From Silent to Fluent: Conquering Japanese After 6 months of Fear!
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- Опубликовано: 19 апр 2024
- My journey from silence to fluency as I share my personal challenge of mastering the Japanese language. For six long months, fear held me captive, rendering me mute and unable to utter even a single word in Japanese. But against all odds, I broke free from the shackles of my anxiety and embarked on a quest to conquer the language that once seemed so daunting. Join me as I unveil the secrets behind my transformation, revealing the struggles, triumphs, and invaluable lessons learned along the way.
Thank you for supporting my channel. I have been drinking a lot of coffee making these videos! If you would like to do more to help me keep creating content here is my Ko-fi link: ko-fi.com/chanijapan
Are you interested in learning Japanese with me? Let me know in the comments @ChaniJapan
#livinginjapan #japaneselanguage #Japan
*After many requests, I have made a course for you! I will gradually add more courses to the site in time. But for now here is the Beginners Course:* www.chanijapan.com/japanese-beginners-alphabet-and-phonics-1
Hello, I am a Japanese woman living in the countryside of Japan.
I am in my late 30s.
I have been working on learning English for about a year.
I can read, write, listen to English, but I still struggle to speak English.
I am trying to practice shadowing with your video.
Your story of learning Japanese inspires me. Thank you.
I am looking forward to your next video.
Best wishes in learning English! 英語学習のご多幸をお祈り申し上げます。👍👏🥰
I would love to take a course with you
I would totally do your course
Choco Ice,
English is difficult to learn when you do not have someone to talk to. But your writing is very nice!
I am a university professor in the United States. I have taught English in Africa, Mexico, and Chile. I visited Japan last year too and loved it very much. I wonder if there is some way I can talk to you online? It is hard for you to find English speakers in the countryside!
Sincerely,
Cecile
Thank you! Shadowing is an excellent technique. It really helps with fluency. Thank you for watching ♥️
You are a very sweet person to offer creating a Japanese language learning course. You will have many students! 🥰😍❤👍👏
Thanks so much 🐱
Very interested in your japanese courses.
@@ChaniJapan 👍👏
Me too would be interested to take online .
I’m definitely interested. 🥰
I am about 40 years into my journey learning Japanese but I also started from humble beginnings. First came to Japan by accident, and immediately cancelled the lessons that had been set up for me thinking, "this language seems impossible..." however I was in Yamaguchi Prefecture in the 1980s and there were no English speakers to be found. Deep loneliness set in so I resolved to study. At first I could not make myself understood at all. I could not even say Good Morning (ohaiyoo gozaimasu) in a way that was easy for the listener and for me. The ridiculouslness of that smacked me in the face like cold water so I practiced the phrase aloud by mself 100 times or so until I could say it fluently.
And so it went. In a short time people thought I was fluent, which was not the case at all. I could only say a few things but I said them well, too well for my own good probably.
I also could not read, or cook, and living by myself this meant I couldn't eat, which was a real problem. So I quickly learned to read the simplest menu items - curry rice, rice pilaf, sandwhich, matching my text book up against each character in the menu, and ate such fare at the same kissaten for a few weeks until I had learned more.
After 40 years, it has become an amazing journey that has given me so many gifts in life, that all the effort was very much worth it. But I definitely could not see that at the start.
It does sound like you've had an amazing journey ♥️
I had a similar experience in my 30-year Spanish journey. Where I learned to pronounce it so well in the beginning that I appeared to be more advanced than I actually was😅. It made for a few laughs, for sure.
Yes. Would love to learn functional Japanese. I am a 60y.o. teacher in Cairns. Goal: retire and travel Japan with my wife. Pushbike, motorbike.
You are my favourite RUclipsr!
Humble, genuine.
Wishing you peace and happiness.
Thank you 🇯🇵 Very kind of you 😀
I'm also from Cairns, and share the same sentiments.
Yes I would like to learn Japanese, have just gotten back from there yesterday, and would love to get (much) better, appreciate the videos and your offering
Yes! I’m interested in learning Japanese, sign me up please!
@@willincairnsme too ☺️
OMG! PLEASE!!! I'm a complete beginner and structure is something I desperately need! I would even pay for tutoring! ANYTHING!
Thank you 🇯🇵
@@ChaniJapan I would love to learn Japanese as well. I am from the US and it was on my list to make a trip in 2020, but you know the world stopped moving then.
Try Japanese pod or Human Japanese- two really great resources!
I feel so lucky to find your channel. Thank you for that.
