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Kotowari

Strategy

Core Philosophy: Japanese as a Typed System

Japanese operates like a strongly-typed programming language where every component serves a specific, validated purpose. We’ll build your vocabulary and grammar understanding by treating Japanese as a computational system with strict type enforcement.

Foundation Components

The foundation of our approach rests on three core systems that work together:

1. Type Declaration System (Particles)

Japanese particles function as explicit type declarations, defining how each word relates to others in a sentence. We start with the most fundamental type declarations:

interface BasicParticles {
  は: TopicMarker // Declares main topic
  が: SubjectMarker // Marks active subject
  を: ObjectMarker // Marks direct object
  の: Connector // Shows possession/relation
}

2. State Management System (Verbs)

Verbs in Japanese operate as state machines with predictable transformation patterns. Our initial state handlers include:

interface CoreVerbs {
  です: StateDeclaration // Basic state (is/am/are)
  ある: Existence // Existence of things
  する: Action // Do/perform actions
  思う: ThoughtProcess // Mental state processing
}

3. Reference System (Nouns/Pronouns)

We build our reference system starting with the most frequently accessed pointers:

interface CoreReferences {
  私: Self // Self-reference
  これ: ProximateRef // Near reference
  それ: DistantRef // Distant reference
  何: QueryRef // Unknown reference
}

Vocabulary Acquisition Strategy

Rather than learning random vocabulary, we’ll build your lexicon through focused expansion of core concept domains:

Phase 1: Mental Processing Vocabulary

First, we focus on words that help you express your thought process:

  • 分かる (understand)
  • 考える (think deeply)
  • 覚える (remember)
  • 忘れる (forget)

Phase 2: Action Framework

Next, we add words that help you describe your actions and intentions:

  • 勉強する (study)
  • 練習する (practice)
  • 働く (work)
  • 頑張る (make effort)

Phase 3: State Description

Then we add vocabulary for describing states and conditions:

  • 難しい (difficult)
  • 面白い (interesting)
  • 大切 (important)
  • 忙しい (busy)

Implementation Approach

We treat vocabulary acquisition like building a class library:

  1. Start with core types (particles, basic verbs)
  2. Add essential methods (common actions)
  3. Extend with properties (descriptive words)
  4. Build compound capabilities (phrase patterns)

Each new word or pattern must demonstrate clear integration with existing knowledge before we add more complexity.

Practice Framework

Learning sessions follow a systematic pattern:

  1. Type Declaration Practice

    • Construct sentences using proper particle typing
    • Validate correct type assignments
    • Debug incorrect particle usage

  2. State Transformation Drills

    • Convert between various verb states
    • Practice tense modifications
    • Build complex state expressions

  3. Reference Management

    • Practice context switching
    • Handle scope changes
    • Maintain reference clarity

Progress Tracking

We measure progress through functional capabilities rather than raw vocabulary count:

  • Can you express basic thoughts?
  • Can you ask relevant questions?
  • Can you describe your current state?
  • Can you explain your goals?

This approach ensures practical communication ability grows alongside theoretical understanding.