My Worst Mistakes Learning Japanese (7 Years to JLPT N1)

[@japanesewithniko]

Music too loud?? Here is a version of the video with no music: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5-rqq2NabN2mZY If you want to chat about learning Japanese, people in our Discord are very knowledgeable/supportive: discord.gg/nativshark

[@Cali2Kyushu]

I didn't think the music is too loud, I can hear you fine. I've lived in Japan for 3 years and I am constantly giving up on practice, so this is very helpful for me to start forming a practice routine for JLPT. Thanks!

[@Wawawa8842]

it perfect, relax.

[@Yoshin3000]

funny. I only realized that there is music after reading this comment

[@jrbvdh]

It's less that the music is too loud, and more that you are too soft. You have a very introvert style of talking, which in itself is not an issue actually, (you be you) but your voice is very deep and it sounds like if you mess with your equalizer settings and increase your volume it would sort out the issue.

[@dennisreynolds1341]

Finally, a channel that's not another person who's learned N5-N1 in a year.

[@mateuszlitwinek7230]

exactly my thoughts

[@japanesewithniko]

I wish! lol I remember seeing content like that in my first several years of studying, and it was so discouraging for me because my progress felt so slow. Looking back now, it could have been faster, sure. But I should have been more focused on sticking it out, rather than being worried about learning fast.

[@Bigdrip941]

Anyone who claims they learned n1 level in a year is full of shit and probably couldn’t hold a conversation with a native

[@furandesu14]

I guess it is possible studying 8 hours a day or so. It is just unrealistic for 95% of people who have more responsibilities. Everyone will get there eventually if studying consistently

[@ChickenSundae]

9/10 times when I see this type of person they know chinese...

[@rrr...080]

Guys you're not alone. My mother language is Japanese and I've been studying English for 10+ years and still can't speak properly. The structures of English and Japanese are freaking different. Not only you struggling with it but Japanese doing too.

[@japanesewithniko]

Yeah, it's definitely tricky in both directions. Sometimes it feels like it's actually easier for a native English speaker, even.

[@Nohbdy_Ahtall]

This is a valuable perspective, thank you. If anyone finds any videos that go into that difference, let me/us know? Can't beat this guys voice and calming everythingism of ultimate cozy, though, I bet, prove me wrong, go make more >.>

[@Tintas_Paulo]

@@Nohbdy_Ahtall There's one, though I don't remember the name, it's with a poliglot. One of the most famous one.

[@PickI3s]

What about Spanish to Japanese would that be easier ?

[@SemekiIzuio]

​​@@PickI3s it is for pronunciation which puts you one step ahead but its about the same for learning and remembering the symbols and context

[@metalsabatico]

In a world where everyone claims that if you don't reach N1 in two years you are dumb, this s such a relief to hear. I've been studying on my own for about 20 months and sometimes the voice is very loud. Thanks for this.

[@japanesewithniko]

Yeah, for real. It can be very stressful to hear people talk about doing "better" than you are. Anyway, I'm glad you found the video helpful. Good luck with your studies!

[@lordclown1187]

The thing is, I've spoken with such people. It's really one thing to get the textbook Japanese right, but a different thing to actually converse with people. Now, I'm at N3, practically from 85% conversation practice, so a lot of sentences are smooth. I think, if one really studies and uses a mix of decent/good methods, they can reach a certain fluency in a year. If you're not constantly making an effort, Japanese is a very difficult language to learn. I don't see myself mastering it as fast as I mastered English. English didn't really take that much effort though. Maybe 3 years total in my current pace. My goals are to be able to write good manga/Light novels, and potentially real novels. You're definitely not dumb or lazy for not being able to reach such a level in less than 5 years. But if someone has been living in Japan for 10 years, I find it very disrespectful for them to not be fluent. To struggle in daily conversations. Obviously, not learning the type of Japanese used by various government agencies even after 10 years is understandable. Normal Japanese people even struggle with that. Well, I wish everyone who's doing their best good luck!

[@x123Juancho123x]

Who tf says that. That's you projecting insecurities. Instead of focusing on that focus on what those people did to get to that level and learn from it. I personally don't care about speedrunning N1 and just learn at my own pace.

[@metalsabatico]

holy shit everyone, its a hyperbolic comment. calm the fuck down.

[@ryantheghost7803]

frr, I've been studying since August 2022 and i still feel like I'm not ready to take the n5😢

[@Uatemydoodle]

Amateur. I've studied Japanese for over 10 years and don't even have N5 yet. Get on my level.

[@japanesewithniko]

Please teach us your ways

[@Uatemydoodle]

@@japanesewithniko The secret is to be too stingy to pay for JLPT examination. 🤣

[@baileymason725]

Omg same

[@MrShem123ist]

​@@Uatemydoodle Stonks 😂

[@msmith155]

This but for 4 years. But truthfully I just never put any consistent time into Japanese, only brief periods of intense study biyearly.

[@Jensonolp]

I really appreciate how you focus on the mistakes and challenges you've faced while learning Japanese. Showcasing errors and pitfalls is equally, if not more, important than showcasing how a skill can be acquired quickly. Thanks for being real about it all and sharing your insights with the Japanese learning community! Keep up the great work.

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you for the kind words. I hope the video is helpful to other people learning. Good luck with your studies! ^_^

[@yasuragi85]

learning japanese has been an interesting process to me. As a native portuguese speaker and having no idea about how I even got to a level of english where I can understand things effortlessly, I had 0 background on how to approach language study. I basically had to figure out what worked and what didn't for me all by myself. A year later now I'm really glad I picked up on JP. It's not like I've reached fluency but hey, we're always learning

[@rafhamine1792]

Same here, compatriota 🇧🇷

[@japanesewithniko]

Everyone's journey is different. Good luck with your studies! By the way, I had a few months period back in 2015 or so when I really wanted to learn (European) Portuguese. Still planning to come back to it someday!

[@SiddharItalo]

tou aprendendo tb, perdi um tempo com duolingo praticamente dois anos sendo que com 3 se eu tivesse pegado o mosalingua, eu chegaria pelo menos a b1, no ingles com 4 meses já estava a nivel b1 quando resolvir aprender pra valer.

[@miguelcarvalho5122]

vou começar agr, to bem animado pq sei que vai ser dificil :) :)

[@DaKid27]

your english is amazing. How did you learn english?

[@liamcorreia6984]

Thank you so much for assuring me that it's okay, no matter where you are. I've been self studying Japanese for about 6 months now, and I've loved almost every moment of it, but it's been very hard for me to really gauge how well I'm actually doing. Like if I tell people I'm studying Japanese, they ask me to tell them something in Japanese and I'm like 'uHhHHh...　僕のなめは。。。’, and they're always like 'wow, 6 months for that???' or something like that. Sorry, I'm ranting, but I just wanted to thank you so much for this video. It really did make my day better, and I hope my experience was shared by everyone else who watched this.

[@ungodlyaura]

「なまえ」* sucks to have your learning speed judged by others when they themselves haven't studied another language (especially one of the hardest). but don't let it bother you, especially if speech isn't even the thing you're focusing on. any consistent effort will take you there eventually.

[@monolithsoft_guy]

That sort of question from others is extra terrible, because spontaneously saying something in Japanese (beyond "my name is ...") is WAY more difficult than understanding something that someone else is saying in Japanese or reading something. So basically these people demand the most difficult part of learning the language.