“Excuse me?” This was the scariest phrase in English for me when talking to English speakers. I couldn’t continue the conversation once they said it. I would go into panic mode, wondering, “Did I pronounce a word wrong?” or “Did I mix up the ‘R’ and ‘L’ sounds?” I would just stop talking and focus on reading, which actually helped me a lot. Many people have said to me, “You’ve been studying English for years just to READ? Learning foreign languages should be fun and for communication.” What are you doing?” I don’t give a damn anymore because I know I’m having fun and “Excuse me” doesn’t scare me anymore.”
So glad you aren't scared by it any more. I agree that communication should be fun and talking to other people from other countries is such a wonderful experience 😀
This should be a popular class. Language is what keeps us separated from the community we live in. No matter how much we love Japan ..you will soon grow tired or embarrassed. I was so tired of my child translating for me! Ironic ...because I went to uni in Germany and was upset at English speakers using their kids as translators. I realized that I was doing the exact same thing when during my second visit, I caught myself waiting hours for my kid to return to accompany me to the grocery just to read the kanji on food labels (we are several generations vegetarian). I decided to learn as much as possible in one month.
Anyone who goes to Japan and tries to learn the language, can in time learn it. Immersion is key. Your story of not being able to communicate for months, in stores and other places, is a common one. Many Japanese don't speak English, and get annoyed with foreigners who speak no Japanese. You persisted, broke free, and learned the language. Amazing story, shared by thousands of other English teachers in Japan.
I agree- this is the way it has gone for many of us here.
It's never too late to follow your dream , better late than never as people often say .
You are brave to decide living alone in a foreign country .
I've been attempting to learn Japanese for about 25 years. I took 3 years in high school and 1 in college. Since then I have on again and off again tried to study on my own or with family and friends. I have a strong grasp of Hiragana, Katakana, and pronunciation. I am struggling to make the leap into speaking full sentences (outside of some basic textbook phrases) and having conversations in Japanese. I have visited Japan 10 times including 3 home stay of about 6 weeks each. Once immersed I do ok at understanding some of what I am hearing, but I struggle to articulate my thoughts in Japanese. My family and a few friends are once again attempting to learn Japanese (with the Genki textbooks) and I understand the anxiety that feeling unable to speak brings. Thank you for your video and the reassurance that fluency is attainable.
I know how you feel and I think it is a learning journey that has no ending ♥️
You sound like my doppelgänger 😂.
This will sound bleak, but unless you live in Japan for a reasonable period, or extended holidays for months, it is almost impossible to master. Almost :)
I mentioned this in another post, but for some reason Japanese, unlike most western cultures, cannot deal with incorrect pronunciation or grammar. They don’t seem to have the ability to pick key words out of a sentence, place them in context, and get the gist of it.
Except at an izakaya or other alcohol related venue. Then we all seem to understand each other. 😂
I am heading back over for three months in September, so will give it another go 😊
Do you live in a city that has clubs for people who want to speak Japanese? Meetup groups, for example. I learned extended French in Jr High and High School, but never felt 100% confident to use it outside of class. But then on trips to Quebec, I find that even if I can't speak it, I can understand what is being said. What I do know that helps, is not to overthink translating English to the other language, but try to think in that language other.
I suggest the following. Get some books on tape. Listen to them and follow along with the text, for 10 minutes a day. Write down a summary in Japanese of what you read. Then read the text yourself. Select interesting books with the text in middle-school format, with lots of furigana. I read books such as Jules Verne, "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" because I knew the content, and the text is relatively easy. Or Takeyama's war novel, "The Harp of Burma," which I saw in the 1956 movie. It was actually written as a children's book, so it is easy to understand, but it is interesting for an adult. If you can get the book, the book on tape, the movie, the manga cartoon version, and the animated movie, all the better. Something like "In This Corner of the World" (another war novel) is available in all these formats, including a translated English comic, I think. Read them all. Several times. Write summaries in Japanese comparing the different versions.
If you can persuade a Japanese native speaker to mark up your daily essay with a red pen showing all your mistakes, all the better. That motivates you! I had a retired teacher do that for me when I lived in Japan, similar to Chani's first teacher.
Thank you for sharing your story so openly and for the outstanding content you are creating. I also struggled 30 years ago with a very rocky and anxious start on my Japanese language learning journey. Like you I persevered and became a Japanese high school teacher in the United States and had a wonderful and meaningful career with so many incredible students. Having struggled so much at the beginning made me a stronger and more supportive and understanding teacher. For students just starting on your journey, please don't give up and do believe in yourself. Find people who will believe in you and your efforts and be patient with you, and most of all be patient with yourself. You will learn Japanese!
