice here, corresponding to feedback about the dish. In 料理について、アドバイスをもらいましたか, it is something the speaker may have received. Use it when asking for or describing helpful suggestions.
もらいました もらいました means “received” or “got” here, referring to receiving advice about the dish. It is used with アドバイスを in アドバイスをもらいましたか. Use the pattern Xをもらいました for something received from another person.
ソース ソース means “sauce” here, the dish component that turned out well. It is the topic in ソースはうまくできました. Use it when referring to a sauce prepared with a meal.
うまく うまく means “well” or “successfully” here, describing the result of making the sauce. In うまくできました, it shows that the sauce turned out successfully. Use it before a verb when describing a favorable result or successful performance.
できました できました means “was made” or “turned out” here, describing the completed sauce. With うまく, the expression うまくできました means that it turned out well. Use it after describing something you prepared when commenting on the result.
が が means “but” here, connecting the successful sauce with the problem of overcooked pasta. It marks a contrast between the two results. Use it between two clauses when the second clause contrasts with the first.
パスタ パスタ means “pasta” here, the food that was boiled for too long. It is marked by を in パスタをゆですぎました. Use it when referring to pasta as a dish or ingredient.
長く 長く means “for a long time” here, describing the duration of boiling the pasta. It modifies ゆで in 長くゆですぎました. Use it before an action when describing a long duration.
ゆで ゆで means boiling or cooking in water here, as in ゆでる applied to the pasta. In ゆですぎました, it connects the cooking action to すぎました. Use it in cooking contexts for food prepared in boiling water.
すぎました すぎました means that an action was done too much or for too long here. In ゆですぎました, it shows that the pasta was boiled longer than appropriate. Use the pattern verb stem＋すぎる when an action exceeds a suitable amount or duration.
タイミング タイミング means “timing” here, referring to choosing the right time during cooking. It is the focus of attention in タイミングを意識すれば. Use it when the success of an action depends on when it is done.
意識 意識 means awareness or attention here, as in paying attention to the timing. In タイミングを意識する, it takes the thing receiving attention with を. Use it when deliberately keeping something in mind while acting.
すれば すれば means “if you do” here, forming the condition タイミングを意識すれば: “if you pay attention to the timing.” It presents the condition that leads to the improvement in the next clause. Use it after an action when describing a possible result or advice.
簡単に 簡単に means “easily” here, describing how the problem can be improved. It modifies 改善できます. Use it before a verb when saying that an action can be done without much difficulty.
改善 改善 means improvement here, referring to correcting the pasta-cooking problem. In 改善できます, it is combined with できる to express that improvement is possible. Use it for making a situation, result, or performance better.
できます できます means “can do” or “can be done” here, expressing that the problem can be improved. With 改善, 改善できます means “can be improved.” Use it after a noun or action expression to describe ability or possibility.
この この means “this” here and directly modifies 教室 in この教室. It points to the cooking class being discussed. Use この before a noun for something near the speaker in the conversation or currently under discussion.
おかげで おかげで means “thanks to” here in この教室のおかげで, crediting the class with giving the speaker confidence. おかげ identifies the beneficial cause, and で marks the cause or basis. Use Xのおかげで when a positive result is attributed to X.
友達 友達 means “friends” here, the people the speaker now feels able to invite. It is marked by を in 友達を夕食に招く. Use it when referring to friends in informal everyday situations.
夕食 夕食 means dinner or the evening meal here. In 夕食に招く, に marks dinner as the occasion to which the friends are invited. Use it when referring to a dinner or evening meal.
招く 招く means “invite” here, referring to inviting friends for dinner. In 友達を夕食に招く, 友達 is the person invited and 夕食 identifies the occasion. Use the pattern 人を場所や食事に招く for inviting someone somewhere or to a meal.
自信 自信 means confidence here, specifically confidence about inviting friends for dinner. It is the object in 自信がつきました, where the confidence developed as a result of the class. Use it when talking about confidence in an ability or action.
つきました つきました means “was gained” or “developed” here in 自信がつきました. Together, this expression says that the speaker acquired confidence through the class. Use it with 自信が when describing confidence that has newly developed.
それなら それなら means “then” or “in that case” here, responding to the newly mentioned confidence. それ refers to what was just said, and なら sets it up as the condition for the speaker’s conclusion. Use it at the start of a response when drawing a conclusion from new information.
学んだ 学んだ means “learned” here and modifies こと in 学んだこと, “the things learned.” It is a plain past form referring to knowledge gained from the class. Use it before こと when turning a completed learning action into a topic or noun phrase.
こと こと means “thing” or “matter” here in 学んだこと, referring to the things or knowledge learned. It turns the preceding action into something that can be discussed or evaluated. Use verb＋こと when referring to an action or experience as a matter or fact.
でも でも means “even if” here in 学んだことが少しだけでも, allowing for the possibility that only a little was learned. It introduces a condition that does not change the conclusion in the main clause. Use it after a phrase when saying that the result holds even under that condition.
参加した 参加した means “participated” or “attended” here, referring to taking part in the cooking class. It modifies 価値 in 参加した価値, meaning “the value of having attended.” Use it when describing participation in a class, event, or activity.
価値 価値 means value or worth here, specifically whether attending the class was worthwhile. In 参加した価値はありました, it evaluates the participation positively. Use it with 価値がある or 価値はある when discussing whether something is worth doing.
ありました ありました means “there was” or, in 価値はありました, “it was worthwhile.” Here it completes the expression 参加した価値はありました and says that attending had value. Use it in this pattern when confirming that an action was worth the time or effort.
ね ね is a sentence-ending marker seeking agreement or sharing a conclusion. In 価値はありましたね, it makes the evaluation sound like a friendly confirmation: “it was worth it, right?” Use it when inviting the listener to agree with a statement.

Grammar Points

〜と思っていた

実践的だと思っていた

jee-SHEN-teh-kee dah toh MOHT-teh-ee-tah

I had thought it was practical.

と思っていた expresses a belief or expectation held in the past.

〜すぎる

ゆですぎました

yoo-deh-soo-GEE-mah-shee-tah

I boiled or cooked it for too long.

すぎる attaches to a verb stem to mean doing something excessively.

Japanese Vocabulary

シェフ noun
SHEH-foo chef
一人分 noun
hee-toh-ree-boon one serving; portion for one person
学ぶ verb
mah-NAH-boo to learn 学びました
技術 noun
gee-JOOT-soo technique; skill
思う verb
oh-MOH to think; to expect 思っていた
実践的 adj
jee-SHEN-teh-kee practical
習慣 noun
SHOO-kahn habit
方法 noun
hoh-HOH method; way
味見 noun
ah-jee-mee tasting; tasting food
味付け noun
ah-jee-TSOO-keh seasoning; seasoning food
役に立つ verb
yah-kee nee-TSOO to be useful 役に立ちました
料理教室 noun
ROH-ree kyohh-SHEET-soo cooking class

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to be useful

Show Answer役に立ちました

cooking class

Show Answer料理教室

to learn

Show Answer学びました

to think; to expect

Show Answer思っていた