I tried studying and self-learning Japanese a few years ago. Stopped because i just lost motivation. After watching this video and listening to the beautiful accent and wanting to learn more about the beautiful culture just brought me back the feeling and motivation. Will definitely take a look at preply. Thanks for sharing ❤ doumo arigatou gozaimasu
As someone learning the language, thank you for this video. I would love to see a video of Japanese individuals born and raised in Japan of different ages judging the quality of different fluency levels of non Japanese individuals. I'm very concerned about the accuracy and quality of my pronunciation and I wonder if that will affect making different types of friendships and general relationships in the community...once I move to Japan I mean. 😅😅
Motivation isn't something to rely on. You must make a schedule, and stick to it. Waiting for motivation is like waiting to be happy on a Monday morning at 6:00AM in winter.
Here’s the red pill - motivation never lasts. What we need is discipline. Discipline allows us to do what must be done regardless of how we feel, whether we are motivated or not
Motivation is important, an excellent reason and willpower to do what you need to do. After this, you need to plan how you are going to do to got your objective. And that's it. If you got yourself without pleasure to study, just take the tasks in parts and continue, and remember for what you're doing that. Visualize yourself getting your goal, how good it will be, and how you'll fell if you just stop and give up, it's a good way to maintain yourself in the right path.
I don't know, I feel like it really helps to find a thing or a reason to give you passion for learning. I grew up always wanting to learn Japanese. Of course, back then the internet wasn't nearly as developed and access to learning was much more difficult. I convinced my dad to buy me a language learning CD, but it felt like a lot of work and I always struggled with that kind of structured learning so I gave up pretty quick. But within the past year or so, I really got into music and that has tremendously incentivized me to regularly approach Japanese input more. It's still going slow, I've had a lot more important things in my life that I've been needing to focus on, but I have noticed a huge improvement in basic understanding, vocabulary and overall appreciation of the language and culture. That said, it still is important to put a focus on that structure if you can dedicate the time in your life for it. I still have basically no knowledge of grammar and can't read or write. I can recognize a few kanji and that's it. But if the passion is there, it should be much easier to find that motivation and discipline. It's never been easier to learn. Also, try not to put too much pressure on yourself to learn within a certain amount of time. It'll come when it comes, the deadlines just make it more stressful and less fun.
Keyword = "Trying to learn". There are a lot of people who watch anime all day in Japanese dubs and still can't understand 99% of what's being said because they aren't actively trying to learn and make sense of it and will always rely on subs like the degenerate weebs that they are.
@@inquisitvem6723 true, but living in the country is on another level. You can completely get rid of other languages and focus on the language you want to learn in your daily life
I would say that nothing helps more than a willingness to practice and study. I’ve lived in japan 10 years- lots of Japanese friends- we almost always slip into 50/50 Japanese English because I’ve been so lazy about learning. Immersion alone won’t work.
I love how everyone learned Japanese in their own way. How one can learn a language most efficiently is something that entirely depends on the person. It's just something that everyone has to find out for themselves
I think that is the point. There is no right way to learn a new language and there are certainly many ways to learn a new language. My first secondary language is Korean. It should've been Spanish, but I look Asian anyway so, whatever.
Yes exactly, for both fitness and language learning so many people are obsessed with efficiency when they should be more concerned with consistency. Whatever helps you keep at it is what you should do. Which for a lot of people can mean changing tactics from time to time. Perhaps a structured class if you need a bit of motivation from a teacher and to see improvement from test results. Then time with an exchange partner, playing games etc, whatever keeps you interested and helps you have fun is what you should do.
Everyone is really REALLY good at Japanese, but the utmost respect for the last girl who doesn't even live in Japan and doesn't use Japanese in her home country. I'm in the same boat as her. I've never lived in Japan but I got my skills up to a conversational level...especially when some drinks are involved.
I'm in the same boat, I live in Australia and don't know any Japanese people. I love manga and anime and love travelling to Japan, (going again in October, can't wait!). I have just started classes last week, Beginner 1 LOL. I hope I can become fluent in the future. I have never learned another language other than a couple of years of Italian at High School, so far it feels quite overwhelming, but hopefully I'll get there.
