I was a senior in college when I first started studying Japanese. I did pretty well with the grammar, but I didn't know much vocabulary nor did I have any experience with Japanese as it is really spoken by native speakers. The material taught in most books and classes, such as how to introduce yourself or ask for directions, will only take you so far. What I always wanted (but never found) was a large repository of language learning material covering a wide array of topics. And I wanted the material to be developed using very natural sounding Japanese. With every new language learning source I came across, I always found myself saying, "Not enough content, and not natural enough."

This search for highly targeted language learning material is where the idea for Guide.jp began. Although this website is relatively new, the ideas behind it have been in development for years and are based on sound linguistic principles. The concept for this site is simple: people learn best when the learning material they utilize is current, interesting, and relevant to their daily lives. By creating a vast source of language learning material that focuses on the situations and topics we experience in our every day lives, we can make language learning more natural, fun, and effective.

This site is not being created by a giant corporation or institution. It has been started by, and will be driven by, an individual person. Creating a website like this has been a dream of mine for many years. It has always seemed like such a daunting task – a task that might just be impossible for one person to accomplish alone. Well, I realize today that I was right. It is too much for one person. I cannot possibly do everything that is required to make this project a success. But, what I can do is create a platform upon which the contributions of many like-minded individuals combine to create something great.

So, I need your help! I hope to find passionate individuals who will join me in developing this website. Through our combined efforts and commitment, I believe we can create something really special that will benefit our own lives today, as well as affect the lives of millions of people for years to come.

I am really excited that I have finally begun this journey. I am going to give it my all, and I am not going to give up. Together, I think we can accomplish something truly amazing!

Brent Carter
Founder, Guide.jp
January 1, 2005