How to learn languages I 5 Tips for fluency I Lazy Girl Edition
Summary
TLDRIn 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
- š 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.
- š§ 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.
- šŗ 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.
- š£ļø 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.
- š 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.
- šÆ 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.
- š± Utilizing social media platforms like Instagram Reels or TikTok for short language exposure is suggested for those with limited time.
- šŗ The speaker re-watches familiar shows on Netflix with Japanese subtitles to reinforce learning, using context clues to understand new words.
- š£ļø Shadowing practice helps in correcting pronunciation and getting accustomed to the rhythm of a new language.
- š Reading books in the target language, even with limited knowledge of characters, can be facilitated by starting with simpler texts and using translation aids.
- š 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
š 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.
š§ 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
š”Language Learning
š”Listening Input
š”Resources
š”Shadowing
š”Reading
š”Hiragana and Katakana
š”Motivation
š”Cultural Interest
š”Proficiency
š”Studying Tips
š”Language Reactor
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 beĀ sharing five easy tips and tricks on how toĀ Ā
learn a new language Lazy Girl Edition a littleĀ bit about my background I speak English ChineseĀ Ā
Korean and Japanese I was born in the StatesĀ but my native language was actually MandarinĀ Ā
and I learned English by interacting with otherĀ kids and going to school but at a pretty youngĀ Ā
age I was sent to China so that I could learnĀ the Mandarin and become my family's translatorĀ Ā
I later started learning Korean and JapaneseĀ purly because I was interested in their cultureĀ Ā
and I really like the way how the languagesĀ both sounded my interest in Japanese came aĀ Ā
lot later um I took a trip to Japan by myselfĀ and that's when I started falling in love withĀ Ā
the culture and language and decided thatĀ I wanted to study abroad there in terms ofĀ Ā
proficiency I would say I'm most comfortableĀ in English um I lost a lot of my Chinese butĀ Ā
I would still consider myself an advanced speakerĀ Korean I know a little bit more than Japanese butĀ Ā
for both languages I'm still pretty muchĀ in the beginner SL intermediate phasesĀ Ā
okay now that you guys know a little bit aboutĀ my background let's move on to studying tipsĀ Ā
I'm going to be mainly focusing on Japanese butĀ these studying tips can be applied to any of theĀ Ā
target languages tip number one listening inputĀ I try to input as much media through the forms ofĀ Ā
podcasts songs or dramas spoken by Japanese nativeĀ speakers this way I can let my brain consume asĀ Ā
much information as possible to help me grasp andĀ listen to the intonations to sound like a JapaneseĀ Ā
native speaker this is probably my most importantĀ tip when it comes to language learning especiallyĀ Ā
in the beginner phases because people tend toĀ understand a lot faster than they can speakĀ Ā
the language and it also helps build vocabularyĀ and understand grammar structure and for peopleĀ Ā
out there who don't have time I recommend um usingĀ Instagram reals or Tik Tok they're just short oneĀ Ā
minute clips that you can listen to throughoutĀ the day this way you don't have to commit to aĀ Ā
full show but you're still getting the input tipĀ number two enhance learning with resources so myĀ Ā
top recommended resource is called the languageĀ reactor through Netflix this is an extension youĀ Ā
can get on Google Chrome and basically what itĀ does it allows you to display two subtitles oneĀ Ā
in your most comfortable language and the otherĀ being the target language that you're trying toĀ Ā
learn I personally watch a lot of TV so I'll goĀ on Netflix and re-watch my favorite anime show butĀ Ā
instead of turning on both subtitles I only useĀ the Japes subtitle the theory here being that I'veĀ Ā
rewatched the show a million times I should knowĀ the plot so I use context clues for the words thatĀ Ā
I don't know and then I'll look at the subtitlesĀ and familiarize myself with Japanese writingĀ Ā
system so another really good resource that I useĀ is an app called hello talk essentially it's anĀ Ā
app that helps you connect with natives throughoutĀ the world and you can study at a pce that you'reĀ Ā
most comfortable in so this app you can send textĀ messages do phone calls or just voice messagesĀ Ā
and I've started using this app back in 2019Ā when I originally started learning Korean butĀ Ā
now I'm using it for Japanese and you can get onĀ whenever you want and there is always somebody onĀ Ā
I've never had trouble connecting with people orĀ even getting a really fast response rate movingĀ Ā
on to tip number three shadowing so now that youĀ had a lot of practice with listening input it'sĀ Ā
time to learn how to speak I know this can beĀ super daunting especially in the beginning butĀ Ā
practi practice makes perfect and I have a reallyĀ good tip for you guys so basically what I do isĀ Ā
I'll pull up Google translate and I'll type inĀ a short journal entry of what I did that day andĀ Ā
I'll record myself speaking so this way I can playĀ back and listen to where I'm making my mistakesĀ Ā
and basically practice until I think it soundsĀ good enough another way I practice shadowing is byĀ Ā
going to YouTube and looking up Japanese shadowingĀ videos these videos are usually created byĀ Ā
Japanese native speakers so I'm not worried aboutĀ picking up bad habits or accents and I'll justĀ Ā
practice those videos this way I can get my tongueĀ used to speaking in a foreign language tip numberĀ Ā
four reading to do this I mastered the hakana andĀ Katakana alphabet so even if I didn't know all theĀ Ā
Kani I was still able to read books I startedĀ reading books made for children so this wayĀ Ā
I could increase my vocabulary and understandingĀ little by little for reading I suggest the SatoriĀ Ā
reader app this app basically has a collectionĀ of Japanese short stories and it also hasĀ Ā
English translations as well so you can check yourĀ understanding and audio that you can play back andĀ Ā
check your pronunciation lastly tip number fiveĀ keeping it fun learning a new language can beĀ Ā
pretty fun and exciting in the beginning but onceĀ the initial excitement wears off it's kind of aĀ Ā
slow process and this is where people tend to giveĀ up but to keep yourself motivated I suggest havingĀ Ā
a specific goal in mind as to why you started thisĀ journey in the beginning that could be just simplyĀ Ā
wanting to enjoy a movie without any subtitlesĀ or reading a book in a foreign language for meĀ Ā
personally I'm going to be studying abroad inĀ Japan this October so I wanted to be able to makeĀ Ā
new friends but anyways that concludes today'sĀ video on how to learn a new language hopefullyĀ Ā
you guys found some helpful tips and tricksĀ that you can apply to your own studying methods
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