Thank you for your interesting video as always.
I am Japanese living in Canada for 1 years. Your video reminds me of my marriage at Cairns. I still have the same thing to speak English, I can't speak out that I though in my brain.
Anyway, I love and enjoy your video and learning a lot.
Cheers!😊
I wish you all the best with your English studies. English is a hard language to learn as well.
Hi Chani, I just love your channel..I'm in Perth Western Australia, middle aged and have for many, many years wanted to visit, and dreamt of living in Japan, though my age and lack of understanding Japanese always been a huge block. Your videos give me that incentive to maybe one day to at least visit.. thankyou x
I hope you can visit one day ♥️
Love this very personal narrative which is very encouraging for people who are interested in learning more about Japanese language and culture.
Thank you for your kind comment 😀
I think your course will be very popular, Chani! Your calm, humorous approach is so reassuring. Good luck with the road ahead!
Thank you so much!
Home stay families in japan are great.
So great and so supportive ♥️
Yes please, I am struggling to get a grasp, and so much information out there, but all different.
Thank you 🇯🇵
Yes please. We are Australian, really enjoy your chanel and love Japan!
Thanks so much 😀 I am working on making a course ♥️
That will be cool. With your videos I've build now 100% wish to learn Japanese and move there as you do! Thank you!
Thank you 🇯🇵
Waiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit. You mean this whole time you have been a Japanese teacher 😮? I would love for you to be my teacher. Your vibe is so chill and down to earth!
Thanks so much 😀
Not just trauma, but any heightened emotional response (surprise, joy etc.) will help cement words in your brain. So will associating it with music. I graduated from UQ with a linguistics major and a double major in Japanese in 1985. Is that where you went to Uni? My first year in Japan (outside Hiroshima, when I was an exchange student) was also fraught with fear and performance anxiety, and perfectionism. It took me a long time and lots of psychological self-examination to get over. But I went on to get my BA, and study an additional year after that, in Tokyo. Over the years I would read bits and pieces here and there but for the next 30 years I really didn't use my Japanese at all. Then in 2019 I went back for a holiday with my son, and my brain ignited with the love of this language. I discovered that so much of it was still sequestered away there in my mind, and just came back, on autopilot. So I studied for the JLPT (日本語能力試験), and passed the N1 level the next year on my first try. Learning a language is SO much easier now than it was in the 1980s. There's so much material online, and apps, podcasts, slow news etc, that you can really immerse yourself in it and absorb it with your whole self.
It's crazy how much anxiety and fear can be induced just from trying to learn a new language. I'm currently in that same stage with Japanese, where I'm learning, slowly, but I'm terrified to try to speak!
That is wonderful that your love of learning Japanese came back and you were reignited after 30 years!
@@TheOneRioji Shadowing, which Chani mentions, or parroting, if you will, are great techniques to try. You can also record yourself and plays it back so you hear your accent and learn to correct it. Doing this in private can get you used to speaking without performance pressure or embarrassment.
@@ChaniJapanI intentionally didn't brush up before the trip. I really wanted to see what my brain could do in it's own!
Please do that... create the course. 25 years of teaching Japanese as a foreign speaker and now living it may just mean something.
Hi! I don't know if you've noticed but this video is "unlisted" and thus only a few will be able to see it, specifically, only those that have the video weblink. If you intend for others to see the video, I suggest changing the viewership.
Thanks so much ♥️ I was a bit nervous about publishing this one. It is up live now.
Yes!
@@ChaniJapan I am, and surely many others, glad that you published it despite your nervousness.
Thank you for sharing the story.
Some guidance in learning Japanese would be greatly appreciated.
As others have mentioned, it is a bit overwhelming attempting to start one's journey into learning Japanese as there is so much information out there.
All the best from Denmark (The one in Scandinavia, not the Australian one).
Lovely watching you im 64 now is it to late to learn. I have been studying Japanese culture and history for a while I'm disabled so I can't visit now. I watch every thing on japan a beautiful country I am so happy for you what you have achieved waiting for the next one xxxxx
Never to late to pick up something new😀
I've studied the language in little bits over my life. One or two classes with many years in between. I recently made the decision to travel there in the next few years in hopes of finding a path to move there. I have some "light" disabilities (things that will become major at any time like back issues). So I've been learning as much as I can daily (like 10 minutes to 2 hours) and consuming as much Japanese media content as possible (social media and TV/anime).
