NIHONGO APPLICATION

FOR ANDROID MOBILE PHONE

PUBLICATION ARTICLE

By:

Novel Idris Abas

Husni Thamrin, M.T., Ph.D

Aris Rakhmadi, S.T., M.Eng

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATICS

FACULTY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATICS

UNIVERSITAS MUHAMMADIYAH SURAKARTA

JULY, 2013

NIHONGO APPLICATION

FOR ANDROID MOBILE PHONE

Novel Idris Abas, Husni Thamrin, Aris Rakhmadi

Department of Informatics, Faculty of Communications and Informatics,

Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta

Email: novelidris@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Japan is an interesting country in many aspects. Most people, especially those who

first come to Japan face problems. The problems include the difference of language. Nihongo,

is a unique language. It has special structure of the sentence. In this research we develop

Nihongo application which has focus two focuses, i.e. to ease Indonesian to communicate in

Japanese language, and give some short information about Japan. Fix and Code Software

development model is used to develop the application. The Nihongo application has features

Hiragana table, Katakana table, daily conversations in Bahasa, Romaji, and Nihongo

translation, video about Japan, top cities in Japan with its attractions, tips about staying in

Japan, more than 2.000 vocabularies in Bahasa, Romaji, and Nihongo translation, and short

information about Nihongo application. The application can be installed at Android Froyo OS

(2.2) or later. The application is tested on Smartfren Andromax i, Sony Experia Miro,

Samsung Galaxy mini 2, Samsung Galaxy S2, Samsung Galaxy W, Sony Ericsson Mini Pro,

and Samsung Galaxy Ace 2. The result of the test proves that the Nihongo application run

well. Our surveys say that the application clearly gives useful information about Japan, and

eases Indonesian to communicate, socialize, and live in Japan.

Keywords: nihongo, android mobile, Japan.

INTRODUCTION

Japan National Tourism

Organization informs that on May 2012,

there are 7.100 Indonesian tourists who

visit Japan (HaloJepang, 2012). Most

people, especially those who first come to

Japan face problems. The problems include

the difference of weather, culture, and

language. Nihongo, or bahasa Jepang as

Indonesian say, is a unique language.

Nihongo uses four different writing

systems; Kanji (Chinese characters),

Hiragana (phonetic alphabet for native

words), Katakana (phonetic alphabet for

foreign words), and Romaji (western

alphabet use to write Japanese) (Facts about

Japan, 2013). If we compare Nihongo and

Bahasa we will find some different

structures of sentences where Indonesian

are not familiar with.

The new comers to Japan have to

study Nihongo prior to their departure.

They usually have to bring bulky books

which take space in their baggage. On the

other hand, the development of

telecommunication technology, especially

mobile phone is fast. A new model of

mobile phone appears every month. Ability

of mobile technology in creating flexibility

for users to communicate has caused the

technology to change so rapidly in terms of

number of users and the capabilities of the

technology itself. Increase the ability of

mobile phones has allowed to bring a

variety of new functions as well as its

primary function as a communication tool

(Ridho, 2011). However, according to our

searching in mobile phone software market,

there is no application which provides

information about Japan and Nihongo in

Bahasa Indonesia.

There are several alternatives to

solve the problem. First, Indonesian may

bring Nihongo and manual tourism book

wherever they go. However, it has

disadvantage that is not simple because

books need space to bring. Second, before

Indonesian people come to Japan, they

should study Nihongo. It will waste much

time. Third, they bring a Nihongo

application on their mobile phone. The third

solution will be simple enough and we

don’t need to spend much time to study.

They can open the application everywhere

when they are in Japan or will be in Japan.

This writing is about Nihongo

application development to solve the

aforementioned problems on Android

platform. The writer use android mobile

because IDC reports that on September 13th,

2012 Android is the most famous smart

phone operating system in Indonesia (HL,

2012).

LITERATURE REVIEW

Aryani (2012) said that mobile is all

of activities that can be done in every time

and everywhere without barrier. The

development of information and technology

makes everything can be done quickly and

easily. In the education side, the use of

good English is the main requirement which

cannot be ignored, because can face the

people’s ability to use that language.

English has also become international

language that is used in any developed

countries. English become compulsory

lesson to study. In this research the writer

tries to build an application which contains

subjects, the example of the sentences, and

the exercise.

