How to become fluent in Japanese? - Interview with Steve Kaufmann
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 14. 05. 2022
- Steve Kaufmann
/ thelinguist
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Really enjoyed our discussion and happy to see so many comments from people who are enthusiastic about learning Japanese and getting to know Japanese culture and society, as I did over 50 years ago. Thanks for the interview.
Thank you so much for your time! This was a really interesting discussion to listen to as an aspiring japanese speaker.
I enjoyed your insights to learning a language. I am interested in learning Japanese and am currently learning Korean. Some people romanticize learning a language or make bold claims of being fluent after a year or so, but the truth is learning a language takes a lot of effort and exposure to it and is a continuous process.
The second I saw Steve's name in the title, I had to check this one out. I'm 27 and have "looked" at many different languages with deep fascination. I started learning french, which lead to Spanish, which lead to Norwegian, then German, and now Japanese. I speak none of them - I cant seem to stay committed for very long before I jump to the next and end up not making much progress or losing what I did acquire. That would be ultimately my biggest question today - how do you commit to just one when they all seem useful?
I've never dreamed to see an interview with you. It's amazing! Thank you so much for your time, it's very inspiring!
Steve, you sir are inspiring.
Iâm so happy to see this collab. Youâre both awesome!
Oh another polyglot here! thanks!
As you've said it takes effort and perseverance to master a foreign language. I like that he indicated that you need to understand certain cultural components to help understand the true meanings of words or sentences. As I been advancing in my studies I have found that I get the correct words, but my understanding of the meanings or order of words is lacking, and therefore I don't always get the exact meaning. I'm close but close still can leave a lot of room for misunderstandings.
@EB18 they collabed 2 weeks ago
@@jimross7648 Nice to see you here too Jim. Iâm glad youâre being diligent with your studies.
So much polyglot
Thank you so much for watching!
Iâm uploading twice a week for now
Tell me your opinion about it
Is it too much or not enough?
Just enough đ
perfect!!
Itâs enough. Just remember when you feel tired, STOP!
Perfect
Please interview Japanese-American people or person in Japan. There are also Little Tokyo and Japan town in California, US. So a lot of Japanese people are staying in US.
This message is so true. I been studying Japanese for three years and I have notice it takes a lot of time and practice. I am still currently not able to speak much but I started to be able to watch movies and shows in Japanese without subtitles. So for everyone learning just keep trying and donât give up!!!! You will get it :)
That's bigger than you think, keep it up!
I learned English through youtube and shows. It's rather accessible to learn Japanese because anime is so easy to find and watch and they come in different level of difficulties. However, for me, I want to learn Swedish now and it's such a niche that I don't know where to find enough videos and shows for me to watch to be able to learn it better.
Thank you
@@heidiw3615 I live in a Nordic country and we see TV shows from other Nordic countries all the time on TV. So Swedish is a language that I've passively picked up and understand completely, but I wouldn't be able to string a sentence together in it.
Maybe you could try to find a Swedish public TV app, sometimes they have shows that aren't region locked that you can watch. Or just search random Swedish words on CZcams, you're bound to find a bunch of Swedish channels.
@@Tanerion thank you! Any children shows you would recommend? My level is still pretty low lol. I watched a movie called "en man som heter ove". With Swedish subtitles, I can kinda understand it, but still it was a bit hard for me. I also watched shows like the Bridge and Beforeigners, but they were both a mix of couple of the Nordic languages instead of just Swedish. I love Beforeigners though!
I must say, for me the key is FIRST to learn to LISTEN to the language, to hear what it exactly sounds like, the pronountion,the "melody" of the language, THEN start to learn it. That is how you not only learn to speak it,but you also learn to pronounce it fluently.
Exactly what I was thinking!! As ridiculous as it feels, it really helps trying to imitate exactly how a native speaker said something. And as hard as it might be, when learning a language that's so different from ones native language, I'd say one has to try to completely break away from what one has developed as "my talking melody", that ofc carries a lot of personality, but can't be transfered to the new language. And for so fundamentally different languages I'd say to also break free from thinking everything can be translated if you try hard enough. Not everything can and that's the beauty of language and culture in the end and why learning new languages means to get another perspective on the world i believe :))
@@annajonske6566 aso learning to sing a foreign song just by listening, helps you alot to get a grip of the language, I was a teenager when I played an Italian song "ci sara'" over and over again, and learned it by heart,not knowing what the words meantđI can still sing it today, and I have googeled a lot of the words just to get a grip of the song. Same with the Israeli song "hallelujah" sang by Milk&Honey, I learned it by heart with the pronouncions and twenty years later I learned Hebrew! Realized I have heard lots of sentences wrong but still pronounced them like as it was Hebrew!