So you have to start with goals. If you can't travel a long term goal might be to read original texts, even children's books, in Japanese. Or perform translations. Even knowing the basics provides so much more insight when translating the meanings, simply because we do a two step translation from Japanese to literal English to natural English. The real meaning is in the literal and the natural is just "this is how I might say it to a friend".
When you have a long term goal, then you can find short term steps to move you in that direction. Think of it like hiking up a mountain with no trail. Sometimes you go this way, then you see something pretty and take a detour, then you continue towards the route you were taking but instead of backtracking you take the direct route from where you are now.
There are many methods of learning. To learn for free, use apps (like Pimsleur, Duo Lingo, I use Duo but I tried Pimsleur and I think it is better) to get phonetics, hiragana/katakana, and phrase constructions. You can get the Anki app and download decks of Japanese learning flash cards (beginner or JLPT N5 to start).
Use websites for detailed explanations (Google your questions and there are many sources).
For natural Japanese and to hear the spoken language from Native speakers, follow many RUclips and Instagram sensei. E.g. NihongoDekita, Yuu From Tokyo, Cozy, etc. The more you follow the better. Then when you scroll you'll get plenty of content. Ideally, starting at this moment, all content you watch and read should be Japanese content. 100% immersion.
When you get to Kanji, start an account on Wani Kani's website and follow those instructions daily.
If you have money, you can take one in one Japanese lessons online for ~$5-30 per session on apps/sites like iTalki. For a premium alternative to sites and app learning, you can go with NativShark.com which is like $200/year and their audio samples are real. I tried them out for a bit and I like their content but I don't want to pay.
@@ChaniJapan This is so true. I started learning Japanese just over one year ago. I was 55. I thought it would be very hard and that I was too old. You can only easily learn a language when you are young etc etc.
I no longer agree with that. As an adult, learning a language, you have lots of advantages over a child learning a language for the first time.
You understand basic grammar rules. For example, you understand how to form a sentence, you know what a noun, a verb, an adverb and an adjective is. You also know about possessive, past present and future tense, objects and subjects. All of these things are really difficult for a child to learn from scratch.
You also have a very large vocabulary. You just don't know those words in Japanese yet. You understand what the word "irony" means but try explaining it to a young child. This concept is really difficult.
I enjoy your videos very, much. I find them very insightful. This one that I didn't expect and am so glad you made. I'm Australian and have visited Japan many times was I study shakuhachi. I have made many attempts to learn the language and keep hitting the 'wall' at some point. I'm above survival level but not able to carry on a conversation. My teacher and some other people I've met in the town are fluent in English. Before I went last time I had some online private lessons that were disappointing as we ended up just using a basic text instead of working on conversation. Your video has inspired me to give it another go. Thank you, Jim
@@markurta1 Wow, I thought I was the only late starter ;-) I took up Japanese two years ago at the age of 58 just because I went on a few 2-week trips with my grown-up children, who all speak Japanese, and their sensei. I was never into tourism for the sake of seeing new places, I've always wanted to understand the people there.
So first I just had the ambition to learn hiragana and katakana and catch up some phrases, more for the fun of it. A short while after I realized that I've been doing serious language learning (classes, long hours of homework, daily kanji practice, only Japanese movies etc). I passed my JLPT N5 last year, which gave me some confidence and boosted motivation. At the end of this year I am taking N4 and have learned over 500 kanji.
Last October I went on a fortnight's trip to Japan just on my own, to see how I could cope, and that was a fantastic experience! I am able to speak very basic things but also grasp and understand a lot more. I could read signs and inscriptions all around me, get the clue of what people around me were saying, had some basic, but lovely chats in sento, onsen, shops, train or cultural institutions. That felt so great even though I am just a mere beginner.
Now there are times when I work really hard on a daily basis (when I get back from work), then those when I'm just doing my daily kanji/ NHK News Web Easy practice and homework (I take classes once a week) but I never skip a day without at least a very brief contact with the Japanese language. My son told me not to rely on motivation too much and to work out a regular daily learning routine. I believe being stubborn, consistent and daring will take you further and further, and just as Chani said - having put in the effort you might not even realise how much you have grasped already.
Good on you hard working always pays off,God bless you in everyway of life.Keep up the good work. Nice to hear your story.
Thank you so much!
So comforting, thank you.