@@PunkologistThat’s awesome! I commend you for putting forth effort towards learning and respecting the native language. As an English speaker, it’d be a really good idea for you to master Spanish as well but I’m sure you can get by well enough. Cheers! And good luck to you
When my company relocated me to Tokyo years ago (from Switzerland) I realized that I had to mastered the language if I wanted to live independently. So I hired a language tutor, and joined several community clubs. It really forced me to practiced. I also watched TV news and dramas, and read newspapers everyday even though at that time, I probably understood around 10% of it. It really paid off.
To me, as someone who known zero japanese, all their accents are the same. When potentially in a few years I have learned japanese, I may come back to this video and actually hear the different accents.
4:55 9:16 Almost all foreigners speak unnatural Japanese with an accent, no matter how many decades they have lived in Japan. But the pronunciation of these two women is exactly the same as the Japanese pronunciation, and it doesn't sound like a foreigner at all. When I close my eyes and listen, it sounds like a young Japanese girl speaking. I wonder how they mastered such perfect pronunciation.
Sometimes the explanation is simple, some people are just naturally gifted when it comes to learning languages, just like some other are naturally good at math.
The more I watch, the more I want to talk to Takashii on his channel. Really like to share my opinion about Japan. I'm a mongolian who lived in Tokyo for 8 years. Now been in Los Angeles for 8 years.
@@crisbio mais facil em qual sentido? A gramatica da lingua portuguesa e espanhol eh bem mais complicada se comparar com a gramatica basica da lingua japonesa. dependendo do subject (esqueci o termo em portugues), o mesmo verbo tem 6 formas differentes no presente. exemplo: (eu como /tu comes/ele come/nos comemos /vos comeis/eles comem). portugues usa 3 tipos de acentos: o acento agudo (´), o acento circunflexo (^) e o acento grave (`). aparentemente as pessoas tem dificuldade em pronunicar palavras com tilde ~. exemplos: exceção, inspiração, gratidão, etc.
Awesome video, thx Takashii! This inspired me to push to the next level (N2 and more fluent speech). I was able to listen to the video without subtitles - made me realize I'm not too far away from this level of fluency. Great advice from all of these people, too!
If you know how, you can reach N5 fairly easily: 1. Learn Kana intensively with the Kana app so that you can read the characters 2. Learn all the vocabulary. The book 'your first 840 words in Japanese' helped me a lot. After 21 weeks, I knew all 840 words. 3. After that, you can book a few hours with a Japanese teacher and learn the rest. After less than half a year, you will have N5 and from then on everything else is much easier because you have mastered the difficult basics.
Japan has always been my dreamland. I've watched anime since Gr4, and then two years ago, I started listening to J-pop (I'm so happy someone mentioned it in the video). I'm trying to learn Japanese by practicing hiragana first, just practicing papers. Maybe I should practice more on Duolingo, but I'm planning to do a student exchange at university so I can learn more, but I should be at a specific level to do that. My school offers an international trip, but it's expensive, so I'm not totally sure about going there. Thanks for the video though! It's really inspiring seeing all these people being fluent (at least to me) and still reacting after all these years. Hopefully one day I can become a utaite after I am fluent in Japanese well, so I can write my own songs and become like my fav artists (like Mafumafu)
studyin it now in my own. consistency and going at my own pace really works for me. i don't have the pressure of grades. I care about the substance and getting it right
A few years ago, I learned hirigana/katakana and learned to write both and learned a few words. Then I didn't have the time to put into studying and developed a wrist issue and was no longer able to focus on writing. I took a few years off and just started again last month. I currently use the app Kanji Study to learn new words, their kanji as well as multiple readings for each kanji. I'm finding it much "easier" to absorb the info now. Another thing that helps and has been rewarding (as someone who is shy and wont converse with anyone) is "walking" videos around different areas in Japan and seeing what I can read or at least sound out via hirigana/katakana. I can now spot "karaoke" just as easily as any word in English. Obviously, taking in movies/shows/music helps a lot with listening and being able to identify individual words, even if you don't know that specific word. That alone has made my recent studies worth it 😁. It's both comforting and worrisome that these people mention how it takes years to get good at speaking. It kind of lets me know that it's ok to get frustrated that it's not coming to me immediately.