@@mrsTraveller64 Totally!! Amazing đđŒ
"Language learning is a process that never ends."
Thanks for the motivation, Mr. Kaufmann!
Glad you also talked about Friends, that really made my day.
Great video, Takashi san! çŽ æŽăăă!
Yeah I'm still learning English!!
that's so motivating1
Don't get stroke man i know some any trying me appropriatly disgusting here even i'm just commentator you know that.
Those cleanest fepol vocabulary didn't apply from the face of civilization from their goods until today crack education geographic.
Remember european before the curriculum 2 years washing is not a highblood from the right thing cause was that time in our corruption in government and i think bong will solve it now.
japanese is a torture of a language. it's worse than hebrew, greek, russian or chinese.
thank you for the discouraging
Excellent interview! You are very talented in interviewing people. Takashi-san knows how to bring out the best from whom he interviews with. He has an excellent listening skill.
Yes itâs very true. Steve picked up Japanese vs. Mandarin and English vs. Spanish. I have been learning Japanese together with Mandarin, while learning Spanish together with English. They can support and relate to each other. Itâs also very important to take each language individually and understand everything behind the languages.
I am very glad that I listen to this interview. Many thanks to Steve for sharing these amazing techniques. I am fully motivated to enjoy the learning process.
he just discourage us to go in japan.
I liked this guy, he seemed really nice. His words about learning Japanese and trying to really enjoy studying made me want to study harder. I also liked that he liked Japan now more than in the 70s.
I appreciate even in the US when older people aren't the ones criticizing the present and constantly complaining about how better the 60s', 70s' were.
I am just 20 year old and i dislike kids of my generation. Older people were better. Old world was better
Study, study. People need to stop treating learning a language like it's a damn "chore". You study for your midterms and cert exams. You learning a language because you want to communicate and connect with people better and understand the culture (unless of course, learning a foreign language is part of your academic curriculum, in which case studying is crucial).
@@IGamingStation but not everyone learns a language to connect with people or understand the culture or because it's part of the academic curriculum
these people ages badly
I love Steve Kaufmann. He has had a huge influence in the way I have directed my Japanese learning/acquisition. It is nice to have a "well seasoned" opinion and view about things. Thanks for sharing!
What a very insteresting topic! Iâm now currently studying nihongo here in Japan. But before coming here I used to watch alot of Japanese drama series. I think the best way to learn Japanese language/Culture is to watch alot of Japanese movies or drama seriesđ It will be very helpful to understand their culture, society and environment.
Thank you Steve and Takashii!
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Should I wait to do that until I have a decent comprehension to understand at least some of it? Or just do it right away? Also, should I turn off english subtitles and have japanese subtitles on instead? Thank you.
Please recommend a few dramas
i agree! i watched anime for about two years and then began learning japanese and it provided me a great foundation for just recognizing sentence patterns and words as well as the culture.
@@fade7978 Hi, I suggest watch the episode all the way through with subtitles in your native language or english sub until you become familiar with the words. Honestly, Iâm still watching series with english sub tho đ itâs not that easy to become fluent just by watching series. But if you have like a favorite drama or anime itâs better if you watch it multiple times. And best way also is to download some apps and practice atleast everyday even just for 1 hour to widen your vocabulary. đ€
@@RizwanKhancovers Hi, Based on my personal preferences, I like the kind of drama/anime related to food, comedy, close to reality and many more. I think you will like;
1 Midnight diner : Tokyo series
2 Kinou Nani Tabeta? (What Did You Eat Yesterday?)
3 Naked Director
4 Million yen women
5 Old enough
6 Mother ( Mana Ashida)
and many many more..
oh god, thank you so much takashii for this video and for all of your content, I really enjoy it and is very useful for my studies in japanise! ă©ăăăăăšăăăăăŸăă
Please donât use Godâs Name in vain, Exodus 20:7
I agree. You have to go through the repetitive process. I strugled so much with katakana, some hiragana and now vocabulary and kanji but I forced myself to repeat it every single day and now when I'm through basics i am so curious about the langauge and everything, I try to read and understand everything I can and it's so much fun for me. I even approach Japanese and try to practice with them now and most are happy to help. But also the mindset is a thing, I was just talking with my Japanese friend how we are friends for a while but despite that our cultural differences are still a thing so it still causes misunderstandings so we are trying to educate each other. Honestly just enjoy the process and learning about different culture and people, the experience itself is worth it. Just like Steve said, japanese is very hard. I'm not native english speaker but learning english, german and other western langauges was way easier for me than japanese so just enjoy.