[@japanesewithniko]

I'm glad you got value from the video, thanks. I remember being about 6 months into very seriously studying Japanese, and someone gave me the, "Say something to me in Japanese", and I froze. I ended up counting to 10 lol. But hey, they were impressed! Good luck with your studies ^_^

[@talaniel]

@@japanesewithniko Hm, seems like it would be a good idea to learn some rude words just to answer this question/request. :-)

[@garymcconnachie]

Yea that sucks. They don’t see the 100s of hours of study you put in. If anyone asks me to say something I just say no it won’t do justice to the time spent studying 😁

[@s.k.bradford297]

I've been in Japan for 2 years. I've been learning Japanese for 7. I show up and study everyday and it feels like things don't stick. I still struggle with some fundamental basics and that voice tends to get pretty loud sometimes. But I usually wait for it to pass and it does. But this past weekend, that voice got the loudest it's ever been "You'll never learn it" and tbh, I really wasn't sure. I love Japanese but it doesn't love me back sometimes haha Then I stumble upon your video by chance, and in a very calm and kind voice, I hear "I have that voice too. don't let it get to you. don't be too hard on yourself and enjoy it." and I have been in tears for the last 10 minutes. This made me feel incredibly better. Thank you.... so much. Please let me know where to send the therapy bill.

[@Ohrami]

You really read/listen for at least 1-2 hours every day and have for 7 years and still don't feel anything sticks?

[@japanesewithniko]

I'm so glad this video found you at such a crucial moment. I'm not sure exactly when it happened, but that voice did go away for me eventually. I think it will for you too. If you are showing up consistently, then I think you have the hard part figured out. If you want to get feedback on the specific study methods you're using, I think people in the NativShark Discord community would have good advice. I'm in there too: www.nativshark.com/community

[@s.k.bradford297]

​@@Ohrami I watered it down to make sure the comment wasn't a mini essay haha Some stuff I remember and others I don't even with SRS, back and forward flashcards, re-reading same passages/re-listening to the same short things. Others I remember but struggle with using. I was someone who didn't know what study process worked for me until very recently so most of that time was wildly inefficient. I also was in the camp that got overly in my head and anxious when it came time to speak so I didn't REALLY start speaking until year 6. It's gotten better but even now, when I don't remember a word or start saying something but don't know how to finish it, my brain goes into panic mode and I can't hear myself think over the doubt that gets REAL loud. So I guess it's more accurate for me to say, it's less about studying as it is me being in my own head because if I don't remember something, I feel like it hasn't stuck, which feels like I've been unable to learn it (which in turn feeds the doubt).

[@cristianhcm1914]

You've been in tears? ... Grow up!

[@rafhamine1792]

I've had about 10 years of japanese classes twice a week during elementary and middle school, and I graduated without being to hold even a basic conversation and failed JLPT N5. I was so frustated that after all this time I hadn't been able to learn japanese, but after I started studying by myself, that's when I really began to learn, and it's been only a couple of months now. So, it's really encouraging watching someone that it's not claiming to have learnt N1 level in a couple of months. Great video!

[@japanesewithniko]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I think for the vast majority of people, it takes, even with solid effort and commitment, 4+ years to reach N1 level. So much is dependent on a person's circumstances, age, learning environment, study methods, etc. though. If I had to start over today, I'd be much more efficient. But with work, three little kids, and everything else, it'd probably still take me 5+ years to hit N1. But at least I'd be more confident that I'd get there with consistent effort long-term. Thanks for commenting!

[@nikhilbhatt24]

could you please suggest some resources?

[@rafhamine1792]

@@nikhilbhatt24 maybe you are asking @japanesewithniko, but right now I have just finished the textbook Genki 1, and it helped me a lot covering the basics. For vocabulary I'm using Anki and a Kanji app, so that I can study while commuting. I still have muchh to learn, but those resources are being my strategy, and the most important thing is to pick one and just start doing it and being consistent. I passed months just watching the best study method without actually studying. After I finished Genki 1, I am also having a private tutor to help me with speaking and grammar, but it's not fundamental. My plan is to finish Genki 2 now!

[@nikhilbhatt24]

@@rafhamine1792 I just started with Hiragana so I was a bit confused. Thanks a lot, I’ll check these out!

[@curative_fright4]

Maybe it was your lack of volume, 2x a week, you can’t rlly retain much or learn much.

[@kyleclark8958]

Not being too hard on yourself is the best advice. And have a good time. I hit a wall for a while and just adjusted my expectations and came at it fresh and felt a lot better. Learning a language is a lot like lifting weights. You work it enough you are going to get better no matter what method you use.

[@japanesewithniko]

I agree with you. Thank you for commenting your perspective! ^_^

[@Scholar0fLanguage]

your voice was so soothing bro but im glad to hear any time put into studying counts

[@japanesewithniko]

I'm surprised that a lot of people fine my voice soothing. Thank you for saying that. ^_^ Good luck with your studies!

[@Nohbdy_Ahtall]

Quite a big deal to the video I must say, experientially. I won't be surprised if a huge boost of interest builds(based on algorithm[s] of the day) and those who seek the voice soothery will hope it remains. Time to make yourself an ASMR side-channel? You may want to for your own audience's sake soon here xD

[@baturaykumbaroglu6066]

Lemme talk about working out for a minute. In my first year or two I was obsessed with researching in-depth the most efficient, science-backed exercises and debates around the perfect form for this lift and that lift etc.. The research is worthwhile, it will give you a strong foundation to build on and set you on the right path. But at a certain point you get more value out of just... doing. Just showing up. Day after day, months on end. And for that, you need to make it a habit you enjoy. Maybe it's not the most perfectly engineered workout out there, but if you're consistently putting in some meaningful work, and you look forward to it after a long day, then that's what makes a difference long term. Now a bit over two years into studying Japanese, I feel the same way about constantly overthinking how you study. I really related to the bit about the paper flashcards there :)

[@japanesewithniko]

There are definitely a lot of overlaps between fitness and language learning. And learning a language has made me better at fitness, for sure. ^_^ Thanks for commenting!

[@Stellaaahmanella]

This is so encouraging! I think it is also important to remember, as someone, like myself, who struggles with perfectionism, that actually just approaching learning more loosely is better than planning everything out to be the most efficient and being stuck in that phase, and ending up learning nothing at all.

[@japanesewithniko]

Yeah, definitely. To be honest, I would prefer to only make videos where we study and learn Japanese together, rather than just talk about learning it. But there is obviously a hunger for content about methodology, efficiency, etc. which is why I made this video (and will make others). I miss being a beginner at Japanese, oddly enough. It felt like there were fascinating discoveries around every corner. ^_^

[@Stellaaahmanella]

@@japanesewithnikoI am unsure if it was clear but I was not questioning your methods. Only added to your points because I think beginners like me can often forget that learning is more important than getting everything right before actually learning. ^^ I look forward to more of your videos!

[@seigoed88]

I’ve been studying for 15+ years off and on. Finally passed N2 on the third attempt last December. As long as you don’t give up we’re all gonna make it

[@japanesewithniko]

This is the kind of story I find most inspiring. The tenacity and persistence - it's really impressive to stick with something for so many years. Good luck as you continue your language learning journey!

[@andrewstuart9558]

I've been on and off for about 16 years since high school, studying for N2 right now and to be honest I think I might fail it. But perseverance and the desire to reach your goals will drive you to succeed, no matter how many times you may fail.

[@starmechlx]

I just hit the 10 year off and on mark this year. Finally taking the N2 for the first time this summer. Conversation is hands down the easiest part of Japanese for me. I don't need to think in English or anything. I can just freely speak Japanese with zero translation layer in my head for what I know. The issue is my vocab level is dog shit which has me worried. Been grinding out some vocabulary and reading a ton more than usual. Hoping I didn't start too late before the test!

[@Ekairah]

Been learning off and on for 7 years, now learning more hands on. I haven't taken a jlpt but know I would probably fail (my learning is all over n5 through n1.) I found a Japanese teacher who has been teaching me the basics I glossed over. If only I didn't rush. We got this guys!

