Speaking Japanese Fluently in 6 Months | 6 Steps to Success 

Plot Twist: The Duolingo Bird is the one holding the gun

“If you have half a year to spare” *coronavirus enters the chat*

i love how a good 60% of us just wanna watch anime without subtitles lmao

Notes: 1. Core Vocab & Grammar (Genki I & II enough for "basic conversation") 2. Master conversation fillers 3. Practice & use it in conversation (1hr/week) 4. Problem solving in Japanese 5. Synonyms 6. Don't switch to English to save yourself I'm about 1 month into my studies and these tips all seem sound.

“If you can’t say it in Japanese, don’t say it at all” well, looks like I’m going mute guys

How to speak Japanese fluently in six months! First step: Learn Japanese

Quarantine is holding the gun on me dude let’s do this

"so you will need to speak to someone for about 1 hour in a week" my introvert self: no

You did look really weird in that newspaper photo. You looked like someone who was wrongly convicted for 20 years and was finally let out

The most infamous sentence "This is a pen"

It’s important to note the difference between fluency and functionality. Most people don’t actually want to be fluent in Japanese but functional. Fluency is when you can discuss complex topics such as politics art and philosophy in the language. Being able to have casual conversation, get by, and enjoy most popular media is when you’ve become functional in the language. Obviously it’s best to try to achieve fluency, but one should prioritize what words/structures they learn as functionality always come first.

6:25 - Chirs, please I know its impossible for u to read new comment on 5-6 years old video ... but Hear me out ... Please Make one video, narrating funny stuff with this voice of yours! Its more amazing and entertaining than u think :)

This guy.......... is so likable like what.

You make Learning Japanese seem easier than Weight Loss.

I remember watching this when I was only a year into studying Japanese and thinking that Chris was so cool for being able to speak Japanese with Natsuki at the bar. It seemed so far off from where I was and I could only catch parts of it. Now I'm proud to say I passed the JLPT N1, and by listening to the bar scene again I can really see how my Japanese has grown; listening to the conversation feels natural and straightforward now! To those who are still early in their Japanese learning journey: Don't give up! It takes time, but everyone can get there if they stick to it long enough. And thank you Chris for producing a memorable video

I second the “don’t switch back to your native language.” It’s very hard. I think the more you converse in the language (yes, with another person), the more it will come naturally in time. みなさん、頑張ってね！

Two and a half years ago, I discovered this video while considering finally beginning the journey of studying Japanese. At the time the idea seemed daunting, almost impossible. Since then, however, not only has Chris and this channel become my favorite channel on RU-vid, but my language skill has consistently improved ever since. I remember watching the restaurant scene at 8:54 in this video all the way back then, in late 2016, and finding that conversation super impressive. And now, two and a half years later, I find myself re-watching this video for the first time since then, understanding every word of that same restaurant scene. Suddenly it all dawned on me, my entire life and everything I work towards got put in such perspective that it felt like I was watching a flashback scene in a cheesy 90s movie. All a bit overwhelming. Learning Japanese sure is tough, and I'm still quite the beginner in the grand scheme of things, but I've come further than I ever imagined myself doing only a couple years ago. All starting with this video. Thanks Chris for all you've done for me and all of us aspiring Japanese learners!

In the comments people were telling to watch japanese anime. But I just went for some drama serials. And after finishing three serials I found out that I was watching korean drama all along. FUUUU-

You: "slightly overweight, disapointing villain" Me: "oh I doubt you looked like-" Oh

It is funny, more I learn of other languages the more I forget of my native language (czech)

I used to have a japanese teacher, but she passed away after i moved. She taught me in exchange for cooking japanese dumplings and soup for her. I loved that lady. She made me call her Obaasan. 😊💚 This helps me a lot, thank you!

I just wanna watch anime without having to read the subtitles Edit: I wish I was this popular in person😞

This is an absolutely brilliant video. I cannot express how insanely useful these tactics are when doing things in another langauge. Also, if you're reading this, make a note from the very start of learning Japanese to do things in as native a way as possible. Learn the language as if you were a Japanese kid in school. Don't start with Romaji- leave that for later. I'd remind you to have fun but this is Japanese and literally everyone has fun with it lol.

5:49 he shaved in 1 sec

if i'm not fluent in 6 months, omae wa mou shindeiru

"If you can't say it in japanese don't say it at all" I guess I'm gonna have to stick with hello, good and thank you from now on.

Japanese guy: “konnichiwa” Me who can’t speak Japanese: “Naru... uhhh... Narudo...?” Japanese guy: “... SAAAAASUKE!!!!!”