You are the inspiration I needed! Thank you so much!!!!
This clip will surely make many people say, "After all, I am not alone!" Thanks for sharing your journey. This will go a long way espeially for those who are in their steep learning curve learning the "devil's language."
Thank you! It is a tough language to learn.
Haha, this devilishly difficult language can actually be called the language of angels, as you can easily communicate by simply arranging nouns and verbs, regardless of their order.
@@socks_cat356 The people can be very well be "angels" - mind so pure and innocent (well , generally, in my experience). One wil have to contend with (on top of Chani san's tribulation with Japanese phonics....lolz) the different written forms (hiragana, katakana, kanji).... and the words that have nothing to do with anything (e.g., if you know Spanish, you can probably
converse with Italian or Portuguese, etc.). And of course, as you rightly pointed out, working on the order of words in a sentence may relatively be a good exercise to dig into. What the "hell" ("devil") is this language .........
@@JAM041158 For example, it is said that there are more than 100 ways to read the kanji character "生" (life).
@@socks_cat356 ROTFL............... "devils"... "angels/purity/innocence"...... but lo and behold! "Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal"......... What an 'angelic-devilish' stuff this language is....Shall we forewarn those wanting to learn the Japanese language of just what is in store for them should they decide to do so?
What a great story! Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you for your honesty
Loved this video - very well presented! I laughed out load at some of it.
What an awesome idea and how kind of you to offer to take on teaching us Japanese I would be very interested, your story of your journey on how you learned Japanese was very interesting thanks for sharing
Thank you 🇯🇵
Thank you for your video and for giving my feelings words. I currently work in Japan and I have the same struggles and fear. I definitely feel like I can understand more than I can speak. It is really easy to let these struggles put you down and stop you from speaking entirely. I'd love to see more content for Japanese lessons!
You're so welcome!
Fantastic experiences, thanks for sharing.
Yes, I would be very interested in such a course. Thank you for offering.
Thank you 🇯🇵
Love your videos on Japanese culture!!!!!😀 Your videos are very funny!!!!
Yes yes on the Japanese tutorials! @ChaniJapan
Thank you 🇯🇵
Another great video Chani, always entertaining and informative. Thanks so much
Thank you so much 😀
In the past couple of months I've been wanting to pick up learning Japanese again, and then this video pops up! I think it's a sign 😊 I am definitely interested in your Japanese course!
Hi there, I'm a fellow Australian, also in my 50's, who is new to your channel. Firstly I'd like to congratulate you for the steps you've taken to immigrate to Japan. It takes bravery to step out of what is familiar and step into a vastly different culture. I fell in love with Japan in my 20's however, was unable to visit until I was in my 30's - and have been travelling to Japan yearly since. As I fell in love with the country, it's people and culture (making friends along the way), I decided early on to learn the language. Your "Nihon go" learning journey really resonates - the fear of public speaking still lingers each time I visit Japan. I'm at the stage you spoke of, where I can understand most of the spoken language however, I'm hesitant to speak. I'd be so pleased for you to create a Japanese language study course and would definitely join! Thank you for your generosity sharing your knowledge. I look forward to discivering more of your channel 😊
Thanks so much 😀
This is such an interesting video, I had been wondering about how you learned Japanese. Thank you for sharing this!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I thought for your cousin, Dan. I am sure that you gave him great memories during his visit to Japan.
Very kind of you ♥️ Yes it was a great memory for both of us 😀
I just recently found your channel and I felt so inspired after I watched the first video about it never being too late to follow your dreams.
I've been studying Japanese for a while now, and I have a dream of living and working in Japan, but I keep feeling discouraged about my progress. Watching your videos and seeing your passion and positive attitude makes me feel better! It reminds me to treat myself with compassion and to follow my heart.
I would love to see a language course from you! I think you would help so many people, not just with learning Japanese, but also with feeling more confident and reassured :)
You were one of my favourite teachers in primary school, thank you for being one of the really good ones ❤ I’m 30 now and your story is fantastic.
Memories came back to me of the time when I first arrived in Australia...I felt like you did and now I live here. ❤ You're so sweet, I would love to let people know about your course if/when you start a course. 😀
Thank you so much!
Yes please . I would like to learn Japanese from you ❤
Beautiful memory, thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your story!
Thanks for listening
Yes, definitely! I did it in High School and gave up but want to take it seriously now.
Thank you 🇯🇵 The feedback has been good so I am going to start working on it 😀
That was a lovely story of your journey to learn Japanese, and all the pit falls involved, thank you.