[@pwcraddock1984]

I'm SO happy to find this video and channel, thank you! Flashcards with full Japanese sentences is a great tip.

[@japanesewithniko]

Glad it was helpful! I hope you find my other/future videos valuable, as well. Good luck with your studies! And thanks for commenting ^_^

[@EliSprague]

Hey man, this is my first video of yours to see and all I want to say is I sincerely appreciate your energy and attitude. Thanks for posting this out for everyone.

[@japanesewithniko]

Glad you liked it. Thank you for the motivating kind words! ^_^

[@abdulalshibly3930]

Having quit for 3 months after learning for 4 months and coming back into it and thinking I will never make it because I quit, hearing you come back after 2 years is such a huge eye opener especially since I was nearly quitting again this week. I forgot to have fun and wanted to learn as fast as possible. Thank you for this video

[@japanesewithniko]

I'm glad this video found you at the right time. When I quit learning Japanese, it felt so final. I really thought I'd simply failed and would "never" learn it. If I'd enjoyed myself more and put less pressure on myself, I probably wouldn't have lost those 2+ years... but oh well. They at least gave me a lot of perspective. Thank you for the comment!

[@Uchutanjyo]

It’s probably been between 6-7 years since I started studying and I just passed N3 in December. N1 in 7 years is impressive. :) so much of it is about how much time you put in. Looking forward to watching this!!

[@japanesewithniko]

Yeah, I think that's right. When people tell me how many years they've been studying, sometimes I like to ask if they can estimate how many hours they've studied. There is a big difference between 3000 hours in 7 years VS 1000 hours in 7 years. And both are impressive accomplishments. But the latter equates to something like 23 minutes a day vs 70 minutes a day for the former. So of course there would be a big difference in results, even if study methods were not equally efficient. I find the most impressive stories to be the people I talk to who are working professionals, often with kids, who still manage to maintain a consistent study routine month after month and year after year. They might not learn as quickly as a 21-year-old who can study 4 hours a day, but that's completely fine. They do learn and improve. And you can bet on them in the long-term. Anyway, thanks for commenting!

[@576kg8]

You don't understand how much this helped me tysm

[@japanesewithniko]

I'm so glad you found it helpful. ^_^

[@Mobik_]

I do not use Anki... even more, Anki affected my Japanese and I learned NOTHING with it. Every single time I will keep forgetting everything. I also don't use mnemonics as it affected my Japanese and Kanji the same way as Anki. For example, I saw the word 壁 around 30 times on Anki and I'll keep failing... but I read just a few chapters of a book who had 壁 on the title and inside the chapters and boom, now I remember it forever. I read e-books with click to translate, same for podcasts with transcripts and click to translate if needed; KZbin as well, Japanese subs with click to translate. Kanji is a daily practice, 400+ days on it and reached 常用漢字 by the day 365. I need CONTEXT to learn Japanese and Anki removes most of the context from my learning process.

[@スルちゃん-n2o]

This !! I am taking a similar approach and making a steady but continuous improvement .

[@Kinglysharkis]

Some flashcards have kanji with a sentence attached to it

[@Mobik_]

​@@Kinglysharkiseven so... that's tons of context removed, as you didn't create the cards (most of the time, like the 2K/6K deck) and means nothing to you, therefore, you'll not remember anything. Reading books (ebooks if you want) is great as you have a huge amount of context with a story that catches you and then you can listen to proper Japanese in full context to re review what you just read to be sure.

[@japanesewithniko]

Context is certainly huge for learning Japanese. And a kanji in isolation does have all the context pulled out, which makes it harder to retain. It sounds like you've found some methods that work for you. Nice! Thank you for commenting ^_^

[@FakfridSumanko]

Do you use any apps or extentions for that?

[@jaelsilk]

I recently got my C level bilingual certification for French. It was a 5 year journey (with the advantage of taking some French in high school) but it really only took off when I shook off the sense of pressure and doubt and just decided to enjoy myself. Excellent advice for any learning process in life.

[@japanesewithniko]

Yeah, I would definitely be more laid-back and enjoy myself if starting over. Congrats on getting to a high level of French! That's so cool ^_^

[@_Bubblefly]

How did you do it after highschool? I did get lessons from highschool and left the language completely but now i feel like completing the delf exam. Do you mind to share?

[@glennl9378]

The difference in tone and advice between this and that N1-in-2-years guy is huge. This is the kind of advice I hear from friends and colleagues who eventually finished grad school, or those who went through something grueling.

[@user-wlj68sbwj97]

Dude…. I passed N1 in December, after probably 10 years of on and off study. And I couldn’t even feel happy about it because in most of the online JP learning communities I’m in, everyone else had only a few years of study under their belt (5 years at most…) I kept going in circles with similar mistakes, until I found what works best for me (which was a mismatch of a bunch of different resources, now I’m content with just consuming native content). I agree quitting is the worst thing you can do, it doesn’t matter how long it takes for you to improve, if you keep going you eventually will get better!!

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you for sharing this helpful perspective. We all have our own unique paths. I agree that when you look around online, it can feel like the norm is to hit these levels much faster. People tend to advertise their successes, not their failures, which is part of it. But yeah, as long as one doesn't quit, and is consistent, it only gets better. ^_^

[@Xubuntu47]

6:58 "You'll learn it. Just have some faith." I really needed to hear that. My Japanese journey has been long and convoluted, with lots of frustration and seemingly little progress. I have had thoughts of quitting, but maybe I'll hang in there a while, and try to enjoy the journey without worrying so much about some end goal.

[@japanesewithniko]

Please do hang in there. And it will indeed be hard to do so if you're not enjoying the journey and instead worrying about how much progress you're making and at what speed. ​Good luck with your studies! Feel free to reach out if you hit any speed bumps along the way. ^_^

[@gerenan]

You have a very good approach to Japanese and I really like your calm demeanor and voice.

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you ^_^. This is actually one of my more "high energy" videos... which can give you an idea of how calm my demeanor is, haha. I'm glad some people enjoy that, at least.

[@gerenan]

@@japanesewithniko where are you from and are you still in the Tokyo area? Going to Japan for 3 months (I'll go there in 10 days) and would like to meet up if you're still in Japan

[@japanesewithniko]

I grew up in Southern California. I'm not living in Japan at the moment, so I cannot meet up, unfortunately. Hope you have a nice trip!

[@itsCatMeme37]

I have studied for 8 months, and I can't even have a natural introduction conversation with someone. This is due to the WILDY inefficient way I started. I did what you were talking about. I learned Hiragana and Katakana first, but then went down a 6 month rabbit hole where I just wrote Kanji in a book over and over and over. I have no vocab, no examples of natural speech, no grammar knowledge. I finally just started the core 2k with Anki, and hired a tutor. Now I am focusing on Vocabulary and !!!CONTEXT!!! I also think there's really no other way around immersion and natural interaction with natives than to just go there for a year or two.

[@itsCatMeme37]

What's so funny is that I had NO idea that learning Kanji by itself teaches you nothing. You write a Kanji 500 times in a row, and then it shows up in a word, and you have no idea which pronunciation to use.

[@Paul-yk7ds]

Lots of language exchange video calls or italki conversations can also really help, if you can't be physically in Japan or speaking to Japanese people face-to-face. Most of my early progress was made through italki video calls of just free conversation. It gets expensive, but yeah the hours of experience stack up, and it's fun (in my opinion).

[@kaungsett2241]

Mad respect with calm video and knowledge. One subscribe earned.

[@japanesewithniko]

I'm glad you got value from it. Thank you for subscribing. ^_^

[@languagewhorder]

I've only been studying Japanese for 5 months and I am definitely in the "can I really ever learn this" stage. Thank you so much for sharing your journey and encouraging us to not give up.