"Don't worry our conversations aren't normally that shit" - Literally spat out my tea laughing :D

How did you turn your mustache on and off? Amazing skill.

I need a t-shirt of Canadian Guy "blah blah maple syrup"

Anki is highly recommended for vocab learning. 10 new words per day is very well managable.

The only thing i know of japanese Omae wa mou shindeiru! Nani???

he looks like Elon musk in the newspaper

I remember back when I was learning English... I had a few years of middle school behind me, but I still couldn't say shit would my life depend on it. I still had some basics and my native language to help me. What helped me, ironically, was the closing of Megaupload... I couldn't find my mangas in French so I had to read them in English. From there it was basically a lot of deduction (using the pictures and context) and a little bit reverso (ya know, the translator). After something like two months, I could understand most of it and proceeded to talk with people via forums. I'm still a beginner when it comes to Japanese, but I plan on reading mangas the same way I did back then. Since Japanese borrowed tons of words from English, it's should be the same as when I was learning English. I know that wanting to read mangas is a pretty damn stupid reason to learn a language, but I like it. If someone has done it the same way with Japanese, did it work ?

Finding someone that speaks japanese even in some big cities it's like find a unicorns. I met one japanese person my entire lift and he didn't even know japanese lol. How I found out? He was watching anime with english subs

The phrase *"This is a Pen"* has aged well lmao - 2020🤣🤣🤣🤣

those are some amazing tips, not just for Japanese, but learning a new language in general.

Even if you can't become fluent in 6 months.. 6 months with proper instruction like this will be a HUGE leap. So much so that you could probably walk around the country comfortably and confident. Add another 6 months to that, and you've got yourself a solid second language. And every year after that only refines it more and more until you are fluent. Excellent video.

SO many of us really appreciate you. Keep it up. You have fans, and so many you've helped learn.

10:13 I'm learning Spanish right now, and I can definitely confirm that working your way around the vocabulary you don't know when you're trying to say something is definitely a good skill to be proficient in.

Lucky enough my school has Japanese teacher.

"Ore Wa Pen desu!"

This video was a milestone for this channel.

This video changed my life. Truly. It opened my eyes up to the amazing culture, language, and greatness of Japan. You must be one of my most watched channels NO DOUBT!! Thanks Chris!!

I am Japanese. I want to be able to speak English with a British accent. I did not understand what they were saying when I went to Manchester.

As a linguistics student, I endorse all of the tactics in this video.

Ive just completed my first full week in a Japanese language school. Ive watched this video many times in the past, making a mental note at the time to come back when I needed to, to get all the conversation fillers to prepare me for he next time that awkward silence comes along! Thanks for the videos, they've actually really helped a lot down the years, and have also been thoroughly entertaining

I can't express enough how over the top funny I find you and these japanglish videos. Ive been screaming the entire video. Well done. Please keep this series!!

KORE WA PEN DESU

I want to learn Japanese mainly because we're having a japanese exchange student at my school next year in my class. Plus I wanna watch anime without subtitles. Edit: Japanese*

Perfect for this quarantine

As someone that has been learning Japanese on/off for a few years, this is genuinely good advice he is giving. You need the right mindset and conversational nuance to seem like a native Japanese speaker.

fuuuuuuuuck, I thought my cat was looking for food, I went outside my room twice. Just realized that the cat sound was from the video.

This is one of my favorite RU-vid channels because your videos range from weird & funny to educational & funny. And as someone who's been studying Japanese on and off again (a terrible thing to do), I think these are some great tips. And uhh...still wondering what happened during your trip back to the UK...who won the weight-loss bet...whether you tried the premium KFC dinner during Christmas...so...yeah...

Thank you for the tips. They're much appreciated. This is definitley going to be one of the most interesting challenges I'm going to face this year.

I can’t believe I’ve not found this channel sooner. Currently binge watching all the videos

I need to learn im to lazy read my subtitles in my amines

holy fuck. I never knew memrise had a browser version

Awesome video! Thank you. I found your channel recently, I keep a notebook handy when watching your videos. Thank you.

"kore wa pen des!" in a murderous tone?! hahahhahaha! cracked me up so hard.

Mind blow...1000 words=70% Japanese conversational vocabulary

132 people gave up. I'm learning Japanese because; 1, I am really interested in the culture. And 2, I'm planning to go to a college in Japan. I've just started 10th grade and only have less than 3 years to learn enough Japanese (At least it's writing) to pass at least N2 in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, which is a must for my dream college. Wish me luck.

These are actually all very good advice for learning ANY language.

