My Japanese language learning journey, from beginner to N4

Hi there, my name is Josh 👋🏻 I've been self-studying Japanese for the past three years and along the way I've used a variety of helpful study tools and resources. In this video I'll share the two most impactful learning approaches I've tried so far, as well as some specific apps and platforms that I've enjoyed.
I'll be the first to admit, it's fun to research new tools and language learning hacks. The most important lesson I've learned, however, is that language learning is a journey. There is no one best app or learning approach that works for everyone. Building a learning process was interesting enough to keep me coming back every day has been the number one biggest factor in my language learning success so far.
I hope you find something helpful in this video and that you leave energized for the next step on your own language learning journey!
Learning approaches:
fluent-forever.com/book
refold.la/roadmap
Learning tools:
www.satorireader.com
www.japanesepod101.com
www.duolingo.com
www.italki.com
omgjapan.com/pages/minna-no-n...
omgjapan.com/pages/nihongo-so...
apps.ankiweb.net
www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B...
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Support the channel ☕️
buymeacoffee.com/josh_around
Want some of this chill music for your videos? Give artlist.io a try (using my link when you sign up helps the channel too!) 🎧
artlist.io/referral/6014095/Josh

[@bear3s]

So good to see someone go from beginner to N4 instead of N1, it's not easy to grasp all they say when you're a beginner. But when it's just a bit higher of a level like N4 it's so much more understandable ❤

[@mithril.117]

algorithm sent me here! happy to support a small youtuber and congrats on making an excellent video!!

[@josh_around]

Thank you so much for the kind words, welcome and I'm glad you enjoyed it 👋🏻

[@Draculinio]

Great man! COngratulations!

[@hcm9999]

I have been studying Swedish by translating song lyrics Song lyrics are usually very easy to understand and translate and also easy to find on the internet. I listen to the song while reading the lyrics. I learn pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, all at the same time. It is fun, easy, addictive and extremely efficient. I use Google Translate and online dictionaries. I haven't bought any books and don't attend schools. I only study one hour every day. I never study more than an hour because I have other things to do and Swedish for me is just a hobby. But I never get bored, one hour of study flies by in an instant, I always want to study more. I have been studying every single day for 3 years now. I can translate more than 8 songs in an hour. I never use any apps like Anki or Duolingo or flashcards.

[@josh_around]

Wow, it sounds like you've really put together the perfect study routine for the ways you learn best! Something that feels "fun, easy, [and] addictive" and has kept you going for 3 years, that's really impressive! Good luck with your continued studies 🫶🏻

[@shaishai29]

Thanks for this video. Best of luck on your journey ❤

[@josh_around]

Thank you for your kind words! 👋🏻

[@user-mh9os4nv1w]

Good luck on you!

[@sadiaanjum1]

Surprised you dont have more followers. This was really helpful!

[@inalexkingstonshair]

Best of luck!

[@nias_nook]

this is really inspiring. it’s really cool to see how you progressed ! trying my best to study japanese too, hopefully i’ll also get to N4 by following some things you did too 🙏

[@josh_around]

Thank you for the kind words 🫶🏻 Best of luck in your studies!

[@user-py8xm8uh8e]

Thanks for recommendations! Hope to see more of your videos about Japanese in the future!

[@josh_around]

I'm happy to be of help! ☺️ And I really appreciate your feedback, thanks!

[@kijin6447]

Glad I found this channel

[@josh_around]

Welcome! 👋🏻

[@dormian]

Hi Josh, same a Japanese learner here. :)) good luck

[@josh_around]

Thanks for the kind words! 一緒に頑張りましょう🫶🏻

[@YoutubeuserRedCircle2003]

Im now reading minnano nihongo book and preparing for july 7 jlpt 😢 hope do get well.

[@josh_around]

Best of luck with your studies! the MNN books are challenging but the content is definitely useful, in my experience 👌🏻

[@Juju4me]

I did taught myself and was doing well but then I felt burned out and I couldn't focus no more and feel mentally stuck... your advice myght give me the push I need.. thnx

[@josh_around]

Wow, that's really warms my heart, thanks for sharing! I have gotten burned out doing a lot of different creative and fun things over the years, and I often need reminders myself to change things up and make it fun again ☺️

[@MrWackydoodles]

when did you start and how many hours did you spend actively learning a day? Congrats and enjoy Japan!