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you for the comment. And happy to help! I'm glad you got value from the video ^_^

[@ivangg378]

Thank you man...Im here in japan and im fighting for my life to just put the word, and I constantly doubt my methods and everything. Its cool to see that lots of people understand.

[@japanesewithniko]

I know that doubt all too well. Good luck with your studies. Thank you for commenting! ^_^

[@kamfuku]

This is like the warm fuzzy hug I didn't know I needed 😂❤

[@cristianhcm1914]

G@y

[@Dead-EyeMetal]

Thanks for this. I'm like 3 weeks into beginning to learn Japanese (as a 64 year-old). I seem to be taking longer than I expected to actually figure out how I'm going to learn. The websites, books and apps I've made a start with seem to be structured in ways that don't seem logical to me, and some seem to jump from stuff I can cope with to stuff that baffles me. Learning Kana has been nice and straightforward, but the sudden expectation to be able to learn and get tested on words containing Kanji (without Furigana), even though I've not been prepared by any teaching of those characters, keeps throwing me. Hearing about what other people have struggled with is as helpful as hearing their (often sponsored) recommendations. When I know the mistakes others have made, I can look out for those same traps. ありがとうございます。

[@japanesewithniko]

Thanks for commenting! It can certainly be overwhelming when just getting started. I wouldn't worry too much about finding the "right" study materials right away. I don't think it's a big deal if it takes you a few months of testing out various approaches and materials. At some point I'll make a video about what I do recommend, as opposed to mistakes I should have avoided. Usually I just tell people to use NativShark, which is a company I helped start. But of course I would say that ^_^. Anyway, that's so cool you're starting to learn Japanese at 64. My parents are similar ages, and I often try to get them to study new things like languages, but they aren't interested. Good luck!

[@Dead-EyeMetal]

@@japanesewithniko Thank you. And of course I will check out Nativshark, LOL.

[@stefanheiler2329]

I'm also a late starter. It's never too late to start something new!! 頑張ってください 🙏

[@slowmarchingband1]

I'm 64 in June, you're not alone! I use Duolingo and Coban apps, plus Japanese Pod101 and listen to a lot of Japanese vlogs. My wife is Japanese (which helps!) and I'm determined to be able to converse comfortably with her family eventually. 頑張って!

[@Dead-EyeMetal]

@@slowmarchingband1 Bro, a Japanese spouse is kind of cheating a little, lol. One of my colleagues has been married to a Korean lady for a few years. I was pretty shocked to discover that he has managed to avoid learning any significant amount of Korean. Weird and kind of rude, IMO.

[@sethh8798]

Same thing almost has happened to me with German. I'm approaching the end of my third year studying and only just became B1 because I truly had no idea how to study. I've made more progress in the past 6 months than I have in almost 3 years because I stopped doubting myself so much and diversifying my inputs.

[@japanesewithniko]

Hey, at least you found something that worked eventually. Congrats on sticking it out this long! I want to learn German someday... Thanks for commenting ^_^

[@zach_zach5898]

I've been studying japanese in a very relaxed manner for 3years now. During the 1st 6months I studied ~3hrs every day. went through basics course online in 3 weeks and then I read genki workbook very meticulously. I got a basic understanding of the structure and thought flow of the language so I could follow basic discussions. Then I felt like I should just practice those basic structures and add nuances over time. My main idea was not to get burnt out, but at the 1.5 year mark my consistency (at this point I studied for 2hrs 3 times per week) took a nosedive since I felt I was not as good as I was at the 1year mark. I ended up quitting for 6months until I started a university course. It was a very easy course on the basics and I didn't really learn new things, but it re-awakened my interest in japanese and I have been studying more and more, although still at a leisurely pace ever since. It will probably take me somewhere around 10years to get to n1 at my pace, but that's fine. I can translate manga with some effort, which was my original goal, and I understand spoken japanese well enough for travelling to japan someday. Just an example of someone who benefited from university courses.

[@japanesewithniko]

I don't think it really matters how long it takes, as long as you are consistent, keep your ultimate goal in mind, and enjoy the journey. You've got this!

[@japanesewithniko]

Oh, and I should have mentioned that taking university courses was very exciting for me. I enjoyed it. I just didn't learn much from the actual courses. Most of my learning, even during that time period, ended up being on my own outside of what the courses were doing. Also, some programs are no doubt better than others.

[@ThatGuyyy1]

You have such a soothing demeanor haha it made the advice hit that much more. I’ve been studying Japanese for over 4 years and I think I’m barely scraping N4. Going to Japanese language school for 6 months soon to hopefully speed up the process while adding in some 楽しむこと！ Thanks you!

[@japanesewithniko]

Thanks for the kind words. ^_^ You must be so excited for your trip! Please don't worry too much about your perceived progress in the language during that 6 months. My first extended trip to Japan I worried too much about that stuff. When I should have just been having a good time and making lots of connections with new people. (I did manage that to an extent, though, and made some lifelong friendships.) Good luck! And I think N4 after 4 years is fine, by the way. Studying gets easier and more fun as you get better, so hang in there!

[@ThatGuyyy1]

@@japanesewithniko Aww I appreciate your thoughtful response! I'm extremely excited, and I will definitely keep your advice in mind. I would love to return home knowing I've created some lasting bonds with locals and other folks I'll be studying with. Also, nice to hear N4 after 4 years is fine hahaha I wish I was much further along, but trying to trust whatever my meandering path is. Take care :)

[@AntonDev0]

Very happy I got recommended this video. Thank you for sharing!

[@japanesewithniko]

I'm glad you got value from it. Thank you for commenting! ^_^

[@purpl3t1m3]

I loved this! I'm leaning heavily on wanikani now and it's helped with so many other resources (and finally being able to read things and understand the 'why' of words). It really makes them easier to remember, even though it's more to remember. I know I need to branch out again, so I'll give Nativshark a go. Thank you for sharing your story - it's always great to hear something so sincere and humble!

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you for commenting. ^_^ It sounds like you are making great progress, which is awesome. Congratulations! If you do end up using NativShark, by the way, we have an integration with WaniKani so that we don't try to teach you any kanji you've already learned there.

[@kairu_b]

Another calming and helpful video, sir!

[@zaila5859]

Sa true

[@kairu_b]

@@zaila5859 totoo nga

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you! ^_^

[@denkodenn]

I stumbled onto this video after a year where i basically gave up on japanese. I felt this resentment towards myself because my friends that studied dilligently for a year got so much better than me when I've been studying for two years at that point. I lived in this echo chamber of people that claim to get N1 in a year or two and I felt like I was the only one dumb enough to not manage that. This video put my head back in place, I got back to my flashcards, didn't read much but at least tried flipping through some japanese books and manga I have, struggled a little bit more trying to read tweets and didn't just hit the translate button immediately. I'm feeling exactly like when I began studying, I know my limitations but I have fun when I get something right even if I can't understand a lot of the sentence. Thanks dude, really, this video is so simple but it's the push I needed to get back into things.

[@japanesewithniko]

I'm glad this video found you at a good time. It sounds like you only took a year off, which I think isn't too bad. I took 2 years off and was surprised that a lot of the language I'd learned was still hiding there in my brain once I got back into my studies. Good luck!

[@parhwy]

Thank you for this video. I appreciated your sincerity, insight, calmness and tips. I have started (December, 2023) to DIY-learn Japanese where my goal is to get to Japan sometime in 2025 and be able to function politely in their culture by understanding and using their language. Yet already I can hear many doubts in my head, so it's kinda reassuring that someone else had that too (I wish we didn't tho); mine can be quite weird and specific, "Oh your 53 year old eyes are too weak to read kanji and your brain too old too to remember this!" And yet, I hear myself smiling with joy at how artful the language can be. I accidentally learnt a rare kanji, jellyfish, being 'ocean moon' (海月) and frankly that is too damn cute for my poetic heart. So there is hope. I will try your tip of kanji/convo/context combo instead of solely ALL hiragana then ALL essential kanji then... etc, etc.. Thank you: onegaiishimasu!

