Japanese Book Club in Edinburgh (EH10) — Read, Chat & Enjoy

Relaxed, structured reading sessions that grow your vocabulary and confidence — the Tadoku way. Complete Beginners welcome.

£28 / 90 minutes ・ 2–4 people ・ EH10

Next session: Friday, 13 February 2025, 6:00–7:30 pm — only 2 spaces left. Reserve your spot

Led by Hitomi (MA in Applied Linguistics; Tadoku book author), this friendly club helps you read more, worry less, and actually enjoy Japanese.

Who it’s for

1. Beginners to advanced (Complete Beginners are welcome if you’re happy to start with picture‑rich readers).
2. Learners who want reading momentum, low‑pressure discussion, and curated book choices without the faff.

What we’ll do (read more, stress less)

1. Settle in with easy wins: short, engaging graded readers or picture books to warm up.
2. Sustained reading time with gentle check‑ins from Hitomi. Questions welcome.
3. Share & chat: optional 1–2 minute summaries or favourite bits — in simple Japanese or English.
4. Mini language takeaways: useful expressions and patterns surfaced from what you’ve read.

You’ll choose from a curated shelf (graded readers for learners + authentic materials like picture books and comics). Browse the current selection (for members): Book collections

Our approach (Tadoku’s four golden rules)

1. Start easy: pick books you can enjoy without translating.
2. Don’t use a dictionary while reading.
3. Skip difficult words/phrases/passages.
4. Quit if it’s not fun — pick another book.

Research-backed, learner-friendly design: we put understanding first with lots of easy, enjoyable reading, then move into light, low-pressure chatting. It’s a gentle, effective way to build reading flow and confidence — the kind of approach supported by Second Language Acquisition (SLA) theories.

We keep it input‑rich and joy‑first: lots of comprehensible reading, then light discussion. Hitomi has extensive experience teaching Japanese through Tadoku in higher education in Japan and has led a Tadoku workshop for Japanese teachers at the University of Edinburgh.

Why join a live club, not just read alone?

Real interaction and gentle accountability help you actually finish books. You’ll also benefit from a curated library and original worksheets by a Tadoku book author — quick prompts that turn reading into memorable language.

What you’ll come away with

By the end of a session, you’ll be able to say — with evidence — outcomes such as:

1. I can choose texts at the right level for me.
2. I can summarise a short text in simple Japanese/English.
3. I can notice and reuse 2–3 useful expressions from today’s reading.
4. I can talk briefly about what I liked/didn’t like.

These are examples of can‑dos; each session focuses on a select subset, not the entire list at once.

Level & script

No prior knowledge is required to join; we’ll start you with very easy, picture‑rich readers. All graded readers include read‑aloud MP3 audio, so complete beginners can enjoy tadoku by “ear reading” — listening while following the pictures/text without needing to decode every character.

Friendly, low‑pressure vibe

Sharing is optional and supportive — no put‑on‑the‑spot speeches.

Pricing & Group size

1. Pricing: £28 per 90‑minute session
2. Group size: small group, 2–4 participants. If a date doesn’t reach the minimum of 2, we’ll offer an alternative date or a refund.
3. Location: Edinburgh South (EH10)
4. Included: a welcome drink & a Japanese snack, plus original mini‑worksheets — all at no extra charge.

How to join

Questions or ready to book? Send a message via the contact form, and we’ll share upcoming dates and availability.

FAQs

What should I bring?

1. If you’d like to listen to the read‑aloud MP3s while you read, please bring earphones/earbuds. Stationery will be provided.

What level do I need?

1. All levels can join. We’ll start you at a comfortable level; Complete Beginners can enjoy picture‑rich graded readers.

Is there an online option?

1. Not at the moment — sessions are in Edinburgh South (EH10). If there’s sufficient demand, we’ll consider adding an online group.

Can I see the book list?

1. Members can browse our rotating selection on the club padlet shelf (graded readers + authentic picture books/comics). We bring a curated set to each session.

Booking & cancellations

1. Booking & payment: up to 2 days before the session. See Terms & Conditions for Japanese Chat Club
2. Cancellations: up to 24 hours before — full refund. Less than 24 hours — Sorry, no refund is available.
3. To book or cancel, please use the contact form.