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How I Learned Japanese: 2 Years in Detail (Patreon Exclusive) (Patreon)

Published:
2017-05-03 07:28:50
Imported:
2026-06
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  • Learning_Japanese_Tools_Resources_List.pdf

Missing 2 full-res photos, 1 file.

Content

Hey folks!

So here it is - the 27 minute long story of how I learned Japanese!

Sorry about the length, but it's quite a personal story, as I go over lots of events and things that happened to me while I was in Japan, in the context of learning the language. I hope it's useful to any of you learning Japanese, or anyone interested in language acquisition in general.


Also, attached to this post, is the full list of the 14 different tools and resources I used to learn the language, featured throughout the video (and in chronological order).

If you have any questions after watching the video, post them below and I'll answer as best I can! For now though, enjoy!

How I Learned Japanese: 2 Years in Detail
► https://youtu.be/BWhVHkyhnww


FINALLY the next Abroad in Japan Stores will be "How I Produce a Video: From Start to Finish" out in June. This month, instead of Abroad in Japan stories, expect behind the scenes footage of Natsuki in the UK!

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Comments

Anonymous

You said it would be 30 minutes xo

abroadinjapan
>>4994054

It was 38 minutes originally! But after I'd cut out all the times I went "errmmm" it took about 11 minutes off the video haha

Anonymous

Chris, thanks so much for this vid - so good to watch these types of videos! makes me remember it's a good idea to always be challenging ourselves, with a hobby, language or interest (for me, learning about being a better teacher). Grats on your achievements with Japanese.

Jennifer Tompkins

Great, clear and concise video. This information will help me to stay motivated. Thanks!

Jonathan Lam

Wow, can't believe I just sat through all of that and watched it all. Real inspiring to hear the process and the dedication it took. Although I'm not learning Japanese right now the higher level concepts of discipline, memorization, motivation, and practice opportunities are a good framework that could be applied to other languages (for me I want to learn Chinese first to connect back to my roots, then maybe do other languages). Again, major kudos for your accomplishments!

Dieke Reitsma

Thank you Chris for this video. I'm learning Japanese on and off due to motivation bursts. Atm I know the hiragana and I started on the katanaka. Not that I need it really (I plan on visiting the country during a holiday in 2 years). I'll definitely take a look at that self discipline book. Some more discipline won't hurt me :p.

abroadinjapan
>>4994843

I'd definitely recommend the Human Japanese app if you want to interact with folks in Japanese on your upcoming trip! You should be able to learn a fair few phrases before your holiday!

Anonymous

Thank you so much Chris for doing this! One of the first videos I have seen from you was the Japanese teaching tutorial I came upon trying to learn Japanese by myself. I have been waiting for months for this video and it's so much more detailed! I am attending a university in Japan in September (International program) and I hope to learn some Japanese first to be able to at least have a conversation with the locals. I admire your determination and damnnn 2 years? With my pace I'll probably at most have learned what you learned in 2 years by the time I graduate in 4 years. Anyways I'm looking forward to ALL videos from you, waiting to see that 10/10 Natsuki the movie!

Anonymous

Hey, cheers for Read The Kanji, what an awesome site. I'm working through the Intermediate Japanese book in class. Was there any way you tackled any chapter in particular?

Anonymous

I have been looking forward to this video SO MUCH, thank you. I am studying Japanese at university and all my motivation practicing just tanked over summer so it's rough going right now. Stuff like this really helps. And you're pretty cool or whatever.

abroadinjapan
>>4995072

I like to go through a chapter first and read through the grammar and learn the vocab, then when I'm done, go back and read it again, just to make sure I've remembered it all and truly grasped the grammar concepts. It can be easy to move too fast through a textbook without truly understanding grammar I find.

Miles Gard

Thanks for this, Chris! It's really helpful getting the ins-and-outs of someone's language-learning journey. One question for you: in terms of developing spoken fluency, how helpful was preparing your speech for the public speaking event above and beyond just regular, unstructured conversation? Part of my problem seems to be that I have a limited "spoken Japanese" vocab but a larger "written Japanese" vocab that I struggle to recall in conversation. I'm wondering if the act of preparing and performing a speech bridges the gap somewhat?

Anonymous

This is a great video Chris. The motivation and my shit memory is definitely where I think I'll have to start first and I appreciate that you have all the materials listed. I hope by even not living there I can still learn the language at a decent pace. Keep up the awesome work and love the videos!

Anonymous

I've been looking for a video like this from you for a long time, and I'm glad I did. The comprehensive nature of this, and the learning tools you suggest are incredibly useful, and so many thanks Chris.