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you for commenting, and I'm glad you found value from the video. By the way, I have talked to people who have successfully reached pretty impressive levels of Japanese ability at older ages than yours. The hardest part for me when it comes to learning, as I get older, is that I have more responsibilities (work, kids, etc.), so I have less time to sit down and learn in the first place! Best of luck with your studies!

[@Yihwa_G]

I can relate to this so much! It took me 3 languages and almost 10 years to realize how I personally learn languages best, which is by doing a mix of things that are extremely efficient and things that I simply enjoy, regardless of how efficient they are. That is why I really liked that you mentioned this point as well. Many people in certain language learning communities use very inefficient and sometimes even ineffective methods, and I can tell that, because I used to use some of those methods as well, but ultimately, language learning is a very individual journey, and although anyone can get inspiration and knowledge from others, it is also a process of trial and error which everyone has to go through themselves at the end of the day.

[@japanesewithniko]

I know what you mean. Everyone's path is different. Whatever language I learn next, I am planning to learn it pretty "slowly" but enjoy myself the entire time. But maybe I'll wait till my kids get older so I have enough free time to make it at least somewhat feasible lol. Thank you for commenting!

[@sabrinarock2349]

The honesty and courage already got my attention. Thank you for making this video ⭐️

[@kylespevak6781]

2:54 Studying kanji is literally useless, and seems to be a trap learners fall into. Just learn words with their kanji, and you'll develop a sense for the meaning and know a few readings off hand to try when you see a new word. Hell, you don't need to know how to read a new word to understand it, thanks to kanji

[@japanesewithniko]

I was going to comment that, yeah, learning words is the way to go, and then link to my recent kanji-learning video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIuUZYyAa9uHrtk But then I noticed that you already commented on that one ^_^ Thanks for both comments!

[@eljohnpro1010]

Finally a youtuber whoreally list down all the mistakes that he did on studying and not someone who just learned japanese for a year and after would boast about it. Thank you for this!! I love how you emphasize the quitting and doubting on yourself. Thought I was the only one experiencing things. In reality, learning a language really takes time. As much as we love the results, but there's no actually a way of speeding things up. It should undergo a lot of process. Also love that you said even though you think that you're studying is inefficient, it just makes the days longer but it doesn't mean that you're not learning!! So thank you for pointing out this things!!

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you for commenting ^_^ I do think a lot of us experience that doubt and whatnot for Japanese. It simply takes a big commitment to get to a high level in the language. I hope your learning journey is going well and you're enjoying it!

[@oiseau_libre]

Anxiety is the biggest learning of ANY learning process! Believe in yourself, people! Self-doubt is so depressing! ☹

[@japanesewithniko]

Yeah, it really gets in the way. Now that I'm older, I have much less of it. Too bad I can't tell my younger self to stop doubting so much! Thank you for commenting. ^_^

[@MisterM2402]

I started Japanese about 13 years ago, still only around N3 level now. I had a strong few years at the start but then I had long periods of lacking motivation in the middle where I did next to nothing, so it's definitely not been 13 proper years of studying. I remember when I started, I reckoned I could reach "fluency" in 4 years and laughed at people who were like 8 years in and still beginners, but now the tables have turned... Finally got my groove back in the past few months and this is the most time I've spent with Japanese for a loooong time. Also, Anki Burnout/Dread is very real - I've got a much better setup now which is much less miserable.

[@japanesewithniko]

It sounds very similar to what happened to me. Finding a study groove that is sustainable consistently over a long period of time is the true challenge. A strong burst at the start, then burnout/drop in motivation just creates more stories like ours. Anyway, it sounds like you're finding something that works for you, which is great!

[@popcorn3407]

It's interesting to see how everyone has their problems and optimal learning methods, and priorities when studying! Great video

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you. I'm glad you found it useful!

[@Agyo_]

Thank you so much for sharing and being so honest about your journey. It’s so refreshing to watch a video about someone who didn’t acquire their target proficiency in a ‘shorter’ amount of time. YES the self sabotage ruins it! Thank you again.

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you! Although many times over the years I did wish I'd learned it in a shorter amount of time, it feels pretty insignificant to me now. Thanks for commenting ^_^

[@elliot7452]

Thank you so much. Been living Japan for year and so frustrated by my progress. This gives me hope and encouragement

[@deansimmons3259]

This is probably the most heart-warming and encouraging video I have ever seen about learning Japanese. Even though I have studied pretty intensely for nearly 4 years and passed N3, I still have self doubts and feel very inadequate and frustrated with my level and have also thought about quitting altogether. Thank you for your genuine encouragement!! It really come s through in your video.

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you for the kind words. I am so happy that the video is of value to you. N3 is a big accomplishment! I actually think you've gotten the hardest parts out of the way - the other levels of JLPT are really just more vocab and ways to string them together, if you're interested in JLPT, that is. Anyway, thank you for commenting ^_^

[@plebisMaximus]

That voice in your head can be extremely dominant. I've quit twice in the past and right now, every time I open up Anki to drill some vocab or I go to pay for a lesson with my tutor, I consider quitting again. All those doubts about whether I'll even use it, that I'm not smart enough for it anyway, that it's too much time, etc. Doing my best to stick with it this time though, regardless of all the doubt. It was great to hear I'm not alone in this, nearly every other language learning video I've watched makes it sound like it's a quick and easy process that's never hard to get through at any point, good to see there are still humans on earth lol.

[@japanesewithniko]

To be fair, Anki and other SRS can be so depressing, especially if you take your reviews too seriously. Coming to accept that it's often fine to just spam "Good" on flashcards was an important part in my language learning journey. Anyway, hang in there! It does get better.

[@N3r3kl4m0uk]

Thank you for this video. I've been learning for 2 years and im gonna start n3 and i feel super anixous because all the content is about people rushing 0 to n1 in 1 year :)

[@japanesewithniko]

Glad it was helpful! I agree it can be discouraging to see someone make such fast progress. And even if they are an outlier, it makes you wonder why you're not learning that fast. But I think the reliable way to set yourself apart as a person who "succeeds" at learning Japanese (whatever that means to the person in question) is to stick with it consistently, long-term. Good luck on your Japanese-learning journey! ^_^

[@KENTOSI]

This hits home in so many ways, though my process was a little different. The anki revision hell and over-focusing on learning kanji: been there, done that :-) My ultimate embarrassment was hiding behind reading Japanese so much that I ended up reading advanced books like Harry Potter and fantasy novels, but could never understand spoken Japanese, let alone hold a conversation. After 6 years I ultimately gave up with career being my excuse. This was 3 years ago. I've recently restarted Japanese with a stubborn focus on audio so that I can understand conversations, listen to podcasts, watch movies, etc. Wish me luck :-)

[@japanesewithniko]

I mean, if you were successfully reading Harry Potter and stuff, that is seriously impressive. I think the listening comprehension will come quickly with some practice if you have a solid foundation like that. Good luck moving forward! And thank you for commenting ^_^

[@OsabeDeNada]

I gave up for over a year because I didn't have the money to buy the course I wanted to take, which is in my native language. But now I'm back and studying independently, and I won't give up. Thanks for the video, I know it wasn't the main goal to be a motivational video, but for me ended up being it.

[@coolbrotherf127]

I really appreciate channels like this. I was able to improve my Japanese so much faster than I ever thought possible by learning stuff like this early on. I tried learning German back about 10 years ago now before learning good study habits and got nowhere in 2 years as I could only remember the basics and didn't know how to improve.

