5 TIPS TO FLUENT JAPANESE | By a teacher / language leaner

Summary

This video script offers five practical tips to improve Japanese speaking skills without living in Japan. It emphasizes mimicking native speakers, thinking in Japanese, speaking out loud to oneself, shadowing, and using newly learned words actively. The speaker shares personal experiences and encourages learners to practice these methods to enhance fluency and confidence in speaking Japanese naturally.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video is aimed at helping Japanese language learners improve their speaking skills, even without living in Japan.
• 🏠 It suggests that living in Japan and interacting with native speakers is beneficial but not the only way to improve language proficiency.
• 🗣️ The speaker emphasizes the importance of mimicking native speakers to improve pronunciation and fluency.
• 👶 Like a baby learning to speak, mimicking is a fundamental part of language acquisition and can be practiced by pausing videos and repeating after actors.
• 🤔 Changing the language of thought to Japanese can help in speeding up the process of formulating thoughts into speech.
• 📝 Taking notes of native expressions while watching shows or listening to podcasts can help in learning natural Japanese expressions.
• 💬 Encourages the practice of speaking out loud, even when alone, to increase the speed of articulating thoughts in Japanese.
• 🎧 Recommends using earphones to give the impression of talking to someone, which can help overcome the fear of speaking out loud alone.
• 📚 The speaker shares personal experiences and techniques that helped them become fluent in English, which can be applied to learning Japanese.
• 📈 Shadowing, or speaking after a native speaker without pausing the video, is a technique recommended for improving pronunciation and listening skills.
• 🚀 Using newly learned words in conversation as soon as possible helps to transfer them from short-term to long-term memory, making them a natural part of one's vocabulary.

Q & A

What is the main issue addressed in the video script?

The main issue addressed is the difficulty some learners face in constructing sentences and keeping up with conversations in Japanese, despite knowing vocabulary and grammar.

What is the speaker's occupation as mentioned in the script?

The speaker is a Japanese language teacher.

What are the two primary solutions suggested for improving Japanese speaking skills if one does not live in Japan?

The two primary solutions are making friends with Japanese people living in one's own country and practicing speaking a lot, or making an effort to study and practice on one's own to improve speaking skills.

How did the speaker overcome the challenge of not being able to speak English fluently?

The speaker overcame the challenge by practicing what they are about to introduce, which led to being able to talk to native English speakers without any problem within a year.

What are the five tips introduced in the video for improving Japanese speaking skills quickly?

The five tips are: 1) Mimic native speakers, 2) Change the language you think to Japanese, 3) Change the language you use to talk to yourself to Japanese, 4) Do shadowing, and 5) Make a habit of using the words you learn.

Why is mimicking native speakers recommended for language learning?

Mimicking native speakers is recommended because it helps with pronunciation, fluency, and the ability to speak without stuttering, similar to how babies learn to speak.

What is the significance of changing the language you think in to Japanese?

Changing the language you think in to Japanese helps to reduce the time it takes to translate thoughts from your mother tongue to Japanese, leading to faster and more natural speech.

How can talking to oneself in Japanese help with language acquisition?

Talking to oneself in Japanese helps to increase the speed of speaking after thinking, reduces nervousness when speaking in front of native speakers, and helps to internalize natural expressions and vocabulary.

What is shadowing and how does it help with language learning?

Shadowing is the practice of saying things out loud immediately after hearing a native speaker, without stopping the video or audio. It helps with pronunciation, accent, and the ability to understand native speech better.

Why is it important to use newly learned words in conversations?

Using newly learned words in conversations helps to transfer those words from short-term to long-term memory, making them a natural part of one's vocabulary and improving the ability to express oneself.

What role does enjoyment play in language learning according to the speaker?

Enjoyment plays a significant role in language learning as it makes the process more engaging and increases the likelihood of retaining information in long-term memory due to the release of dopamine.