I would love to learn Japanese but, as an 'older gentleman' (66), I feel that I've left it a bit too late. I am retired now (and hate it!) and fill my days by watching RUclips videos from Japan. It is, quite simply, the most beautiful and amazing country in the World. I would dearly love to go there and meet those wonderful and charming people.
So yes, I think that offering on-line courses is a brilliant idea, but I fear that it would be a bit late in the day for an old duffer like me!
I enjoy your videos and have subscribed, and look forward to each one! 🥰🥰🥰
Thanks for your comment! Never too old in fact you are not that much older than me so I am sure you can do anything you want. Thanks for subscribing 😀
@@ChaniJapan Thank you for your kind words and letting me down so gently! At least you still look very young!
You're not nearly 'too old'! I'm up there as well, and learning new things such as languages is so good for the brain! I highly encourage you to learn and I hope you do get to visit Japan one day soon! Take care!
Hello Neale, You certainly haven't left it too late to study this fascinating language. I'm 79 and have been enjoying my Japanese language journey for many years. I'm addicted to learning kanji! Please take the plunge into the Japanese language! You won't regret it! And maybe you'll be able to visit that fascinating country and meet some of it's wonderful people. Good luck!
@@joanmh45 Thank you for replying. I'm watching a lot of Japanese videos on RUclips and I have picked up a few words and about 6 Kanjis. But although I'm hearing a lot of Japanese, none of it sticks in my brain! I would be very interested in seeing if I can actually learn it better? Thank you again.
Bring on the course !!! You are super inspirational and I enjoy watching your content a lot !!!
Thanks so much 😀 I am working on making a course ♥️
Yes please, I would be really interested! ♥ Thank you for sharing your Japan life!
Ahh. This had me chucklin’. The Japanese blank stare….
I’ve travelled the world and tried my best to butcher my way through the hosts language.
Generally they are happy that you are giving their language a try. But not Japan.
Or France, but that’s just being French of course.
Most countries pick up a few words from your sentence, place those words in the context of the discussion location, and after a back and forth communication is gained.
Not in Japan. 😂
Pronunciation is king. Perfect examples
- I walked into a car rental business where I had made an online booking for a car. In Japanese I said hello, usual greeting, and “watashi wa, karuma reservation des”. (Basically I have a car reservation). Blank stare. Say it again. Blank stare.
What I got wrong was car is kuruma, not karuma. I’m standing in a car rental shop, with my licence, and we couldn’t get past ku and ka….😂
- Went to Ticket Station at Matsumoto and after saying hello asked in my best practiced nihongo May I have a ticket to Nagano. Blank stare.
I know I said kippu (ticket) and Nagano (city) and Eki (station). Just blank stare.
Growing up in Sydney Australia we all function on broken English. The Vietnamese grocer, the Italian cafe…. Would love to know the cultural science behind it.
😊😊😊
Your examples are exactly what was happening to me. I can really relate. This is what sent my anxiety off the charts.
@@ChaniJapan as a fellow Aussie, do you think it’s the historical monoculture? I Oz I grew up with butchered English so l think I learnt to pick up single words rather than sentences. I remember the local milk bar owner Ames Cassamento spoke almost no English, me no Italian, but we worked it out. And that was in the 70’s lol
@@hossp2365 there were so many accents around me growing up as well. I was used to people at least trying to understand.
What always strikes me with my Japanese students is their own personal shame at not understanding English well. They’ve spent so many years “book learning “ English grammar and vocabulary, and their intelligence was measured by how they performed on standardized English exams throughout junior high and high school. So when a foreign person speaks to them, their brain panics and freezes. They can’t relax enough to listen and decipher. They assume you’re speaking English if you speak Japanese with a foreign accent.
I spend a good chunk of time in each class encouraging students to relax, and teaching ways to work through the panic and paralysis that happens when they don’t understand.
So when you are valiantly struggling to use Japanese, their mind isn’t thinking, “How great that he’s trying to use my language!” but “He must be speaking English, and I can’t understand! I’m so stupid and ashamed!”
I’ve worked with over a thousand adult Japanese learners of English, and I see this problem every day.
I love my students, so I’m a huge cheerleader and encourager. They’re so awesome, but they very seldom realize!
So accurate! They are panicking just like you are. I taught English to Japanese students years ago and prying the dictionaries out of their hands was a serious challenge. They struggle with accents and often “hear” garbled English when people are trying to speak Japanese! Good to remember.