The point about learing about the culture, as the man from Jordan mentioned, is so true. When learning a language you usually just learn grammar, words, listening, speaking etc but how to use the language in a cultural context is so important. I see this all the time from speaking to and hearing middle eastern immigrants in Sweden. If they have lived here long enough they can make them self understood but as most of them have no interest in learning about Scandinavian culture and how to interact with us they often times come off as very rude and sometimes don't make sense at all in certain types of situations while interacting with native speaker. Similar to Japanese the Scandinavian languages is , or at least used to be, very polite and you should speak more formally in some situations and more casual in other situations depending on who you speak to.
I have been 'learning' since I was 12 (27 now) and its embarrassing how little I understand. I studied for 2 weeks in Japan when I was 16 and this did help but I fell out of it for several years on and off until Jan this year. I am using duolingo and listening to J-pop. I feel like I am progressing where I was not before as I am doing a little bit everyday. Thank you for your video, I realise that becoming fluent with what I am doing is not likely to happen, but I don't want to give up! Slowly slowly I might get there one day in life and I will be a fluent obaasan!
I don’t have anyone to speak Japanese with, so it has really held me back. I’ve been studying Japanese for about 10 years casually, but I still don’t feel I could hold a conversation and I don’t know many kanji.
Since starting learning Japanese in 2011 I definitely think its really important to find something to motivate you. Its definitely a lot easier to bring yourself to study or learn passively if you can find hobbies that other Japanese people also like. It also helps to put yourself in an environment or situation where you need to speak Japanese. If you find Japanese friends who speak really good English already, its gonna be quite demotivating if you guys lean on English because its just easier to communicate that way. So finding Japanese friends who don't speak very much English or are around the same level as your Japanese will keep that interaction to benefit your learning.
Very helpful. Reinforces what the learning community as a whole represents as best practices. My biggest takeaway is that I need to spend a lot more time studying listening, etc. . It's been frustrating that I don't seem to be progressing much after just a few months. And this despite a good understanding of Japanese culture and living with a native Japanese speaker (who has little patience for teaching but will be a good sounding board once I get better at the basics). We live and breath the Japanese culture in this house, I just wish I'd been more motivated to speak years ago.
Bless those who have a school where they teach japanese and got guided. Learning on your own for me is extremly boring and motivation is quickly drained.
I still have a lot to learn, but I’ll try to make a comment in Japanese. 3年前、プレプリを見つけました。あそこで私の先生に会いました。毎週、レッスンがあります。たくさん習いました。私の先生は優しくて気が長いですから。先生、ありがとうございます。
Thanks for the video, it's so motivating when you see how other people learn in such different ways. 今私は日本語を一か月勉強しました ひらがなとカタカナは簡単だけど、漢字と語彙を覚えるのはちょっと難しいです Coincido en que hablar español hace que aprender la pronunciacion sea mas facil, pero bueno, en mi caso me falta muchisimo por aprender.👌
This selection of speakers are very impressive. I spent a week in Osaka and the foreigners who were seemingly fluent still had an American, Brazilian, or British accent coming through.
What many people don't understand and what hasn't been mentioned here is the fact that if English isn't your first language, you'll be simultaneously learning both English and the language you actually want to learn, because English is the bridge connecting all the languages 😂
@@solarydays you're the one responding to my comment so i would assume you're the one not understanding what I was talking about? If you don't agree, no need to be a dick. If you're talking about completely different thing(alphabet and origin) then why are you responding to me and quoting me
@@solarydays ? I'm not from English speaking country, thats why I'm saying English is a bridge to other languages because it has helped me. Why are you so rude
Wow loved hearing about the many ways they learned Japanese. I need to apply some of these tactics with my French. Started learning it as a teen in school by taking classes & then i took courses in college as well. Bought myself some French tapes too. But i wish i lived in a French speaking city so i can practice 😊 I live in Miami, Florida btw. So no French speaking people here is common.
