Comments on: How To Learn Japanese While Living In Japan In Only 3 Ridiculously Easy, Concrete Steps

By: Miss Language Learning

Miss Language Learning — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:40:13 +0000

At least I told the truth. Anyone can learn a language anywhere, and I did just that with English.

By: Chagami

Chagami — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:56:53 +0000

Maybe it’s an unpopular opinion, but I agree (the need for more of an explanation than faith, that is.)

To embark on a journey with nearly no visible returns for months, you have to deal with a lot of self doubt. Sometimes, I wonder if the cracks in my immersion are cutting my progress to a tenth of what it could be; sometimes, I wonder if I’m actually engaged enough in my Japanese audio to actually be learning; Of course, I’m always I’m wondering if I’m, “doing this right.”

Indeed, “just use the method” is sound advice, but perhaps a little more description would be handy.

It would seem that saying, “Step 1: build an immersion environment” to 藤原健二 would be silly, seeing how s/he’s already living in Japan, but I think it’s still valid with a little twist: make sure you don’t make an *English* environment while being immersed in Japan!

After that, start learning the Kanji. Also, just turn on your TV – as Khatz suggested – and just leave it on. Everyday, let yourself be graced with the beautiful Kanji and sounds of the language.

And as for the self doubt, well, there is nothing that will remedy that. But, keep in mind that thousands of people – just like you and me – have seriously doubted the entire Japanese thing and thought they’d never get there. But, they did. Just as long as you know more today than you did yesterday, you’ll get there, trust me (:

By: Miss Language Learning

Miss Language Learning — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:02:13 +0000

The low rating of your post proves my point. I’m right, and there’s nothing you can do about it. I wasn’t being rude or anything. I’m just stating the obvious. I do have a native-like accent in English, even if I’ve never lived in the US.
I also used to sound native in Italian—native enough for my teacher to say “your grandparents are from Italy, right?”
Anyway, end of conversation.

By: RyanSharif

RyanSharif — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:48:31 +0000

Just use the method on this website and you’ll become fluent. That’s how awesome AJATT is.
I think the discussion warrants a little more explanation than faith in a method. I do follow the tenets of the website but find the comment a bit rude.
Have you learned a language to fluency with a native level accent?

By: Miss Language Learning

Miss Language Learning — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:45:12 +0000

Just use the method on this website and you’ll become fluent. That’s how awesome AJATT is. Living in the country DOES give you an advantage over students who are stuck in the US, because you get to wander in supermarkets, so you see the language used in a native environment.

By: 藤原健二

藤原健二 — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 22:34:53 +0000

I love that this article was posted two days after I had come to Japan without having learned enough of the language. I mostly just knew kanji writings & readings as well as some basic grammar and vocabulary.

By: bro

bro — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:37:08 +0000

Cool link, it will come in handy! 😀

By: ahndoruuu

ahndoruuu — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 04:07:33 +0000

www.saisin.biz/youtube/

By: Jason

Jason — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 01:28:03 +0000

I do the same…except I leave Japan youtube on.

It’s pretty much the same thing.

But do you guys know a program that can play youtube videos forever and not stop when the video stops??

By: Kris

Kris — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:46:03 +0000

I don’t know about you, but my local Tsutaya wants about 300 yen a pop.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 04:41:33 +0000

TSUTAYA has 100yen rentals. You can even get them cheaper than that since they will often hand out stacks of 50yen off coupons when you rent there.

The smaller, more local rental shops have even better deals.

By: ライトニング

ライトニング — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 07:10:28 +0000

There’s this quote I heard while watching ボンバーマンジェッターズ、　It’s the best anime IMO。

好きなら続けろ。でも、嫌いなら辛いだけどこの止めろって。

I think I may have この　With something else that starts with a　こ、But it still makes sense to me.

I apply it to myself everyday.

By: ahndoruuu

ahndoruuu — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:44:46 +0000

The key to learning Japanese is to expose yourself to Japanese people.

Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like 😉

By: fura

fura — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 04:53:08 +0000

Where do you rent the movies for 100円?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 02:05:50 +0000

Several people mentioned that you could just as easily do this anywhere else in the world, and they’re absolutely right, though perhaps people IN Japan need to hear it even more because they may automatically assume that they don’t need to do this since they’re already in the country and unless they speak the language already (and they wouldn’t be reading this if they did, now would they?) then they very well DO need to do it.

Just expose yourself to the language as much as possible in as many different ways as you can, it’s really that simple.

Cheers,
Andrew

By: Neil

Neil — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 10:54:39 +0000

Are the hookers mentioned what I think it is? hehe

By: Skeen

Skeen — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 05:28:55 +0000

And if your not in Japan. Do the same flippin thing anyway. I’d also like to add— If in Japan, become that dude or chick that talks way too much, only in Japanese obviously. Seriously drive your Japanese friends crazy until you have to get new Japanese friends.

By: Joshuah

Joshuah — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 01:08:44 +0000

I think this could be done outside of Japan as well… I mean, emulating a typical Japanese room is the at the core of game itself… A Japanese TV could be replaced by a screen with anime/drama/J-TV (And YOU get to choose the programs here, which equals premium TV with the best programs :D). As for the Shonen pages on the fridge… everyone has a printer, and there are tons of internet pages with tons of content, maybe with some creativity you could create yourself something similar to look at. Concerning the dubbed Hollywood movie, I believe there could be ways around it. Of course, all this requires effort, and doesn’t replace the original environment.. But it is still worth it given that it is better than nothing.

By: Han

Han — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:43:26 +0000

Sorry bro.
I’m learning Russian and German. My girlfriend is also learning Russian, and German is her native language. So I don’t have the problem of our language goals conflicting!

By: RyanSharif

RyanSharif — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:49:14 +0000

Could you explain this again Han. I didn’t understand the first time.