This was really, really fascinating and inspiring! I love your channel (and YOU, too).
Very kind of you ♥️ Thank you😀
Absolutely interested. Thank you
Wow! What an inspiring story!! Thank you for sharing. ☺
You are welcome 😀
Thanks for sharing your stories! I'm sure we have often had the same blocks. It was a great reminder of how great it can be on the other side of an obstacle.
Thanks for watching 😀
Hello Chani, I just wanted to say thank you for making videos, I stumbled upon your channel about a week ago after having to put my pride and joy down. While I know our experiences are on two different spectrums of struggling, your videos of you talking about needing a fresh and moving forwards really helped me get over, or at least almost to the top of that first hill of accepting and needing to move on. I cannot wait for your new videos and hope you continue to make strides in your self healing!
Also, yes, I would love for you to make that course!
Thank you 🇯🇵 I am sorry to hear about your pride and joy. That is very difficult.
Wonderful story. Thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it
i'm definitely keen to join your course!👍🏼❤️
Thanks so much 😀 I am working on making a course ♥
to echo other's sentiments - you are fast becoming my favorite youtuber..!!!! every time you post I am STOKED! Thank you for sharing with us. sending you love, hugs, and gratitude for your presence. cheers from Oregon!
Wow, thank you!
Thanks for sharing your journey, it is a daunting process!
Thanks for watching 😀 Very daunting!
Hi Chani! Im glad this video is up❤
Thanks Vegys ❤️ I wish I could have included the special treats. But next one will work I am sure.
Yes!! I would love to take your course!
Yay! Thank you!
Fascinating story, thank you.
Thanks for listening
Inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
You are so welcome!
Great story.. Cheers..❤️❤️
Yes, very interested to learn with you. Fascinating channel, terrific content; I'm sure you're an amazing teacher.
Thank you 🇯🇵
Yes please!! You offering a course would lovely.
Working on it!
Love your story. Inspiring 🎉 Your voice tone, speech pronunciation and tempo makes listening to you comfortable and easy. Well done 👍🏼
Thank you so much!
I'll be in . Love your channel. Your very inspiring❤
Thank you 🇯🇵 The feedback has been good so I am going to start working on it 😀
I loved the picture of you and Dan at Disneyland. It sounds like he is no longer with us, I am so sorry! What a great idea you have about Japanese lessons :)
Thank you 😀
You are a very inspiring person.
Learning Japanese would be great. If possible with my schedule I would give it a try. Thanks for sharing and I’m really enjoying your channel. Learning lots and love your accent! Keep up the great work.
The idea to learn in a basic way, with writing makes so much sense. I have not been happy with many language videos that seem so random/arbitrary.
I wish you well. Your story is completely relatable.
Thanks for watching 😀
Yes, count me in. I am definitely interested. Thanks Chani.
Thank you 🇯🇵 The feedback has been good so I am going to start working on it 😀
You are amazing.
Yes! Per your asking us to answer, it would be super awesome if you had lessons for us! I absolutely adore your channel by the way! The way you tell stories and show your life in Japan reminds of why I want to live there some day 😊
Awesome! Thank you!
Hello, @ChaniJapan! These videos have been fun to watch while being inspirational & educational at the same time. Currently looking for a six month to one year language program in Japan to really jumpstart the learning. I'm looking to leave this government job in expensive California and hoping to find an akiya in the coming years. Glad youtube suggested your videos last week. Cheers and thanks for all the good content!
You are a lovely person and what a brilliant story of how you got to where you are now. That feeling of being so overwhelmed really is very powerful and you have had the strength to overcome it. I had a similar experience - nowhere near as intense as yours but nerve racking all the same when we went to Paris for a long weekend. Real world French is nothing like the stuff we learned at school and I was the only one out of me and my partner that had any knowledge of French. I felt so embarrassed at first but I found that if you tried to speak as best you could to the locals in French, no matter how bad it was they nearly always helped you with English and French and they were always accommodating. We were sat at a restaurant one night and in rusty French ordered and interacted with our waiter who didn’t speak any English but smiled at us and was very prompt with our food and attentive. There was a French family to our left so naturally they conversed with him with ease - again they had excellent and prompt service. There was a couple sat to our right who were also English and the woman had a very bossy and loud Mancunian accent and just barked at him in English as if he was an idiot - I felt so embarrassed to be English. Needless to say ourselves and our French neighbours were on our desserts when the English couple’s starters eventually arrived despite them ordering before us! Good on him I thought and we gave him a big tip after pointing at the couple and saying ‘merde’ haha. But respect is such a key and the Japanese have that lovely aspect and I totally understand how you felt - your tutor was wonderful and look how confident you are today. I deeply admire Japanese culture and while I’m definitely not a language scholar I would love to learn the basics of Japanese as a personal goal. Thank you for this lovely video.