These learners' personalities were essential to their language proficiency. They all have outgoing, energetic, enthusiastic personalities. They like being with new people and so, others like being with them. They also enjoy expressing themselves and learning about Japaese culture. These personality/character traits provide the real fuel for successful language/cross cultural learning. おめでとう !
The first person gesticulates a lot to help communicate. I find it easier to be understood when I do that too. Learning sign language to communicate with a toddler made me realize how important hand gestures can be.
Im currently learning to read and write it. Been surrounded by it since i was a kid back in the 90's. I'm already bi lingual (i speak English and Thai) picking it up alot faster since i already know an Asian language.
Minus the Hungarian (though my best friend somewhat speaks it) you just described me. Maybe Learning basic conversational Chinese on a character-meaning basis can help you too. It sure did for me. Yes, this is dog in Chinese (pronunciation behind): 狗[gǒu] and in Japanese it's 犬[Inu], but if you just say it out loud and learn its shape mnemonically then we just got "something big" or 大[dà] for whatever reason. For me personally this works perfectly and lead me to a point I literally learned い to be 'i' forever just as it's used behind the word for 'cute' that's otherwise written identical to Chinese. Can't remember any other Kana out of context. In that sense I hate that usually pronunciation hints (=small print above traditional Chinese Kanji) aren't given were appropriate (or if we're helping foreigners at least in Romaji).
i’ll be going there for my birthday in january and would love to meet you! i’m just starting to learn. so it would be around a year of learning. i’m not sure if i’ll be able to speak clearly enough for an interview but i would love a picture! have you done a meetup before?
These people you interviewed are really good at Japanese! 👏 yes living there helps a lot and taking classes too. At least I’d want to know the basics so when I go there I can converse a little when we go on a dream vacation 😊
OMG! When I first saw this video I wasn't even picking up a word. Been studying for over a year, focusing mainly in conversations and listening. Can't believe I actually understand most of what they are saying. 😊😊😊 this is such an accomplishment for me. Being 55 makes it even more interesting. But again, I am in LOVE with Japan ,it's my boyfriend and best friend so of course I'll learn quicker. Domo Arigato gozaimasu ❤❤❤
Advice for learners. Shadowing and mirroring is a good way to learn if you don't have anyone to speak to or if you are just too shy and have social anxiety speaking to strangers. When I learned, I literally said out loud what I am going to do. Per example, during dinner, I would say I am eating dinner and start describing dinner before I eat. Pretty much do that to everything. Or you can listen to a ton of shit after learning grammar and then repeat what they are saying in the video.
I studied abroad in Japan and have a minor in Japanese. I haven't been practicing/studying because I changed my career, so I have to focus on learning. I honestly wish to one day get back to studying Japanese and visit Japan in the next year.
I have always loved Japanese culture and wanted to learn the lenguage, unfortunately I live in a really small town where there is not a single Japanese school Now with the internet it has opened many opportunities to get my goal, I started to learn it since last year with Duolingo, now I am enrolled in an course, but when I see all these people speaking so fluently it kinda makes me a little sad because I see how far I am from that point
Thank you for keeping me motivated! I've tried so many times to learn japanese on my own but it's so difficult T_T But I want to go to Japan one day and be able to speak with japanese people, so i need to keep going. I've got other things in my life that keep me busy, I am a lazy person in general, but I can't afford to wait for motivation to come. I need to do it on my own.
É tão bom reconhecer várias estruturas. Já dá pra entender uns 50% pelo menos. Essa dica de fazer amigos é boa, mas eu odeio falar com gente na internet. Já tentei e tem uma galera tão estranha que me dá preguiça de tentar achar alguém legal e que realmente queira ter uma conversa sadia kkkkk. Enfim, seguirei nessa jornada rumo à fluência. Esses vídeos me dão ânimo, sei que chegarei nesse nível logo logo. 🇧🇷🇯🇵
I can tell that there was a camera update recently, nice update to the channel production. Also, holy hell, that Hispanic girl at the beginning was so fluent she sounds like a native speaker LOL
As you spoke to the foreigners, I was really interested in what they do for living and what have they done in Japan already. So a Video in which you ask people who travelled through Japan what they have done would be really interesting. For example there is this guy on RU-vid who is backpacking through Japan.