The cultural differences shouldn't be underestimated - the differences aren't large, but can cause confusion and conflicts at a language level. Even I and the wife (she's Japanese) run into this, even though we know each other so well.
Some of that *is* because of the languages though.. a simple thing like Japanese having the verb at the very end. So you don't really know what the other person is saying unless you wait for the sentence to complete. And because of that you don't start your reply until the other party is finished (except for the Japanese way of nodding and coming with encouraging "I'm here" sounds).
And that becomes _culture_: *Don't interrupt the other person*. Whereas in my native language all the important stuff comes very early in the sentence, the latter half of the sentence is just filler. So it's totally common and acceptable to start replying half way through the other person's sentence.. that's how we all do it. But my wife can't get used to it, even though she speaks my language well. So if I forget myself and replies early then it's "You are not listening to me!". To get out of that habit has been very difficult for me. Unbelievably difficult. I didn't realise how much of what I do and say is automatic and so hard to get under conscious control.
I found this interview so interesting and inspiring at the same time, specially for all of us who have joined this journey of learning such a rich and beautiful language as Japanese! Thank you so much Takashii and Steve đ
I would love to be fluent in japanese
The journey of a lifetime begins with a single step. Go for it!
This is a great video! Very encouraging for learning Japanese (and true I think). I especially liked what Steve said about the Japan of today, I do think it is more open than ever.
I think this might be my favorite video from Takashi. I really like all of his videos but the one one one discussion allowed for a deeper conversation and Steve is such an insightful interviewee. I'm glad you kept the English discussion at the end as well to allow the convo to continue!
This was really helpful, one of the best videos so far! ăăăăšăăăăăŸăăă
This presentation is a gold mine of sage advice. Many thanks to Mr. Kaufman for giving insight into this complex topic. Thank you also for the subtitles. I hope this video will go viral.
I just found this channel, great resource for japanese learners!
I also want to say I really enjoyed Steve's reflections on Japanese society at the end of the video. Steve talks so much more about language learning than his own life that it's easy to forget what an interesting life he's lived. Growing up in Montreal in the 50s, studying in france in the 60s, then moving to Hong Kong and Japan in the 70s... His reflections on the changing society of these places are so interesting, every bit as interesting as his reflections on the languages themselves. Thank you for leaving that last bit in!
didn't expect you to have an interview with Steve. Nice to see your channel grow so fast, while learning Japanese!
wow! a Steve Kaufmann collab. very awesome to hear/see him speak Japanese. congrats on hitting 200k plus! onward to 1 mil!!!!
Thank you for putting english subtitles, and for creating interesting content! I am learning Japanese now, so these type of videos help me a lot.
This was without doubt one of the most important and informative video ever about learning japanese. Steve sir told us the whole proceedure so calmly that it went right inside my head. This video should get more videos.
And Takashi san THANK YOU VERY MUCH !! for uploading this video for us, it helped me solve a lot of questions i was worried about as a beginner japanese learner.
For me, as a beginner Japanese learner, and generally language learning enthusiast, the conversation was really captivating. I so much concur with the idea of enjoying the learning process, as it boosts your motivation and uses the natural mechanism of learning any content. Thank you so much for summarising and emphasising the tips as they definitely are key factors to language acquisition.
Steve Kaufmann is such a great motivator for language learners. Super realistic about his approach to learning with no BS.
This was the best interview youâve ever done. Excellent content.
Thank you, Takashi-san. I'm moving to Japan in about 18 months and am beginning to learn now. This episode is helpful.
As always this video was very cool. I'm a Nikkei born in Brazil. I also lived in Japan for almost 6 years when I was younger, but I've been living in Canada for the last 10 years. Japanese is my true second language, but I'm also fluent in English and French. I enjoy your videos because I can see and hear real people, like when I was living in Japan.Your videos are helping me to reconnect with Japan, so I'm really thankful. I really enjoyed your interviews with Brazilian Nikkeis in Japan, so if you could do more of them, that would be nice.