Jeremy Carlson

Awesome video, and yes I learned something. I had always wanted to learn Japanese but until I watched your video about learning it in 6 months I believe...I was never motivated enough. That was last June. While going slower than I would like, I'm still very into it now. I'm using Genki 1, and Memrise (which I like a lot more than Anki). I know about 400 vocab words, 200ish Kanji, and Hiragana and Kalakaua. Less than a year, and still motivated. While not as far as I would like, there is a weird hump I found at around 300 words learned that some things started to make sense . One week I learned the words for last, this, and next week. Two weeks after I learned last month, and that was when I started seeing connections. This and next month words I didn't even need to see because I figured them out based on the week words. What I'm getting at is that I have heard that beginning Japanese is super difficult, but there is a point where it becomes much easier. I can honestly say that is 100% true...I remember it happening to me not long ago. I thank you for your videos. While I don't need them any more to figure out how to learn, you do give great resources to use. I gladly support you in patreon (which you are the only one I do support) for the simple fact that you got me and keep me motivated. So again, thank you...you sarcastic British fuck...I truly appreciate what your videos have done for me so far. If you ever come to Chicago, I will gladly take you out to dinner and beer. Like a magic, my friend.

Anonymous

Just bought the Ultimate Japanese phrasebook to help add some extra fun stuff to my growing Japanese. I shall exceed the sky of time!!! :) Thanks for the recommendation.

Anonymous

Oh, and the rest of the video was really good too. Cheers!

Ryan Wolf

I was expecting a lot less editing, but the quality was almost main channel material

Anonymous

Well, I decided to join your followers here specifically because of this video (I saw the posts on Twitter and Facebook) because I find your 'learning Japanese' videos extremely helpful, but this one really exceeded all of my expectations. I can't thank you enough! It really is 2 years broken down into detail and as informative and helpful as it can be. I've been studying Japanese for 6 months now, but I am also doing my masters at the same time which is already challenging enough for me as it is English (not in my native language as you can probably tell). I'm only halfway through Genki 1, but I've already purchased Genki 2 and Remembering the Kanji 1. I've just added 6 more items to my amazon basket (£150 more) all from the resources you mention in this video. Just wanted to let you know that I find this extremely valuable information that I'm sure will make my life easier during my journey of learning the language. Currently, there's nothing more that I want to do than to finish my masters and start studying Japanese 5-6 hours a day. Thank you!

Anonymous

This was exactly the video I needed. I'm due to finish uni shortly and I'll be heading out to Japan on the JET Programme this summer, however I'm at the point in the video where you buy Genki 1 but find the process of learning grammar a bit of a facing. Now I feel as though I have a clear step by step guide on where to go from here - as soon as I've finished my final exams anyway :) Cheers!

Mr Fujisawa

Great video . I've always struggled with anki though. I've tried getting genki decks but then I can't seem to control only doing the vocab for the chapter I'm on, or i have to use custom study, but then it's not on the main screen and I just get frustrated with the whole thing! I probably need an anki teacher before I get a Japanese teacher hah!

Laura Beaumont

Very inspiring video! Makes me want to put real effort into moving up from my little Lonely Planet Japanese Phrasebook. Well done! :)

Anonymous

I really enjoyed this video! I am in the beginner stage of learning Japanese, and I hadn't heard about Human Japanese app before- I've uploaded it and am really enjoying it, so far.

Anonymous

I was hoping for such a long time that you'd do a video like this! Thank you so much! I use Human Japanese and I would swear it is the best program out there as well; I found it much easier than going through my Genki book as you did. I didn't care for anki, but I use memrise which is similar. I really enjoyed hearing about your progress and what you used. It was an inspiring watch and I know I'll pick up the phrasebook you mentioned.

Anonymous

Excellent video Chris! I think I might look into some of your memory learning techniques to help with my engineering exams. Thanks!

Anonymous

Great video, thanks a lot! Is there any chance you'd be able to share some of your Anki libraries, such as the one you made for the phrasebook? Many, such as for Genki, already exist, but if you thought the phrasebook was really useful it might be nice for others to use to study as well!

Anonymous

This video has just brought more motivation for me to learn, ever since coming across your videos, it has helped me wth actually starting to learn Japanese. I've got a question about how you used Anki, I don't mind if there is anyone else who can help. Did you create your own decks on Anki, depending where you were on a chapter in Genki? Or did you just download a shared deck with all the Genki vocabulary and just made your way through it?

Anonymous

I bought the Japanese phrases book that Chris recommended. Dude xD Its really spot on to things you would say, and, uh, it seriously doesn't hold back with adult content . .. I could learn to say things in Japanese I wouldn't dare say in English hahaha.

Anonymous

I am so frigging happy right now for becoming a Patreon! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO!!! I'm getting back into learning the language after a huge pause (3 years in uni and 3 years of work) and I didn't know where to start. I completed a beginner course back in college and have always watched anime/J-dramas since like the 1990's. As you can guess with a 6-7 year pause, I have broken memory on most of the sentence structure and symbols now, yet still have some knowledge, confusing me on where to start. With that said, thanks to you I know where to begin before I dive into this slightly intimidating looking Genki book. (Saying this right after purchasing Human Japanese on the IOS store) Thanks again Chris!

Simon

Thanks for the recommending Human Japanese. It's a fantastic learning resource. It's exactly what I've been trying to find for ages. Their <a href="https://www.satorireader.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.satorireader.com</a> reader site also looks amazing.