I'm confused, most of these people (especially the most fluent ones), attended some kind of formal classes, especially at a younger age such as school or university... it really laid the foundation for them in a big way, no doubt. But then they say "talk to people every day, listen to Japanese every day, that's the most important". No, it is not. Your language school / university education in the language was the most important. After that, yes, chatting to people is very important but certainly secondary. I've been in Japan for 5 years, chatting to people will only get you so far. You need to study properly with a good teacher.
I think you have a point to some extent. Study is definitely important. But as someone with a similar background to them (took beginner to intermediate Japanese class a few years before I moved to Japan) I see what they mean. School is good for getting the basics down in a short space of time, and getting a grasp of the language. Kind of like a fast track. But I think that getting to that next level (which is a big jump) where you're really speaking with normal people comfortably and understanding locals when they speak, school really isn't what gets you there. When I first came I had some phrases I could use with people, and a little confidence that I could survive a day alone and ask for directions. But it was nowhere near good enough to get comfortable talking to people about whatever. I was still stressed getting into conversations with people out of the blue or even going to the city office etc. It was talking to normal Japanese friends, listening to Japanese TV with no subs everyday, and working with Japanese colleagues that speak no English that really shot my Japanese leagues up. Now, even if I have to ask someone what certain words hey said means, I can comfortably hold a conversation wherever I go without being scared if I'm gonna understand someone or not. Here I've met plenty foreigners with great Japanese who never went to a school for it. Could they study and be better? Sure. But to speak with locals is a pretty high level. People have different goals too which is good to keep in mind. They might be exactly where they want to be. But in my experience and those around me, school isn't the thing that pushes people to their level. But it definitely helps and gives a solid foundation. Depends on people at the end of the day though. Everyone's different.
Half the fun was hearing people's native accents in Japanese. My mom is Brasilian and we have a large Mexican presence in my state, so I'm familiar with both accents in English. Was really interesting to pick up on them in another language.
For the people who don't know: the guys in the video are speaking fluently and with confidence but their grammar is not at a fluent level. One thing is being able to say what you're thinking, another thing is to be able to speak correct japanese.
"its not difficult". Girl please... if it wasn't there be a lot more fluent speakers. some people just pick up languages easier than others it's as simple as that.
That first lady could legit be a seiyuu for one of those 'cool' girl anime characters, especially one with foreign parentage or one who has lived abroad.
Watching movies with subtitles in that specific foreign language is a way to get fluent. I definitely recommend it. Immersive translate will help you generate the subtitles for free
Listening to the language you want to learn, is the best tool you have in this world. Most people get tired when listening to sound they are not used to. So you have to practice listening to it. This is why anime has worked so well with us, not from Japan, because it keeps our interest and lets us passively pick up important information about how the Japanese language works, like a kid would. It is the same way my Danish mom grow up learning German, because they had German sesame street on the television. I think most of us learn English this way to. I know I grow up listening to English crime shows, because my parents watched it a lot and I later joined them. So if you want to learn a language, look for media that interest you in that language! It is extremely important, because you learn to pick up on small sound differences that may not appear in your own language. Like in Danish we have "Hej" (Hi/Hello) and "Haj" (Shark). You can see the difference when reading but you are properly not going to hear the difference unless you are practice listening to Danish or your own language has something similar.
In summary, techniques include: - Start learning via school, the earlier the better - Move to Japan It was nice to hear at 11:52 someone who started as an adult and only did 3 months schooling (nowhere near as much as some of the others) but hammered in self-study to the max ... again, as an adult. That is so difficult. Reflection here being, if you're an adult, adding on an adult with work/family who will unlikely move to Japan, learning a language from scratch is so hard. Don't be discouraged. c:
You cut off the blonde girl around 5:57 to do your ad, I wanted to hear her speak more ♪ she was saying some of the most interesting things that resonated with me the strongest, out of everyone lol
I’m only a month into studying. Who sounded the most fluent? From the sound alone I thought it was the cute girl who just listened to Japanese at first without speaking. I’m currently using Duolingo, Pilsner, and Japanese! (Helps writing).
