How to memorize Hiragana & Katakana

I understand some students have difficulty in memorizing Hiragana and Katakana, so here are some tips and learning materials that might be helpful to you.

How to memorize Hiragana & Katakana

1) First, prepare a detailed hiragana chart. Try to keep a copy of your hiragana chart taped up somewhere you will see it daily. For example, you could hang it on the wall by your desk, on your fridge, or even in your bathroom.  Then, practice them regularly!

2) Before you do any writing, simply look at the forms and say the sounds out loud from 5 vowels (a,i,u,e,o). Try to emphasize the differences you see between each form.

3) When you feel comfortable with the look of hiragana, you can try writing them. Pay close attention to form as these will be the foundation of your writing. The correct stroke order will help others decipher the characters if you've written in a rush. One popular memorization method entails simply writing each character over and over while repeating its name.
(from: http://www.ehow.com/how_5097230_memorize-japanese-hiragana.html)

Helpful websites

a) Information about Japanese Writing System 

• http://www.japanese-lesson.com/characters/index.html

b) Mnemonics
 

• http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~if2n-szk/mnemonics.html
• https://waterfordschooljapanese.wikispaces.com/file/view/HIRAGANA+MNEMONIC+INDEX.pdf
• Hiragana: http://www.darton.edu/programs/Humanities/foreign-language/kana.html
• Katakana: http://www.darton.edu/programs/Humanities/foreign-language/katakana.html

c) Flash Cards
    - Flashcards to Print (Note that the fonts used in these flash cards look a little different from hand written kana.)

• http://www.csus.edu/indiv/s/sheaa/projects/genki/hiragana.pdf  (Hiragana)
• http://www.csus.edu/indiv/s/sheaa/projects/genki/katakana.pdf  (Katakana)

d) Writing Practice
    - Practice Sheets to Print

• http://www.coscom.co.jp/hiragana-katakana/kanapdf/renshuu_hiragana.pdf (Hiragana)
• http://www.coscom.co.jp/hiragana-katakana/kanapdf/renshuu_katakana.pdf (Katakana)

e) Games

• Multiple Choice (Genki online - Flash Cards)  
  http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/self_en
• Hiragagana and Katakana Practice (RealKana.com)  
  http://www.realkana.com/
• Drag & Drop to the Chart (Usagi chan's Genki resource page)  
  http://www.csus.edu/indiv/s/sheaa/projects/genki/hiragana-timer.html

f) Song

• Japanese Alphabet Song
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrMkJAzbWQc&feature=related

Keep practicing Kana!! がんばって！