How to learn languages I 5 Tips for fluency I Lazy Girl Edition

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares five easy tips for learning a new language, drawing from her experience as a speaker of English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. She emphasizes the importance of listening input through media like podcasts and dramas, using resources like the Language Reactor extension on Netflix, and practicing with apps like HelloTalk. She also suggests shadowing techniques and starting with children's books to improve reading skills. Finally, she encourages keeping the learning process fun by setting specific goals.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The speaker is fluent in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, having learned Mandarin in China and picking up the other languages through interest in their cultures.
• 🎧 Tip 1: Listening input is crucial, especially in the early stages of language learning. Consuming media like podcasts, songs, and dramas in the target language helps with intonation and vocabulary.
• 📺 Tip 2: Enhance learning with resources like 'Language Reactor' on Netflix, which allows dual subtitles, and 'Hello Talk', an app for connecting with native speakers for practice.
• 🗣️ Tip 3: Shadowing, or mimicking native speakers, is an effective way to practice speaking. The speaker uses Google Translate for daily journal entries and YouTube for shadowing videos.
• 📚 Tip 4: Start reading in the target language with a focus on simpler texts like children's books to build vocabulary. The 'Satori Reader' app is recommended for Japanese learners.
• 🎯 Tip 5: Keeping the language learning process fun is essential for maintaining motivation. Setting specific goals related to the language, like studying abroad or making friends, can help sustain interest.
• 📱 Utilizing social media platforms like Instagram Reels or TikTok for short language exposure is suggested for those with limited time.
• 📺 The speaker re-watches familiar shows on Netflix with Japanese subtitles to reinforce learning, using context clues to understand new words.
• 🗣️ Shadowing practice helps in correcting pronunciation and getting accustomed to the rhythm of a new language.
• 📖 Reading books in the target language, even with limited knowledge of characters, can be facilitated by starting with simpler texts and using translation aids.
• 🌟 The importance of having a clear goal for language learning is emphasized to keep the process engaging and to measure progress.

Q & A

What are the languages the speaker is fluent in?

The speaker is fluent in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.

How did the speaker learn English and Mandarin?

The speaker learned English by interacting with other kids and going to school, while Mandarin was learned at a young age when she was sent to China to become her family's translator.

Why did the speaker start learning Korean and Japanese?

The speaker started learning Korean and Japanese due to her interest in their cultures and the way the languages sounded.

What is the speaker's proficiency level in each language?

The speaker is most comfortable in English, considers herself an advanced speaker in Chinese despite having lost some proficiency, and is in the beginner to intermediate phases for both Korean and Japanese.

What is the first tip the speaker gives for language learning?

The first tip is 'listening input', where the speaker suggests consuming media like podcasts, songs, or dramas in the target language to help with intonation and vocabulary.

How does the speaker recommend using social media for language learning?

The speaker recommends using Instagram Reels or TikTok for short, one-minute clips to get language input throughout the day without committing to a full show.

What is the Language Reactor extension and how does it help with language learning?

The Language Reactor is a Google Chrome extension that allows users to display two subtitles simultaneously, one in their most comfortable language and the other in the target language, aiding in learning through context clues and familiarization with the writing system.

What is the purpose of the app 'Hello Talk' as mentioned in the script?

Hello Talk is an app that connects users with native speakers worldwide, allowing them to practice language skills through text messages, phone calls, or voice messages at their own pace.

What is 'shadowing' and how does the speaker use it to practice speaking?

Shadowing is a language learning technique where one repeats after a speaker to practice pronunciation and intonation. The speaker uses it by recording herself speaking a journal entry and by following Japanese shadowing videos on YouTube.

How does the speaker approach reading in Japanese?

The speaker started by mastering the hiragana and katakana alphabets and then progressed to reading children's books to increase her vocabulary. She also recommends the Satori Reader app for Japanese short stories with English translations.

What is the speaker's advice for keeping language learning fun and motivating?

The speaker suggests having a specific goal in mind, such as enjoying a movie without subtitles or making new friends while studying abroad, to keep the language learning process enjoyable and motivating.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Introduction to Language Learning Tips

The speaker introduces the video by sharing her background as a speaker of English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. She explains that she learned these languages through various means, including living in China and personal interest in the cultures. She emphasizes her proficiency in English and her advanced level in Chinese, despite having lost some fluency. The speaker also mentions her beginner to intermediate levels in Korean and Japanese. She then transitions into discussing general language learning tips, focusing primarily on Japanese, but applicable to any language.