[@josh_around]

Thank you for the kind words! I started studying Japanese at the end of 2020 and my daily study time varied with the different study routines I tried along the way. When I was doing the Refold, immersion-focused approach, I would listen to native Japanese audio for 4hrs or more a day on top of a couple hours of flashcards and then an hour of anime at the end of the day with my partner. In the most recent iteration of my study routine before my move I was doing about 45mins to an hour of flashcards a day plus one hour of podcasts, 20-30mins of reading, and speaking practice sessions on iTalki 🙌🏻

[@LynnsSketchbook]

Very helpful, thank you 😊 What’s the name of the textbook at 3:04 ? And congratulation 🥳

[@josh_around]

Thank you for the kind words, I'm so happy that this was helpful for you! I believe the textbook that you are referring to is the Nihongo So Matome N4 grammar book 👌🏻

[@LynnsSketchbook]

@@josh_around thank you very much 👍🏼

[@paulwalther5237]

How long will you be in language school in Japan? That’s great that you have that opportunity.

[@josh_around]

I enrolled in April so that I could have the maximum length language school student visa (2 years.) I'm not sure I'll be in school for that entire time, but I still have a lot to learn so I wanted to have the option 👍🏻

[@kijin6447]

May i ask where your ordered Japanese mangas writin in Japanese?

[@josh_around]

Hi there! For online orders I use amazon.jp -- there are some helpful articles online about how to set up an account using a package forwarding service. I've also lived close to a Kinokuniya bookstore in both US cities I've lived in since I started learning Japanese, and they're very helpful about custom ordering books from Japan. 🫶🏻

[@kijin6447]

@@josh_around thank you so much :) wishing you the best

[@josh_around]

No problem, and same to you! 👋🏻

[@johnnacke4134]

What textbooks did you use?

[@josh_around]

The primary series that I used were Minna no Nihongo and Nihongo So Matome. I will also say that I think going through them with a tutor on iTalki made all the difference. I wouldn't have gained nearly as much from them without that extra help 👍🏻

[@johnnacke4134]

@@josh_around Thank You… I started with Genki… But now I have an Italki tutor and we are working with Minna no Nihongo…

[@josh_around]

That's a great way to do it, in my opinion! 🫶🏻 Best of luck with your studies!

[@southcoastinventors6583]

Congrats on you progress but JLPT test is not useful unless you want to work for a Japanese company and if you do you need to at least pass the N2 however it kind has no practical value outside of that since it doesn't even have a spoken part but since you are doing iTalki at least you will not fall into that trap. You need to learn around 20k words to understand Japanese which I think is about double of what JLPT is so bare that in mind. For KZbin channels check out Game Gengo, nihongo class, The Bite size Japanese Podcast, and a funny one ピグマリオン. Second use AI to make custom subtitles and add them in when you watch here is a example from bleach a srt file 1 突然(Suddenly)、託された(entrusted to me)死神の力(the power of a Soul Reaper) 2 その日から(From that day)、俺の世界が(my world)変わった(changed) 3 死神代行(Substitute Soul Reaper)、黒崎(Kurosaki)一護(Ichigo). Good luck in Japan don't forget to practice filing out forms in Japanese. Lastly check Iago and Language reactor usefully free extensions.

[@josh_around]

Thanks for all the suggestions! It sounds like you've really invested some effort into learning Japanese yourself. Do you mind if I ask what your goals are with the language? ☺️

[@southcoastinventors6583]

@@josh_aroundIt started out because during Covid I listened to many different kind of music and really like the upbeat nature of the music and played a few JRPGs so I started with KZbin like you with Japanese Pod but got kind of bored with so looked for others. Then checked out a bunch of methods and tried pretty much all of them but to me the only reason why I continue is that I like the content and Japan and like you I going to visit for about 3 months around September plus I found a few local Japanese people that I chat with from time to time. I am about 3 years in so I expect basic fluency around the time I get back but plan to cram for about a month before the trip with iTalki. Also I have another resource for you Meshclass Japanese it a website and app for free to use.