[@japanesewithniko]

Yeah, it really speeds up learning of other new languages once you figure out what works for you, doesn't it? Now I just need to actually set aside time to learn some other languages. Maybe when my kids get a little older haha ^_^

[@fatimahmakgatho8968]

I appreciate people like you who share there experience. It's really encouraging

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you for commenting. I'm glad you found it encouraging! I certainly needed some of this perspective in my early years of studying.

[@Sakura-zu4rz]

I haven't had any fun lately, 😭 so it was fun. You bring me joy!❤🙂I love the kind and generous heartwarming atmosphere that you create, your kind, easygoing, warm vibe. ❤

[@japanesewithniko]

I'm so glad! Thank you for commenting also ^_^

[@jukiaaa]

Was super surprised when this showed up on my youtube recs! I started learning Japanese back in like 2015 or 2016 and used a lot advice that I had found on nihongoshark to get started lol. Looking back I definitely had some questionable study methods but I've been living and working in Japan primarily in Japanese for almost 2 years now so it's nostalgic to think about now. Even though it wasn't the most efficient, I had a lot of fun back then with my own paper flash cards and that ended up being more important in the end anyway!

[@japanesewithniko]

Yeah, I definitely changed my views on a lot of things since the NihongoShark days. But I'm glad that that old content still helped a lot of people, even if their paths often ended up being different from what I recommended. It sounds like you're doing great. Happy to hear it! ^_^

[@edomint945]

One of the best and most honest videos I've seen on learning Japanese and the struggles one goes through. As a long time learner myself, doubts do creep in, even at this stage. My Japanese is functional, I can talk and read, but I'm still far from being fluent. I was starting to think I might never be fluent, and at the age of 41 just beginning to accept it as a possibility. But you reminded me that sometimes those doubts are self imposed. Thanks.

[@Topboxicle]

This is really refreshing, especially the part where you talked about quitting for a couple of years. I tried to learn japanese about a year ago, and I was able to memorise and write both hiragana and katana characters but got so frustrated with kanji, and having a really stressful job at the time I kinda just burnt out, it's nice to know that other people have had similar experiences, I'm trying again and I hope it goes better this time.

[@fleetpaws6569]

This video is like a warm hug. I plan on starting to learn a language soon and I will remind myself to stay lighthearted and keep faith in myself ^ - ^

[@japanesewithniko]

This is such a nice compliment, thank you. Good luck in your studies, whichever language(s) you choose to learn! ^_^

[@JapaneseLearning-fx1mk]

this is the loveliest video, thank you, you have made me feel better about my cute little flashcards

[@japanesewithniko]

I'm so glad! There's nothing like some cute little flashcards. Now if only my handwriting wasn't so ugly...

[@JapaneseLearning-fx1mk]

Ha thanks! 2 weeks into nativshark and loving it, cheers! ✌🏻

[@slowmarchingband1]

Glad this recommendation came up. I feel better about my slow learning speed now.

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you! I'm glad you found value from it

[@rokucon4218]

What a beautifully constructed video.

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you so much. This comment really means a lot to me. ^_^ Good luck with your studies!

[@petermiller2188]

Thank you for your realistic take on learning the language and for not letting your ego intrude on your considerable achievement.

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you for the comment and kind words. I think over the years I often got frustrated at not learning the language as quickly as all these products/services promised me I would. I think a lot of that was just due to them trying to sell a product and me wanting to believe there was some secret shortcut that would make it so I don't actually have to try for too long or work too hard ^_^ Thanks again!

[@jonahxddd2932]

I'm a year into learning japanese, and I'm still so bad at it. This video was a super good breath of fresh air that I needed. Subbed and looking forward to checking out your other videos!

[@japanesewithniko]

I'm so glad! Thanks for subscribing. For what it's worth, I felt that I was terrible at Japanese for the first several years of learning it, not just the first one. Now that I'm pretty comfortable with the language, I actually feel nostalgic about those first few years, when it seemed like there was a new discovery to be made everywhere I looked in the language. ​Good luck with your studies! Feel free to reach out if you hit any speed bumps along the way. ^_^

[@tronspace]

Thank you for the honesty, good video

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful

[@chansiongwoon2836]

Thank you for the advice! Also your voice is super soothinggg

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it valuable. And thank you for commenting, also ^_^

[@joleneskvarek5649]

This was surprisingly so heartwarming. And I have done all the same mistakes. But now feel greatly encouraged to keep going. みんなさん頑張って！

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you for commenting! 頑張ってください！

[@Eric.Carter]

Dang - didn't know how much I needed to hear this. I am DEEP in the 'constant doubt' phase, I can't quit, but it is ridiculously discouraging some days. Thank you for 'chin up'!

[@japanesewithniko]

It's rough when the doubt hits hard, isn't it? It felt like it took forever, but that doubt did fade for me eventually. ​Good luck with your studies! Feel free to reach out if you hit any speed bumps along the way. ^_^ And thanks for commenting, too.

[@InterludeSpiral]

Your calmness and the style of your videos are my type of videos that I like, also people like you who share these stories throughout their learning journey are the reason that I am N2 in a year and a month. It is not that I am genius or I studied more than 3 hours a day, I am also a senior in uni and doing intern that do not have much spare time in their day, but like I said people like you made me realize how to not study Japanese, so I reached this level in this amount of time. Thanks and keep going please, I enjoy these videos while sipping a cup of tea

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you for the comment and kind words. And wow, you're making great progress! It took me much longer to hit N2. I don't speak Arabic, but we maintain pretty laid-back vibes in the NativShark Discord community. No everyone in there is using NativShark, either. People use all kinds of resources/methods to learn Japanese. People are generally very kind/supportive. Thank you for the comment, also!

[@m1pha]

thank you so much for this. especially for mentioning the struggle of doubting yourself. that, along with not knowing the most effective study routine, are my biggest roadblocks. i attempted to learn for about a year and quickly gave up because i was so down on myself. i felt like i would never be able to have a conversation with someone and was so scared of messing up and looking dumb. i recently picked it backed up and am hoping that approaching it with a different mindset will quiet some of that doubt and lead to more success. knowing that i am not alone in doubting my abilities makes me feel a lot less isolated and feel like I might be able to actually do this. tldr ur video was phenomenal and ur advice really resonated with me. thank you!

[@japanesewithniko]

That you so much for this comment and kind words. I have felt a lot of these same things. I also have had a lot of anxiety about messing up and looking dumb... something I've now done more times than I can count. Now I've done it so many times, I can just laugh it off when it happens, but when I was struggling with it, this mindset helped me a lot: - Messing up in front of fellow learners of Japanese makes them feel better. Having perfect Japanese is more likely to make them feel insecure. As much as I want perfect Japanese, making someone feel good about their own Japanese is nice too ^_^ - Same thing when talking to native speakers, only they might have the pleasure of thinking "My English is better than his Japanese". Or if not, they might think, "I should stop worrying so much about making mistakes in English because I don't care that he is making mistakes in Japanese." Anyway, good luck with your studies!

[@m1pha]

@@japanesewithniko thank you so much, that is phenomenal advice. sometimes all it takes is to view things from a different perspective to help change your mindset. I will definitely remember those 2 things when I try conversing with people in Japanese. thank you again for the great videos, they have been very helpful with my studies :)

[@lillespez]

This video just covered all my recent problems when learning Japanese. But it really helped me out, so thanks a lot!!

[@japanesewithniko]

Happy to help! I'm glad you found it valuable. And thank you for commenting. ^_^

[@shadow2002]

You have one of the sweetest voice. Also thanks for the advice.

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you. That's such a nice thing to say ^_^ ​Good luck with your studies! Feel free to reach out if you hit any speed bumps along the way.