Lailasari, Kurniawati, Afriansyah

(2010) said that nowadays, learning media

uses book. Other media that can be used in

the teaching learning process is internet.

Today internet is one of people needs. This

research explained how to make Japanese

language web E-learning for beginners by

using PHP and MySQL. The purpose of

making the website is to make people learn

through the web instead of using book. The

web contains hiragana, katakana, particle

and making sentence. The web contains

quiz or exercise that can be done by user.

Nadira (2011) discusses about

making an application that can be run on

Android platform. They made Italian

language learning application on the

Android platform, where by using this

application, the user can learn how to

understand and test their Italian language

skills. The application can ease how to learn

Italian language with features like subject

matter, and test the user’s skill with

exercise features without restricting the

dimension so can help Italian language

learning process.

Kusumawardani (2013) said that the

system provide a service that can map the

location of tourism more easily and quickly.

The system is also designed in such a way

to be more interactive with the user in its

operation. This system will provide

complete information on the tourism map of

the location of objects that exist in Malang

regency, travel guides to the tourists as

tourist information, hotel, restaurant and

travel packages are available and offered by

the Department of Tourism Malang.

RESEARCH METHOD

a. Code and Fix Diagram

In creating this application, writer

uses Code and Fix Development Life

Cycle Models. Generally, Code and Fix

Development Life Cycle Models can be

described in a phase in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Code and Fix Models Diagram

Code and Fix Method contains some

step to complete the life cycle, which

are conceptual, code and fix, and

release. In conceptual step, the writer

collects the data and designs the general

layout. After designing the application,

then the writer goes to code the

program. If the application has been

fixed, then application will be release.

Furthermore, if the application has not

been fixed, then the writer will back to

code and fix the program.

In this research, writer expands

Code and Fix Development Life Cycle

Models and the activities are shown in a

flowchart in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Code and Fix Models in flowchart

In developing “Nihongo Application

for Android Mobile Phone”, there are

some steps that must be done. First, the

writer must collect data about the

content of its application. The writer

gets data from Japanese, website, and

books. After collecting data, the writer

must check completeness of data. If

data is not complete then writer must

recollect data, but if data is complete

then the writer designs the application.

After designing application, the writer

constructs application by using Eclipse

Indigo. Next step is testing application,

and ensure that the application runs

well. If the application does not run

well, writer must fix application and test

application until application is ready to

be released. When the application

passes the test, the writer goes to

reporting a research.

b. State Diagram

State Diagram on figure 3 shows

how application works on Android

mobile phone.

Figure 3 State Diagram of Nihongo Application

When application runs, user sees

main menu of the application. There are

seven menus in main view, such as

Hiragana, Katakana, Percakapan,

Jepang, Kiat Hidup, Kosakata, and

About. When user clicks Hiragana,

then they will see Tabel Hiragana.

When user clicks Katakana, then they

will see Tabel Katakana, and when user

clicks Percakapan, then user goes to

sub menu. If user clicks sub menu, there

will be kumpulan percakapan. If user

clicks Jepang, user will see Video menu

and Kota Populer menu. If user clicks

Video menu, then user can watch video

about Japan, and if user clicks Kota

Populer menu, then user will go to sub

menu. If user clicks sub menu, user will

go to page of its sub menu which has

attractions menu. If user clicks

attractions menu, then user will go to its

page.

When user clicks Kiat Hidup, then

user goes to sub menu. If user clicks a

sub menu, user will see Kiat-kiat hidup.

If user clicks kosakata, then user goes to

kosakata page, and if user clicks about,

then user will see information about

application. If user clicks website link,

then the application will open its

website page by using web browser

application. If user does not click any

menus, and user clicks back in android

devices, then application will close

automatically.

c. Testing System

In order to ensure that Nihongo

application is useful, the writer tested

the application to the user by using

questionnaires analysis system.

Moreover, system testing is used to

prove that the application can be run

well.