Great interview. Enjoyed Steve's stories on Japan in the 70s!
This is such an insightful interview! I totally agree with everything he said. Although it was opposite for me, i realized learning Japanese was easier for me when I focus on the things i enjoy like music, idols, anime, anything pop culture related. But for me to reach my level right now, I enrolled to a proper Japanese language school, pass the JLPT, and improved more by using the language through my work(I work in a Japanese company) and talking to Japanese people. Everyone has their own methods of learning, but nothing beats learning when youâre enjoying it as well.
This was a very interesting interview!
I've been struggling with my Japanese learning lately, I feel like I'm making no progress even though I study everyday for about 1 to 3 hours.
But now I feel confident that as long as I persevere and keep at it, I will get better at understanding Japanese.
Great video guys! Mr. Kaufmann has been a huge influence on me during my looong journey with the Japanese language. Language is the gift that keeps on giving and there is truly no substitution for being able to communicate with strangers in their home country.
ăăăȘă€ăłăżăă„ăŒăăŁăĄăćœčç«ăĄăŸăăïŒăăăăšăăăăăŸăđ
Awesome video! Thanks a lot for the insight! I'm a brazilian learning english and japanese, watching english videos helped me a lot and now I started doing it with japanese now that I'm getting used to the language :D ăăăăšăăăăăŸăïŒ
Como vai a aprendizagem do japonĂȘs??
This was an awesome interview, thanks to both for giving us your knowledge đ
This was so pleasant!!! Mr hoffman seems like such a fun person and a great advice giver!
Wow! What a great conversation! That you for creating this video. Loved getting Steveâs perspective on things and really enjoyed the questions that you asked. đâ€ïž
Thank you for making this video!!! I will keep his words in mind for my Japanese studies. é ćŒ”ăăŸăïŒ
This was a great video with great advice! Your guest was very positive about learning Japanese. I would have loved to hear more stories from his experiences! đ
happy you are growing and having more colabs đđ€ i learned alot.thanks
Interesting topic. thank you!
éąçœă話ă§ăă
Very wise man. His advice about enjoying the process can be applied to learning any new language or interest
That was super interesting! I especially liked hearing his observations about how Japanese culture has changed over the decades. A lot of the language CZcamsrs I listen to are younger, so they never had the chance to experience those things firsthand.
Thank you so much for this. I am learning so much about Japan as well as the language. I have been studying for 8 or 9 months now at my own pace, but getting better each month without question.
Very cool and interesting interview, thank you both!
This was very interesting and educational. Steve Kaufmann was full of the history of older Japan and his ideas about learning Japanese were insightful. He's amazing. Thanks for this video. I learned a lot.
Thank you for making this one
Awesome interview. Thank you for the encouragement to continue learning Japanese.
thank you for this collab. great inputs that i can use in my study.
Great interview! I liked the part at the end where he talks about the differences from the 70's and now.
Great, interview!
Thank you so much Takashiđ
Not only did we received the advice of learning Japanese, more like we got the advice of âhow to learn things effectivelyâ. Thank you!
Very nice video. Thanks for sharing. đđŒ
So good đ delightful to watched thanks
Enjoy and Perseverance! Great interview...Thanx
Very inspiring to hear Steve talking Japanese, I heard him talking Spanish. Itâs brilliant. Thank you very much for the content. Brilliant interview.
This video was awesome. Mr. Kaufmann gave such a good interview. Thank you!
I'm so engaged with the twist of your content in the last two months... Thank you Takashii-san :)
I lived in Tokyo as a child in the 80's. It's been a long time since I have been back there and can't wait until I can visit again.
Your video's always help me learn alot, arigatou đ.
What a beautiful interview!
This was a really interesting discussion and I liked how the conversation developed and the information was imparted. Great episode.
What a great interview !
Thank you Takashii đ
Amazing interview. Thanks a lot
Thank you for this video!!!! As I am learning Japanese and moving there soon all this advice is awesome!!! Thank you!!
The best crossover of the year!! I follow both of you! And I hope to live and study in japan someday.... âđ» đŻđ”
As a person/subscriber learning Japanese, I really appreciate the information and advice given, thank you both
Wow, amazing interview! æćăăŸăăïŒSteve Kaufmann, legend!! đ„đ„
This is so interesting! I have heard Steveâs story time and time again, but heâs still so relateable and wonderful!
