Language Learning Through Cooking Recipes

Currently I live in a small town in France and unfortunately a decent Japanese restuarant is hard to find. But there was a simple solution to this problem for me: learn how to cook Japanese food at home. So with the power of the internet I searched for the recipes of my favourite Japanese dishes. And yet, something was strange about the ingredients I saw. Worcestershire sauce? Chicken broth? I know my way around a Japanese kitchen enough to know these ingredients weren't adding up to the taste that I wanted.

So I decided a different approach. With my Japanese dictionary app open, I started to look up Japanese recipes in Japanese instead of in English. And this made a world of a difference. Suddenly the recipes included cooking sake, mirin, and dashi stock, and I was learning the Japanese words for these ingredients and measurements.

I know very well that there must be authentic recipes for different cuisines written in English, but I realised that the chances of finding a delicious and authentic-tasting recipe for Japanese food improve a lot if I look for it in Japanese. I can only imagine it would be the same for other cuisines.

It's a wonderful example of hitting two birds with one stone. Craving some Italian pasta? Try looking up a pasta recipe in Italian and learn some Italian words at the same time! I can't say it will be quick, or that it will be easy. But I can say for certain that there is a special feeling of satisfaction when you find the perfect recipe to recreate a special dish that you have missed eating for months or even years!

Vocabulary - 単語

decent - ちゃんとした、まともな

Please wear some decent clothes to the wedding.

with the power of (the internet) - （インターネット）の力で

We can do anything with the power of friendship!

Worcestershire sauce - ウスターソース・ウスターシャーソース

broth - ブロス、（煮・だし）汁

The soup tastes different when you add beef broth instead of chicken broth.

know my way around~ - ～（やり方を）知ている

I know my way around this town.
I know my way around a boat.

a world of a difference - 大きな違う、世界は変わる

It makes a world of a difference to know how to cook.
There is a world of a difference between what she says and what she does.

measurements - 寸法、計量

Please let me take your shirt measurement
Can you check the sugar measurement？

satisfaction・satisfied - 満足

The student was satisfied with his test marks.
The bird sat in it's new nest with an air of satisfaction.

英语	母语程度
日语	没有不通顺感
法语	没有不通顺感
挪威语	日常会话程度
中文	只能说一点
韩语	只能说一点

英语

母语程度

日语

没有不通顺感

法语

没有不通顺感

挪威语

日常会话程度

中文

只能说一点

韩语

只能说一点

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