05:02

🎧 Tips for Language Learning: Listening Input and Resources

The speaker suggests the first tip for language learning is to consume as much media as possible in the target language, such as podcasts, songs, and dramas, to improve listening skills and intonation. She recommends using social media platforms like Instagram Reels or TikTok for short, accessible language input. The second tip involves using resources like the Language Reactor extension on Netflix, which allows viewers to compare subtitles in their native language with the target language, and the HelloTalk app, which connects learners with native speakers for practice conversations. These tools are highlighted for their utility in enhancing language learning through immersion and practical application.

Keywords

💡Language Learning

Language learning refers to the process of acquiring new languages, either as a second language or additional languages beyond one's native tongue. In the video, the speaker shares personal experiences and tips on learning languages, particularly focusing on Japanese. The video emphasizes the importance of listening input, using resources, shadowing, reading, and keeping the learning process fun and goal-oriented.

💡Listening Input

Listening input is a strategy in language learning where learners expose themselves to the sounds and intonations of a language through various media like podcasts, songs, and dramas. The speaker in the video suggests consuming media in the target language to improve listening skills and to grasp the language's rhythm and intonation, which is crucial for beginners to understand the language faster than they can speak it.

💡Resources

Resources in the context of language learning refer to tools, materials, and platforms that assist in acquiring a new language. The video mentions 'Language Reactor' and 'Hello Talk' as examples of resources that help learners enhance their language skills by providing subtitles in the target language and connecting with native speakers for practice, respectively.

💡Shadowing

Shadowing is a language learning technique where learners listen to a piece of audio and repeat it aloud, mimicking the speaker's pronunciation and intonation. In the video, the speaker uses shadowing to practice speaking Japanese by recording herself and comparing it with native speakers' speech, which helps in correcting pronunciation and getting accustomed to the language's flow.

💡Reading

Reading in language learning is the practice of reading texts in the target language to improve vocabulary, comprehension, and familiarity with the writing system. The video suggests starting with children's books and using apps like 'Satori Reader' that provide stories with English translations to aid in understanding and pronunciation.

💡Hiragana and Katakana

Hiragana and Katakana are two of the three writing systems used in the Japanese language, alongside Kanji. They are syllabaries, meaning each character represents a syllable. The video mentions mastering Hiragana and Katakana as a way to start reading Japanese texts even if one hasn't learned all the Kanji characters yet.

💡Motivation

Motivation in language learning is the drive or reason that keeps learners engaged and committed to the learning process. The video emphasizes the importance of having a specific goal, such as studying abroad or making friends in a foreign country, to maintain motivation and prevent giving up when the initial excitement fades.

💡Cultural Interest

Cultural interest refers to the attraction or fascination with the culture of a particular language's speakers. In the video, the speaker's interest in Japanese and Korean cultures is what initially sparked her desire to learn those languages, illustrating how cultural interest can be a powerful motivator in language learning.

💡Proficiency

Proficiency in language learning denotes the level of skill or mastery a learner has attained in a language. The video speaker describes her proficiency levels in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, indicating that proficiency varies across languages and is an important aspect of language learning to assess one's progress.

💡Studying Tips

Studying tips are advice or strategies provided to help learners improve their study methods and effectiveness. The video offers five specific tips for language learning, which are applicable to any target language, focusing on listening, using resources, shadowing, reading, and maintaining motivation.

💡Language Reactor

Language Reactor is a Google Chrome extension mentioned in the video that allows users to display subtitles in both their native language and the target language while watching content on Netflix. This tool is used to enhance language learning by providing context clues and familiarizing oneself with the target language's writing system.

Highlights

The presenter shares five easy tips for learning a new language, focusing on Japanese.

Born in the United States, the presenter's native language is Mandarin.

Learned English through interaction and schooling in the States.

Sent to China at a young age to learn Mandarin and act as a family translator.

Interest in Korean and Japanese cultures led to learning these languages.

The presenter's proficiency in English is the highest, with advanced Chinese and beginner to intermediate levels in Korean and Japanese.

Tip one emphasizes the importance of listening input through media like podcasts, songs, and dramas.

Instagram Reels and TikTok are recommended for short, daily language exposure.

Tip two suggests enhancing learning with resources like the Language Reactor extension on Netflix.

Using Language Reactor allows watching shows with subtitles in both the native and target languages.

HelloTalk app is recommended for connecting with native speakers for practice.

Tip three introduces shadowing as a method to practice speaking by recording oneself and mimicking native speakers.

YouTube shadowing videos are a resource for practicing pronunciation and intonation.

Tip four recommends starting with children's books to build reading skills and vocabulary.

The Satori Reader app is suggested for reading Japanese short stories with English translations.