Your editing is stellar

"eating the chocolate.." lmao

My mom is full Japanese and fluent in it, she just can’t really teach me, cuz it’s confusing for her, cuz well she ain’t a teacher😂

High quality content. As a french native I often struggle to understand english speakers but your english is very clean and understandable, thanks for that.

Some inspiration you've given me (who's had a million starts and stops with learning)! And that drawing looks like a good representation of Norm.

0:58 You know i had to do it to em

I seriously love your videos. They have very high production value.

I'm currently using the Genki books in my Japanese classes at my uni, they're very very nice! I think another tip could be to find someone who might like to study with you?

This is the video that introduced me to you 6 years ago. I've been following ever since.

This video inspired me to study hard :D In 2 months I learned 500 words (using Memrise course "Core 1000"). It requires at least 20 minutes a day, the more the better. Repeating everything quite often is necessary. Whenever I feel like I don't have enough energy to study anymore I watch this video xD I'M GONNA MAKE IT UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR 2015! Wish me luck :)

10:25 Not the muffins!😱

Alright I’m gonna say your channel inspired me to really dedicate myself to learning Japanese, I deeply enjoy the culture and media that Japan provides, so I think I’m going to in the future, try to live my day to day life in Japan, like you do...

I recently picked up Japanese and don’t know much but I’ve watched a few of your videos and I feel like they actually help

3 years ago I told myself I was going to learn Japanese. I learned how to read and write Hiragana and Katakana but never went any further than that. I'm going to get those books and get crackin. If I'm not fluent in 6 months somebody please kick my ass.

People saying it's impossible to be fluent in Japanese in 6 months, well I beg to differ. I became conversational in English in about the same amount of time when I moved to Australia. It really depends on the person's willingness to learn the language though. Before I became confident in the language, I did learn English maybe... the same equivalent as Genki 1 and 2 back in the Philippines. How I learned English was not immersive and interactive though so I found it really difficult to conversate on my first week of high school in Sydney. I literally only used "I am..." and Yes/No answers. I guess I became conversational in English because I had to though. でも今,日本語を勉強しています. 毎日,日本語を話して,アニメを見ます. Even to myself I talk in Japanese, so I learn how to be more natural and fluid in speaking it, and not just know how to say これはペンです.

That photo of you in the newspaper is the perfect image of VIP de Big. Great video as always. Very motivating. About a week of learning, very few words but I've learned hiragana and katakana well enough to recognize the symbols almost immediately.

I want to learn Japanese so I can play Japanese games and understand what is going on. Thanks for this!

Just learn そうですね。

6:27 Chris predicted coronavirus 5 years ago

It's nice beacause some of the tips in this video are what the teacher told me back then when I was learning english. Nice content !

Even if 6 months is a bit of a stretch, this is hands down the best video I've ever seen about how to teach yourself japanese. Thank you so much for this

i'm fascinted by how your beard disappears and comes back during the video o_o

This is gold, thank you!

If I wasn't even learning Japanese, I would have subscribed just because of how hilarious this guy is. Loved the video! Looking forward to seeing more.

I've been on memrise for 24 hours and I've already learned quite a few words and the entire hirigana system. help i cant stop.

It's amazing how many words are similar in Japanese and Korean.

THIS!!! I LOVED YOUR VIDEO!

This is good advice for any language as well. I'm learning spanish as well as japanese and whenever we dont have a word in our vocabulary, we have to find a way to say it using the words we do know

So true in Sydney I've mostly met Chinese & Vietnamese people. Sometimes Thai or Korean people. But the amount of Japanese people I've met I can count on my fingers.

I wanna go to japan for the “studying abroad” experience, but I still want the comforts of technology and safety standards.

I used a lot of these tips while learning Spanish! If you can figure a way to explain what you're trying to say, it is so motivational because you can have confidence in your ability to hold a conversation. I'm about 8 months into my Japanese and having a blast; throwing my kanji workbook across the room is very stress relieving 😅

thank you a lot!, the advices and pages, thanks for the video

Another way to get japanese friends is be good at drifting in gran turismo 6 , join a random japanese lobby and speak broken english

6:22 OH MAH GAWD I am crying and I probably woke up my neighbours xDDD~~!!!! "Waiting while people are practising the phrase, -Kore wa pen desu-" OH MY KAMI!

The problem solving strat is amazingly helpful on any level. I am fluent in English but there's just words, especially in everyday life, you never really use or hear. So when I started dating an english speaker, I often described things I didn't know the word of - and not only are you able to have conversations, you also learn new vocabulary in a natural way!

"you cant learn japanese in 6 months without knowing some words: Weebs that lived through fan subs: *Glasses flares* you underestimate my power!

You have a subtle "jack sparrow-ness" about you...