Is #1 は & です Japanese Grammar Lesson for Absolute Beginners good for learning Japanese?

Yes, for true beginners. This first grammar lesson from Japanese Ammo with Misa explains は and です in clear English, with lots of examples. It is teaching material, not listening practice, so use it for understanding and find your Japanese input elsewhere.

Level

Beginner

Format

YouTube

Why it works for learners

Almost every Japanese sentence you meet early on relies on は and です, so an unhurried explanation at the very start saves you trouble later. Misa is a Japanese teacher and translator, and the channel organises grammar into JLPT-level playlists, so this video leads naturally to the next steps. It differs from native content in every way: English does the explaining, and Japanese appears as examples chosen to show exactly one point at a time.

What makes it hard

You can follow an explanation and still not be able to use it. The は particle is a topic marker, a notion with no direct English equal, and the distinction from が will keep coming up. You need to know hiragana or the examples will be harder to follow.

How to use it

Watch with a notebook and pause to write each example. Make five sentences of your own about yourself with は and です, then say them aloud. Move on to the next lesson only after that, and add easy listening alongside these videos.

More for Japanese learners: our Japanese guides.