Tip five stresses the importance of keeping language learning fun and setting specific goals.

Having a clear goal, like studying abroad, can help maintain motivation in language learning.

The presenter concludes with a summary of the tips and hopes viewers find them helpful for their language learning journey.

Transcripts

hey everyone in today's video I'm going to be  sharing five easy tips and tricks on how to  

learn a new language Lazy Girl Edition a little  bit about my background I speak English Chinese  

Korean and Japanese I was born in the States  but my native language was actually Mandarin  

and I learned English by interacting with other  kids and going to school but at a pretty young  

age I was sent to China so that I could learn  the Mandarin and become my family's translator  

I later started learning Korean and Japanese  purly because I was interested in their culture  

and I really like the way how the languages  both sounded my interest in Japanese came a  

lot later um I took a trip to Japan by myself  and that's when I started falling in love with  

the culture and language and decided that  I wanted to study abroad there in terms of  

proficiency I would say I'm most comfortable  in English um I lost a lot of my Chinese but  

I would still consider myself an advanced speaker  Korean I know a little bit more than Japanese but  

for both languages I'm still pretty much  in the beginner SL intermediate phases  

okay now that you guys know a little bit about  my background let's move on to studying tips  

I'm going to be mainly focusing on Japanese but  these studying tips can be applied to any of the  

target languages tip number one listening input  I try to input as much media through the forms of  

podcasts songs or dramas spoken by Japanese native  speakers this way I can let my brain consume as  

much information as possible to help me grasp and  listen to the intonations to sound like a Japanese  

native speaker this is probably my most important  tip when it comes to language learning especially  

in the beginner phases because people tend to  understand a lot faster than they can speak  

the language and it also helps build vocabulary  and understand grammar structure and for people  

out there who don't have time I recommend um using  Instagram reals or Tik Tok they're just short one  

minute clips that you can listen to throughout  the day this way you don't have to commit to a  

full show but you're still getting the input tip  number two enhance learning with resources so my  

top recommended resource is called the language  reactor through Netflix this is an extension you  

can get on Google Chrome and basically what it  does it allows you to display two subtitles one  

in your most comfortable language and the other  being the target language that you're trying to  

learn I personally watch a lot of TV so I'll go  on Netflix and re-watch my favorite anime show but  

instead of turning on both subtitles I only use  the Japes subtitle the theory here being that I've  

rewatched the show a million times I should know  the plot so I use context clues for the words that  

I don't know and then I'll look at the subtitles  and familiarize myself with Japanese writing  

system so another really good resource that I use  is an app called hello talk essentially it's an  

app that helps you connect with natives throughout  the world and you can study at a pce that you're  

most comfortable in so this app you can send text  messages do phone calls or just voice messages  

and I've started using this app back in 2019  when I originally started learning Korean but  

now I'm using it for Japanese and you can get on  whenever you want and there is always somebody on  

I've never had trouble connecting with people or  even getting a really fast response rate moving  

on to tip number three shadowing so now that you  had a lot of practice with listening input it's  

time to learn how to speak I know this can be  super daunting especially in the beginning but  

practi practice makes perfect and I have a really  good tip for you guys so basically what I do is  

I'll pull up Google translate and I'll type in  a short journal entry of what I did that day and  

I'll record myself speaking so this way I can play  back and listen to where I'm making my mistakes  

and basically practice until I think it sounds  good enough another way I practice shadowing is by  

going to YouTube and looking up Japanese shadowing  videos these videos are usually created by  

Japanese native speakers so I'm not worried about  picking up bad habits or accents and I'll just  

practice those videos this way I can get my tongue  used to speaking in a foreign language tip number  

four reading to do this I mastered the hakana and  Katakana alphabet so even if I didn't know all the  

Kani I was still able to read books I started  reading books made for children so this way  

I could increase my vocabulary and understanding  little by little for reading I suggest the Satori  

reader app this app basically has a collection  of Japanese short stories and it also has  

English translations as well so you can check your  understanding and audio that you can play back and  

check your pronunciation lastly tip number five  keeping it fun learning a new language can be  

pretty fun and exciting in the beginning but once  the initial excitement wears off it's kind of a  

slow process and this is where people tend to give  up but to keep yourself motivated I suggest having  

a specific goal in mind as to why you started this  journey in the beginning that could be just simply  

wanting to enjoy a movie without any subtitles  or reading a book in a foreign language for me  

personally I'm going to be studying abroad in  Japan this October so I wanted to be able to make  

new friends but anyways that concludes today's  video on how to learn a new language hopefully  

you guys found some helpful tips and tricks  that you can apply to your own studying methods