RESULTS and ANALYSIS

In implementing Nihongo

application for Android mobile phone,

the application is tested by using

android mobile phone. The results are

as follows:

a. “Percakapan Sehari Hari” Page

Figure 4 shows list menu of

“Percakapan” page. User can find this

page by clicking “Percakapan” button in

main menu page. “Percakapan Sehari

Hari” page contains twenty four daily

conversations in Japanese language to

Bahasa Translation. The daily

conversations include “Ungkapan

Berguna 1”, “Ungkapan Berguna 2”,

“Perkenalan (Nama, Negara,

Pekerjaan)”, “Perkenalan (hobi)”, and

“Perkenalan (Keluarga pekerjaan

rumah”

Figure 4 Display of “Percakapan” page

If user clicks a menu, user goes to

its page. For example, if user clicks

“Tiba di Rumah Keluarga Angkat”

menu, then user will go to “Tiba di

Rumah Keluarga Angkat” page. In this

page, user can hear and read

conversations about visiting Japanese

family. Figure 5 shows “Percakapan

sehari hari” page.

Figure 5 Display of “Tiba di Rumah

Keluarga Angkat” page.

b. “Kosakata” Page

This page contains more than 2.000

words in Bahasa, Romaji, and Nihongo

words. Figure 6 shows “Kosakata”

page. User can put words in the text

fields, and then the application shows

the words in Bahasa, Romaji, and

Nihongo words.

Figure 6 Display of “Kosakata” Page

c. Questionnaire Analysis

Questionnaire analysis is conducted

to infer how effective this application is

used for Indonesian generally, and

Indonesian who first come to Japan.

Questionnaire is done on 14th of June,

2013 with respondents are Indonesian

who will work in Japan on August,

2013.

After getting the data, the writer

processed the data by using formula.

The formula is:

The highest score/ ideal score (SMax): 5

x n = 5n (SS) .......................................... (1)

The lowest score (SMin): 1 x n = n (STS),

n = total respondent ................................ (2)

Score (S): ∑ (total respondent that

choosing answer x answer weigh) .......... (3)

Interpretation Percentage (P):

Score (S) × 100% SMax ………………...(4)

Where each answer has weighed;

SS : Strongly Agree (5)

S : Agree (4)

N : Neutral (3)

TS : Disagree (2)

STS : Strongly Disagree (1)

Moreover, the measurement of

interpretation percentage (P) is using

international scale (Riduwan and

Akdon, 2007) as follow:

81 - 100 (very strong)

61 - 80 (strong)

41 - 60 (enough)

21 - 40 (weak)

0 - 20 (very weak)

After processing the data, the writer

got the data in percentile rank. The data

is shown in figure 7.

Figure 7 Display of Questionnaire result

The description of Graphic’s

statement shows in Table 1.

Table 1 Description of Graphic’s Statement

Question Abbreviation

Interesting display Q1

Application is easy to be used.

Q2

Application runs smoothly in mobile phone.

Q3

Conversation list, hiragana table, and katakana table ease Indonesian to communicate in Japanese language.

Q4

Information is easy to be understood.

Q5

Maximum graphical Q6

display. Clear audio. Q7

Application eases user to know city in Japan, its attraction, and Japanese culture.

Q8

The vocabularies help Indonesian to communicate in Japanese language.

Q9

Application will ease user to communicate, socialize, and live in Japan.

Q10

I am satisfied with the application’s performance

Q11

Nihongo application for Android

mobile phone is an interesting

application. It is proved that 85,88%

respondents said that display of

application is interesting, and 78,82%

respondents said that the Nihongo

application has maximum graphical

display. It is also supported that 78,24%

respondents mentioned that the

application can run smoothly in mobile

phone. Moreover, 84,12% respondents

agree that application’s audio is clear to

be heard.

Nihongo application can ease

Indonesian to communicate in Japanese

language, socialize, and live in Japan.

Furthermore, Nihongo application gives

comprehensive information about

Japan. The facts above is proved with

79,41% respondents said that

conversation list, hiragana table,

katakana table ease Indonesian to

communicate in Japanese language.

73,53% Respondents mentioned that

vocabularies in Nihongo application

help Indonesian to communicate in

Japanese language. Moreover, 77,06%

respondents concluded that Nihongo

application will ease Indonesian to

communicate, socialize, and live in

Japan. Nihongo application gives

comprehensive information about Japan

can be supported by facts that 82,94%

respondents mentioned that Nihongo

application ease Indonesian to know

cities in Japan, city’s attractions, and

Japanese culture. Furthermore, 87,06%

respondents agree that Information in

Nihongo application is easy to be

understood.