I really loved this interview! Congratulations đ
Soo cool, thanks a lot for this!!
Wow this interview was very nice and informative to see! I really want to learn Japanese so this video is very encouraging! Thank you Takashii and thank you for introducing us to this gentleman!
Ah thatâs so cool. Been following Steve Kaufman for over a year now. Great collaboration.
Thank you Takahashi-san for this interview. I have been watching anime for over 10 years and can watch it and understand most basic Japanese and same with Korean as well, however it is really hard as Mr. Kaufman said to keep it up. My first language is german and english is second, so absorbing languages has come to me easier then many people. Yet, I still struggle keep up with it and retaining all that I have learned, but this interview has taught 2 things: I have READ and LISTEN a LOT to keep it alive until I. Can visit the countries and experience the culture for myselg.
Again thank you so much!
Arigatou gosaimasu
What a GREAT interview! Great job!... I've been wanting to learn Japanese for such a long time and this video has make me want to start studying Japanese even more!! Thanks!
ăčăăŁăŒăăăć€§ć„œăăăăĄăéąçœăćç»ă§ăăăčăăŁăŒăăăă«ăăŁăšă€ăłăżăă„ăŒèŠăăă§ăăăăăăăăăç„èăćŠăčăăăŠăçąșăă«æăźæ„æŹă«ć€äșșă§äœăă§ăă«ă€ăăŠăŻèăăă
I love Steve. Really cool interview! I'd love to see more interviews with him. There's a lot of knowledge we could learn from him. I'd like to hear more about being in Japan as a foreigner in the old days.
Thank you so much for your video and your workđ
I watched a lot advices from people. He gave the best one! Thank you so much!
I was in Japan in 1967 for a week while on R&R from Vietnam. My buddy and I had no problems getting around on the trains, etc.. Young people would give us directions and translate for us. I found everyone friendly and helpful.
Such excellent content! Highly intereting and i love to see you progress day by day with your channel đđ keep it up, i'll support you, you're awesome takashii!
thanks for the interview....I have been in Mexico for 30 years and learned Spanish.here without a teacher....like Steve said...first vocab then TV and later youhave to absorb the culture to understand the jokes at parties or even simple conversations etc. Now I am about Steves age and trying to learn Japanese through you tube and other means just for fun..and its coming along....and really you even can absorb the culture through the language....the making of coffee too now is self-service here but back when...yes youhad to do everything for the boss.. there was a formality about everything...today things are more relaxed...enjoyed the interview a lot.
Thanks so much for this video i nearly lost motivation to keep learning the japanese language but now i feel refreshed thank you takashii san and steve san
This was awesome and useful for Japanese learners, Takashi. Keep up the great work! đ
Thank you for the great content on your channel, it is very useful and interesting at the same time. Keep up the good work!
Very impressive! I enjoyed this video!
Awesome interview!
This helped me alot with studying Japanese! Thanks for the great video!!
Damn,did not expect you to collab with him.Amazing video! keep it up
Wonderful conversation!
Great job. Well done Takashii San for your efforts
Thanks for this Takashi-san. Keep going and growing.
That was a great video! Learning a different language is like drinking, eating, sleeping that culture. That is the way to create the connection to the heart and language.
Thank you for this. I've been using a lot of Anki the past 2 years to build my vocabulary / grammar and I've progressed to being able to read a lot of Kanji, understand some sentences and read paragraphs bit by bit. Listening is my current struggle. I listen to NHK News Podcast daily and sometimes it feels the words are coming way too fast. But... as Steve said... enjoy it! And I am! That's why I persevere.
Wow I just discovered Steve's channel recently and now you are interviewing him. What a coincidence.
thanks for sharing!
I wasnât expecting this collab. Recently discovered Steve stuff and as someone with a linguistics masterâs myself his content is really interesting
Love this â€ïžđ„
Need more this type of podcast âșïž
Love your videos Takashii, you ask really great questions, and is really inspiring for me who is 36 years old and wants to learn Japanese for the first time.
I would like to add one thing that i personally use to study languages. In my opinion, twitch streams are really helpful. I learned English this way, now it also works with Japanese. Hearing casual speech from native speakers and trying to have a conversation with them is a key. It might be difficult at the start, but gradually becomes easier.