[@jellyplasm]

Interesting to hear another perspective. I also finished RTK a long time ago and am constantly forgetting my mnemonics (especially now that the gaps between reviews are so long) but overall it's been really effective and I'm glad that I stuck through it. I also switched to J-J cards as you mentioned and am still going with this, I really enjoy being able to learn a word and feel like I understand it completely independent of English.

[@japanesewithniko]

If you're enjoying J-J flashcards, I don't think it is really a "mistake". I probably wouldn't do it if I were starting over, but it can be fun, and you do discover interesting things along the way. Good luck!

[@SupremacyGamesYT]

I'm about to achieve N5 after 12month so im pretty proud of that. Some advice I can give is, you really don't have to study many hours per day just optimize you're study. If you do too many hours or put too much pressure on yourself you'll just come to resent it and quit.

[@japanesewithniko]

The risk of burnout and making your studies feel like a chore is real. What I would instead recommend is having a core study activity you do an amount that you can manage consistently long-term. Then on days when you have time and motivation for more, do something outside of that. Don't worry when the supplemental studies fall of track. Do worry when the core studies do. Thanks for commenting!

[@FreeBirdJPYT]

Honestly, watching this video has made me feel so much better. I’m currently studying for the N2 exam and it’s pretty stressful, because I’ve had difficulties with understanding Japanese. I understand some words and what they mean, and I can read a lot of Kanji, but when I hear people speak it it just doesn’t click in my brain. But seeing someone else who has difficulties learning this language, which makes me feel better

[@japanesewithniko]

I felt all these things in 2012 when I was prepping to take JLPT N2. It felt so urgent that I pass right then. I took the test and was sure I'd failed, but I ended up just barely passing. By the time I got my score, I had already moved to Japan and finally had figured out a consistent study routine. 18 months later, I passed N1, but this time it didn't feel urgent, and the test felt a lot easier than N2 had. Now, 10+ years after that, I realize that it wouldn't have mattered if I failed both of those tests. If I just maintained my consistency and gradually improved my study methods as I went, OF COURSE I would learn it. So if something "doesn't click" in your brain, please don't worry about it. You probably just haven't seen it enough in a varied number of contexts. It all does click eventually, if we are consistent. Good luck!

[@jimmyjack1896]

Thank you for posting this video. I really needed to hear it today (1 month later)! Being a perfectionist myself, I spend more time trying to find the best and most efficient study methods than actually studying. I still can't see a clear path forward nor the finish line, but your words were very encouraging and inspirational. Subscribed. Thank you.

[@japanesewithniko]

Thanks for the comment, and for subscribing too. ^_^ I often come back to thinking to myself: "Am I being productive or active right now?" Active: watching videos like this one (well, except the last few minutes), reading discussions online about "the best" way to learn, calculating how many hours/days/weeks/months I need to study to reach my level, etc. Productive: Putting new Japanese into my brain. Trying to use my brain to create some of my own Japanese. Then I try to be productive for a portion of the day, every day, for a long period of time. Good luck with your studies! For more on efficiency and whatnot, I think my other recent video might be useful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5PHZniIZdGSjLs

[@JessePFitzgerald]

So many guides and comments are based around min-maxing everything. Thanks for chiming in with an experience that isn't that.

[@japanesewithniko]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for commenting ^_^

[@GoGoNihonGo]

Anyone studying Japanese will make mistakes, but sharing your experience is incredibly valuable for other learners ✨ Doubting yourself will always stunt your progress, but keeping at it will create growth, even if it may seem small at first. You did great!!

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you! You're right making mistakes is just part of it. Then learning from them ^_^

[@siobhanrose1680]

Well, that was not the video I was expecting to watch, and the tears I am having because of it, were unexpected as well. I am pretty new to Japanese, and I have thrown myself in completely. I have a fair bit of spare time, and currently, Japanese is taking up all of it, and I love it. But, there is always that voice in the back of my head, that you just mentioned, and, I know I need to doubt myself less. Not doubt myself at all. I am showing up, every day, and putting in the time, I will get it, it will come and it will stick and my brain will eventually be able to think in Japanese. Thanks for this.

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you for your comment. It sounds like we have some similar voices in the back of our heads ^_^. But they do get quieter when we commit to showing up consistently, long-term, and letting the results pop up on their own when they're ready to do so. Good luck with your studies! Sometimes I miss being an absolute beginner, where it seemed like there was a huge, fascinating revelation every few minutes of studying the language. I am still finding them, but just not as often.

[@Eudaimonia239]

Great advice I am currently learning korean, but I plan to learn japanese afterwards. I agree about confidence and enjoying the process, patience is also important.

[@japanesewithniko]

I want to learn Korean too! I have started and stopped a few times but have never given it a serious attempt. I keep getting distracted by other things. Also, I wish Korean had kanji. It's so hard to figure out which words are which. Or rather, I wish they'd kept Hanja.

[@anna8282]

​@@japanesewithniko I'm really happy they didn't, because kanji is the reason why my Japanese has never advanced from basic everyday level, I switched to Korean and am actually getting somewhere. Wasting years on learning to just read and write is a no go for me.

[@souliersdewaffles]

I just recently started studying Japanese. I've learned another language (French) to fluency and it took me about 8 years. Refreshing to see someone giving a realistic timeline for language learning. Also as a side note, you have a very calming way of speaking.

[@japanesewithniko]

Thanks for commenting! And congratulations on learning French! I'd love to learn it someday.

[@liamgell]

I have a similar experience. I studied for 6 months, went to Japan, came back and gave up. Now, I restarted at the start of 2024 and I’m doing much better this time around.

[@japanesewithniko]

Yeah, that sounds a lot like me. I "gave up" pretty much right after I got back from Japan. Turned out that was just a 2 year break, though ^_^ Good luck! Thank you for commenting, also

[@Golden-fish575]

I started leanring Japanese like a week ago and i barely can read anything and i can't understand most of it and i feel overwhelmed with the existence of kanji and the long away ahead of me and started questioning if i can learn it, This vid motivated me to keep going thanks alot. And btw Japanese will be my 3rd language if i learned it.

[@japanesewithniko]

I'm glad that this video was of value to you, thank you. Knowing three languages would be cool! I used to be all right at Spanish, after years of intermittent studying and 3 months volunteering in Peru... but that was now almost 15 years ago! Needless to say, my Spanish is nowhere near as good as it used to be. I've only got English and Japanese at the moment ^_^ Thank you for commenting

[@lolololol7573]

Honestly I'm so glad to see these kind of video's. Everyone has their own journey and not everybody is able to learn the same way. It's frustrating to see the "it's easy" types because they act as if you're too lazy or not productive enough. While that's ridiculous. If I look back on how I learned English, it started when I was a little 5-6 yo kid when Cartoon Network had subtitles. I was barely old enough to read subtitles. It took me until I was 14 years old to have normal conversations and I was 17 when I was fully fluent. And this is while half my surroundings is in English (television and the internet mostly). That's not the case for Japanese. The biggest search for me wasn't so much learning the language. but figuring out how I - as a person myself - learn best. It's different for everyone. All some people need is a book. And others need audio and others need some kind of gamification. The biggest struggle in my opinion isn't the language but finding how you yourself work.

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you for the comment! I think some people will find your words very helpful. ^_^

[@rinarinachan_]

Thank you for sharing. I failed N1 last year after studying seriously for six years. I will try again soon. 😤

[@japanesewithniko]

Good luck on your second attempt! If you're at the point where passing is seeming close/possible, then you are making progress, regardless of how long it took.