Almost respondents said that

Nihongo application is an effective

application. It proves that 90,59%

respondents agree that the application is

easy to be used, and 77,65%

respondents satisfied with the

application’s performance.

d. System Analysis

In order to analyze the Nihongo

application system, the writer tested the

application to several mobile phones

with different specifications. Different

specifications also affect the

application’s quality, especially the

interface of application.

Based on the system which has been

tested, it proves that the Nihongo

application can be run well on

Smartfren Andromax I, Sony Xperia

Miro, Samsung Galaxy mini 2,

Samsung Galaxy S2, Sony Ericson

Xperia Mini Pro, and Samsung Galaxy

Ace 2.

DISCUSSION

The Nihongo Application has several

features. The first feature is information

about hiragana and katakana. The feature

has a purpose to give information about

hiragana and katakana character to the user.

It helps user to read the Japanese character.

The second feature is the daily

conversations. In this feature, user can read

the daily conversations in Bahasa, Japanese

Language, and Romaji. The user can hear

the daily conversations in Japanese

Language. The daily conversations help the

user to communicate, socialize, and live in

Japan. The third feature is a video about

Japan. The feature informs to the user about

Japan in video. The fourth feature is

information about several cities in Japan

and some attractions of the city. The feature

is useful to the user which will have

vacation in Japan. The fifth feature is

Japanese phrase. The feature provides more

than 2000 phrase in Bahasa, Japanese

Language, and Romaji. In this feature has

searching box. The searching box is useable

to search the phrase. The feature is useful

for the user when the user face the problem

about Japanese language. The sixth feature

is several tips about staying in Japan

includes.

In comparing the research with another

research which relates in the literature

review, there are some differences and

similarities. The differences and similarities

are

1. This research discuss about making

Nihongo application with six

features. The previous research is

made by Aryani built the mobile

phone application. The application

about English with several features.

The features include the English

subjects, the example of the

sentences, and the exercise.

2. Nihongo application is an

application about Japan and

Japanese language. This research is

developed by Eclipse programming

development software with Java

programming and xml

programming. There is a different

development method with the

previous research is made by

Lailasari, Kurniawati, and

Afriansyah made Japanese language

web E-learning for beginners by

using PHP and MySQL.

3. The research discuss about Japanese

language and Japan. The Nihongo

application is made for Android

mobile phone. There is a difference

and a similarity with the previous

research is made by Nadira. The

difference is Nadira discuss about

the Italian language learning

application. The similarity is the

Italian language learning application

is built for the Android mobile

platform.

4. The Nihongo application informs to

the user some information about

several cities in Japan and some

attractions of the city. The previous

research is made by Kusumawardani

construct the application with

information about Malang. Malang

is one of cities in Indonesia.

CONCLUSSION

Based on the questionnaire analysis and

system analysis, the writer concludes that:

1. Nihongo application for Android

Mobile Phone can be run well in

several mobile phones, such as

Samsung Galaxy Young, Samsung

Galaxy Wonder, Samsung Galaxy

Mini 2. However, Nihongo

application for Android Mobile

Phone could not be installed in some

devices, such as Samsung Galaxy

Tab.

2. Nihongo Application for Android

Mobile Phone gives information

about Japan, culture, and its

attraction clearly. It is proved in

questionnaire analysis that 82,94%

of respondents agree that Nihongo

application can ease user to know

city in Japan, its attraction, and

Japanese culture. Furthermore,

87,06% of respondents agree that

information in Nihongo application

is easy to be understood.

3. Nihongo Application for Android

Mobile Phone eases Indonesian to

communicate, socialize, and live in

Japan. It is evidenced that 79,41%

of respondents agree that

conversation list, hiragana table, and

katakana table ease Indonesian to

communicate in Japanese language.

It is also proved that the

vocabularies contained in Nihongo

application help Indonesian to

communicate in Japenese language.

It is corroborated that 77,06% of

respondents agree that Nihongo

application will ease user to

communicate, socialize, and live in

Japan.

Based on three points above, it can

be concluded that the objective of

Nihongo Application is done

successfully.

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