Why you can't understand JAPANESE NATIVE SPEAKERS

Summary

The video script discusses the challenges of understanding native speakers' language speed and offers effective strategies to improve listening skills in Japanese. It emphasizes the importance of acquiring basic vocabulary and grammar, familiarizing oneself with both formal and casual Japanese, and actively noting and reviewing unknown words. The speaker also encourages finding enjoyable methods for language learning, such as watching anime or making Japanese friends, to ensure consistency and progress in language acquisition.

Takeaways

• 😀 It's common to struggle with understanding native speakers when first learning a language due to the natural speed of their speech.
• 📚 The speaker emphasizes the importance of having a basic knowledge of vocabulary and grammar to start understanding a language.
• 🔍 Just 'listening' without understanding the language's structure and vocabulary is not an effective way to learn.
• 📈 To improve listening skills, one must actively learn and practice with the language, not just passively listen.
• 📖 Japanese textbooks often teach polite language first, which might not reflect the casual speech used in everyday conversations.
• 🗣️ Casual Japanese often omits particles and uses contractions, which can be confusing for learners accustomed to formal language.
• 👂 The speaker suggests that to understand casual Japanese, one must get used to it by exposing themselves to various forms of media.
• 📝 Taking notes of unknown words is a recommended practice for better retention and recognition in future encounters.
• 🤔 The speaker notes that understanding every detail of native speech can take time, but consistent effort will lead to improvement.
• 🎉 Enjoyment is key to maintaining the motivation to learn a language effectively and consistently.
• 🌟 Finding a learning method that suits one's interests, such as watching anime or making Japanese friends, can enhance the language learning experience.

Q & A

What is the main difficulty people face when trying to understand native speakers speaking at a natural speed?

The main difficulty is that it's very hard to catch what native speakers are saying at their natural speed, especially for those who are still learning the language.

Why does the speaker relate to the feeling of struggling to understand native speakers?

The speaker relates because they had the same experience when they started learning English and Spanish, feeling like giving up and losing confidence.

What has the speaker achieved in terms of language comprehension after overcoming initial difficulties?

The speaker has become able to catch almost everything native speakers are saying, though they still sometimes struggle when two native speakers talk too fast.

What is the speaker's purpose in the video?

The speaker's purpose is to introduce effective ways of improving listening skills that they practiced when learning languages.

Why does the speaker suggest that just 'listening' to a foreign language is not effective without understanding the words or grammar?

Simply listening without understanding the words or grammar is ineffective because comprehension occurs when the sound matches the word in one's brain, which requires basic knowledge.

What is the first reason the speaker mentions for not being able to catch Japanese?

The first reason is the lack of knowledge of words and grammar, which are essential for understanding the language.

How does the speaker suggest one should approach learning basic Japanese structures and grammar?

The speaker suggests using textbooks, attending Japanese schools, or following educational channels that teach grammar from N5 to N3 level.

What is the difference between the Japanese taught in textbooks and the Japanese spoken by native speakers?

Textbooks usually teach polite Japanese first, while native speakers often use a mix of polite and casual Japanese, which can be different and more challenging for learners to understand.

Why does the speaker recommend not only watching anime but also other types of media to learn Japanese?

The speaker recommends various media to expose learners to different types of Japanese used in different contexts, which helps in understanding the language more holistically.

What habit does the speaker suggest to cultivate for learning new vocabulary?

The speaker suggests developing a habit of taking notes of unknown words, as this helps in better retention and recognition of those words in future encounters.

What is the most important aspect of language learning according to the speaker?

The most important aspect is to enjoy the process, as it helps in maintaining motivation and consistency in learning.

What strategy does the speaker propose for effectively understanding spoken Japanese?

The speaker proposes a combination of acquiring basic knowledge, practicing listening, getting used to casual speech, noting down unknown words, and finding enjoyable ways to learn.