[@eecorr]

I'm 41, and I find Japanese culture so fascinating that I decided to start learning the language. For me, it's more fun and culturally interesting. Even though I sometimes feel like I want to learn it quickly, I realize I need to enjoy the process instead of rushing, just like you said. I wish I had started earlier in life, but your video gave me the energy and motivation to take things as they come and not push myself too hard. ありがとう! 😊

[@japanesewithniko]

I think this is the right mindset to have. Also, there are other languages I am hoping to learn in the future, regardless of how old I get, so it's a mindset I want to cultivate also. Thank you for commenting! I hope you are enjoying the journey ^_^

[@shadowfoxx14]

LOL I have been using NS on and off for years now, and I didn't realize this was your channel until the very end of this video. I'm late, but I subscribed to you!

[@japanesewithniko]

Awesome! I hope you are enjoying NS. All of these years, I've been so focused on creating Japanese learning content inside of NativShark, there wasn't much time for things like this. But I'm starting to find a way to make both feasible. Thanks for commenting and subscribing ^_^

[@TheBBCSlurpee]

You’re a real one bro this is so helpful 🙏

[@vladchalenko4456]

Speed with learning a language, especially when considering the JLPT, is NOT everything people make it out to be. I passed my N5 (somehow) after around a year of inconsistent studying, but I can tell you that I don't believe I can speak (speaking kinda being the most important thing lol) at even a N5 level. Like any test, the JLPT is a test that can be game-ified; during the grammar and listening section I mostly just chose choices that "sounded" correct. I could not justify a lot of my choices besides that. I have passively listened to a lot Japanese through TV and travel and leaned on that experience, while not actually knowing the correct grammatical rules or translations of the sentences I was answering to. Thanks for sharing your reflections, you put the journey of learning into a realistic perspective.

[@japanesewithniko]

Thanks for commenting! Yeah, the JLPT measures comprehension, but it doesn't measure your productive ability at all. You can definitely pass N1 without even being conversational in Japanese. But that is fine if you are not interested in speaking. Most people are interested in speaking, which is why the JLPT often is not a great measure of ability for them.

[@limes_I]

Currently trying to stay consistent learnin japanese (again), this video just gave me really good vibes! Im currently in japan and while i don't understand most of whats spoken around me, I do feel its progressing and that is the main takeaway from learning over a longer period of time. If you keep at it its gonna become better

[@japanesewithniko]

This exactly! It sounds like you are on the right track. ​Good luck with your studies! Feel free to reach out if you hit any speed bumps along the way. ^_^

[@SpaceMuffin]

aw you're so sweet. THANK YOU!!!

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you! I'm glad you seem to have gotten value from the video ^_^ Thanks for commenting

[@dwellinj1513]

Enjoyed this and have done all the things you mentioned! 😆 I walked away in frustration for a long time but came back to just tinker in Duplingo without being too serious. It came back to me and now I’m just playing around in it.

[@japanesewithniko]

That's awesome that you came back to it! I think taking it too seriously can add a lot of mental pressure/stress, which can make you more likely to just quit completely. If you check out our Discord community, there are lots of people just playing around in Japanese, like you mentioned. They might know more stuff you'd like along those lines: discord.gg/nativshark

[@spyro7249]

I have been pursing my Japanese language journey in unconventional way that has no flash cards. It’s only been a few years if this means anything to you I can sit through anime episode in Japanese and understand good 50% of what they are saying depending on their context. I’ve always liked the way Japanese sounded but I’m to intimidated by reading Japanese. Reading In general is not my strong suit even in my first language. So I decided to go a different route I can tell you this much it’s working I am finding a lot of moments where it’s awesome I can’t believe I can hear what they are saying. But I can.

[@japanesewithniko]

I think everyone's journey is different. It is so cool that you have found something that is apparently working well for you. Nice! Thank you for commenting ^_^

[@Nexxarian]

I took a year of Japanese in college, but that was over a year ago and I haven't really studied since. I still know lots of vocab, but have definitely forgotten a lot of kanji. I have had dreams where I spoke Japanese in them and actually put thought into trying to say what I want to say, not just a jumbled mess like dreams can be. I feel like I'd get back into it very easy if I picked it up again. I just don't have any real need to learn it, though. I don't live near any sort of Japanese communities nor do I ever plan on working in Japan. Any Japanese media nowadays probably comes with Eng subs, so no need to know the language. Although it's interesting to be able to tell apart translation differences. Sometimes I'll be watching anime and read the subs and hear the Japanese and go, "wait, they didn't actually say that". I guess if you knew enough you wouldn't have to wait for Eng translations of novels, which are years behind original releases, but that's where fan translations comes in. So I actually went to Japan shortly after my graduation with some friends which really helped, and we plan to go back again, but we went to mostly tourist-friendly areas, so I didn't need to use my knowledge too much. It would be helpful if I had a friend (or, being a single guy, a girlfriend someday?) who was also interested in learning it. That way it would help me stay motivated, like a gym buddy.

[@DragTheQueenToHell]

I enjoyed how wholesome your video was! You reminded me about the reason I started learning Japanese - Because it's fun. I was so focused on achieving a certain standard, that although I made absurdly fast progress, I forgot to enjoy myself along the way. Don't give up if you aren't reaching the "standard" you set for yourself, just have fun. I've gone off the deep end once from my obsession over learning Japanese, it actually became self-destructive. I didn't have any responsibilities at the time and so I got into this crazy Uberman sleep schedule; all I did was study Japanese using Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese, WaniKani, Anki, JapanesePod101, and HelloTalk. For a month straight, I did nothing but; Minimum Basic Needs (maybe every second or third day... at best lol), Study, Sleep Study, Sleep, Study... When I slept, It would only be around 20 minutes and then I'd be back to obsessing over Japanese, I was in zombie mode for the entire month. The result? I was wrecked and did learn a shit ton but I was literally a zombie. I stopped eventually and slept the entire day and just got back into my normal life. Still got 'em eye bags tho. A bit more explanation for the batshit crazy story: I have a high functioning autism disorder (Aspergers), and one of the traits is a really strong obsession over stuff you find interesting, which in severe cases leads to this. (SEVERE cases)

[@japanesewithniko]

Wow, that sounds intense. I have a tendency to get obsessed about some new thing I'm learning, put lots of hours into it, and then burn out... but certainly never to this level. Now I try my best to think carefully about if I want to commit long-term to a new learning pursuit, then set up a routine to make it sustainable long-term. But even then, I often just give in and study a bunch, then get tired of it and burn out lol. Please try to watch your health, if at all possible! Best of luck in your future studies. ^_^

[@Benisbucker]

One of the most relatable videos I've seen, keep up the good work

[@japanesewithniko]

Thank you! がんばります！

[@commirevo89]

I really appreciate this video. I lived in rural Japan right out of college from 2012 - 2015 with no real prior language experience. I took the JLPT N5 in December of 2014, and that was the first time I did any sort of formal studying of the language beyond my immersion. I've been back twice since then and finally decided to take the N4 this December - mainly because I need structure to keep studying the language and I'm worried about losing the ability to communicate with my wife's family and friends. Cheers!

[@japanesewithniko]

I've only ever lived in Tokyo and Sapporo, so I'm a little jealous of people who have lived in rural Japan before. Anyway, I hope your studies are going well. Thank you for commenting ^_^ Good luck on N4 in December!

[@commirevo89]

@@japanesewithniko Out of curiosity, how many JLPTs did you take? Because I'm split between taking N4 or going straight for N3 and wondering if you have a sense of how much harder N3 is than N4.

[@japanesewithniko]

I took N2 in December 2012 and barely passed. Then I took N1 in July 2014 and barely passed. Those are the only ones I've taken. Maybe doing some practice tests for N4 and N3 respectively can give you a better feel for whether or not you're likely to pass N3? Sorry I can't be of more help.

[@mihalytoth3301]

Thank you for being honest and sharing your thoughts.

[@japanesewithniko]

I'm glad some people are finding it helpful. Thank you for commenting ^_^