Asking Japanese Polyglot How He Learned 12 Languages AT HOME

Summary

In this engaging interview, Kazu, a 23-year-old Japanese polyglot, shares his journey of learning 12 languages and the challenges he faces in acquiring new ones. From his initial fascination with Spanish music to mastering complex languages like Russian and Arabic, Kazu reveals how he overcomes difficulties in pronunciation, grammar, and cultural differences. He emphasizes the importance of confidence, making mistakes, and embracing practical methods like listening and speaking with native speakers. Kazu also discusses the unique experiences of living abroad and learning languages through immersion, while offering valuable advice for others on their language learning journey.

Takeaways

• 😀 Kazu is a 23-year-old Japanese polyglot who speaks 12 languages and continues learning others in his spare time.
• 😀 He started learning languages at 18, beginning with Spanish after living in Spain for six months.
• 😀 Kazu believes listening for the main idea and mimicking native pronunciation are key strategies for language learning.
• 😀 Russian and Arabic were the most challenging languages for Kazu due to their significant differences from Japanese in pronunciation and grammar.
• 😀 Kazu finds languages like Korean, Turkish, and Hindi similar to Japanese in terms of grammar and sentence structure.
• 😀 Spanish, Turkish, and Spanish have pronunciation systems that Kazu finds easier for Japanese speakers to grasp.
• 😀 Learning multiple languages becomes easier as you acquire more due to familiarity with language structures and pronunciation skills.
• 😀 Kazu emphasizes that speaking a language is about making mistakes and building confidence, especially for beginners.
• 😀 The fear of making mistakes is common when learning a language, but it's important to overcome it by practicing regularly.
• 😀 Kazu shares his favorite countries include Spain, Morocco, and Turkey, highlighting their unique cultures and warm hospitality.
• 😀 Despite Japan's advanced infrastructure and safe environment, Kazu believes more people in Japan need to overcome their shyness and embrace speaking foreign languages.

Q & A

How did you first become interested in learning languages?

I started learning languages when I was 18. I began with Spanish because I lived in Spain for six months. Spanish music was also becoming popular at the time, and I wanted to understand the lyrics. This motivated me to learn Spanish, and from there, my language learning journey expanded.

Which languages do you speak, and how many are you currently learning?

I speak English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Indonesian, Arabic, Turkish, Russian, German, Chinese, and Thai. Right now, I am also learning Korean, bringing the total to 12 languages.

What makes Russian and Arabic the hardest languages for you to learn?

Russian and Arabic are very different from Japanese, which made them challenging. The pronunciation, grammar, and writing system were all unfamiliar. For example, Arabic requires reading from right to left, which was a big shock to me.

What strategies helped you overcome challenges in language learning?

I focused on practical learning methods, like listening for the main idea rather than trying to understand every word. For speaking, I imitated native speakers' pronunciation, which improved my fluency over time. I also made sure to practice consistently to get comfortable with new languages.

How do you approach learning a new language?

I start by learning common phrases and vocabulary, such as greetings and basic nouns and adjectives. These building blocks allow me to start forming sentences early on. As I progress, I focus more on grammar and sentence structure to become more fluent.

What is your opinion on the difficulty of learning English for Japanese speakers?

I believe English is challenging for Japanese speakers due to significant differences in grammar and pronunciation. Our education system focuses heavily on reading and grammar, but less on speaking. To improve, Japanese learners must overcome the fear of speaking and practice more conversational skills.

Do you think it gets easier to learn new languages as you learn more?

Yes, learning additional languages does make it easier. Many languages share similarities, such as Spanish and Portuguese, or Russian and Polish. Once you understand how languages work, your listening and pronunciation skills improve as well.

What advice do you have for people who are afraid of making mistakes while learning a language?

You don’t need to be perfect when learning a language. Native speakers are generally understanding and appreciate when you make an effort to speak their language. Making mistakes is part of the process, and it's important to keep practicing and build confidence.

How do you manage to learn languages without living in the countries where they're spoken?

I study languages at home by using textbooks and online resources. I also watch movies and series in those languages and practice speaking with native speakers online. Consistency and dedication are key, even if you're not immersed in the country itself.

What languages would you like to learn in the future?

I’m currently learning Korean, and after that, I want to learn Tagalog because there are many Filipinos in Japan, and I’d like to communicate with them. I’m also interested in learning Swahili, as I haven’t studied any African languages yet.