Thank you for sharing your story and also watching the video♥️
I’ve just found your channel - I love it, thank you so much! I would love to learn Japanese through a course with you. Yes please!
Awesome! Thank you! Nearly ready ❤️
thank you for your story! i’m currently in the fear stage of trying to jump the hurdle of starting to speak japanese and it is tougher when one isn’t in japan! i’m glad you were able to grow from that fear after some time.
I really understand that fear stage ♥️
Just found your channel. Thank you for sharing your highs and lows! this is great for me as I look for options to live and work in japan!
Very easy to watch and easy to follow and you have a delightful voice.
Very kind of you to comment 😀 Thanks so much ♥️
🎉🎉🎉 I’ve really been enjoying your videos and I’d love to learn Japanese from you!
Thank you 🇯🇵 The feedback has been good so I am going to start working on it 😀
Great idea! I would definitely take a course of yours as you have that personal experience of being on both sides of the desk!
Thank you 🇯🇵
I’m personally not interested in learning Japanese but I would love to learn with someone as nice as you. I think you would be very empathetic and supportive. Wishing you every success with your future endeavors.
Very kind of you to say that 😀 Thank you ♥️
Thank you for your amazing channel it's a blessing. I'm single though not by choice and realized I was going in a circle with repetitively same ol' life style and it was fast paced, filled with unnecessary stress, anxiety and causing panic attacks and making me sick. Seeing your channel woke me up, and I began looking at what I could do to make my life meaningful and putting myself first for a change, setting up boundaries and finally getting the time to heal and move forward in life. I started to declutter and minimize everything in my house, while I can't be a complete minamilist. I decided anything not used in a year and half would be given to those less fortunate, anything I held on to that was holding me back and things given by toxic people family, friends or exs that was no longer part of my moving forward I gave away, any dads, books and clothes among furniture as well did it. It was a start to my journey of giving myself a new slower pace in life with a declutter and organized home that made a drastic difference with my stress and anxiety and emotional and mental wellbebing. As a sensitive yet introvert/extrovert I put myself out there for anyone and would help those around me wearing me down, I'd be the one stepping in when other family or friends wouldn't, but it had to change the burn out was hitting me. And though I can't move to another country, I already am finding peace in a slower paced life, a mini garden, and reducing the amount spent on helping those around me to take time for me alone. I found your videos helpful. I live alone and despite being disabled I do Self Employed and also Part Time and did not give up in finding a place that would work with me in a job that was fulfilling and slow paced as I require my Service Dog with me. At times being alone and Isolated has kicked in my need to be around others and sure my Service Dog and I then take time to do fun activities outside of the daily routine to reduce that stress anxiety from being alone to long. Still with my also retired Service Dog, 4 Cats, 4 Birds, 3 Hermit Crabs and my Aquarium I find now a Suttle pace. Seeing your routine of getting up and before sleep has helped me stay focused on creating a healthy environment to rewind to and making a schedule to stick to as well has helped reduce my anxiety from going into a slower paced time for me and healing journey. It's as my doctors said by taking that leak made a difference, and your channel has helped me realize and go for it head on. I never wanted to be single, but now I can accept it finally. And now only in my 3 month of my journey, and didn't give up finding an Orthodox Christian church that would help me get out of the house be around people I could be comfortable with and accepted that my Service Dog is Medical Alert Equipment and needs to be with me everywhere. Its frightening when you've held back from experiences thinking it'll turn out no diffrent than others. However a leap of faith got me back into church, a deep of faith got me a great job opportunity that works well with my knew way of life, and though I'd wish not to be in city. I know there are ways to make my routine give me a mindset as if I were relaxed in countryside. Going to bed early and getting up early has helped, doing gardening and things that keep me busy, but also increase a happier quality of life and relaxed between even thing I do has helped drastically. I remove anything that wouldn't work for the new life I wanted and at the beginning I had regrets, but now I don't and it was a good thing on my part. So please thank you and your kitty and God bless, you have helped many find ways in their own lives in how to look at and working on things to get to where we want and living a fulfilled happy healthier life.
I was adopted but I was put through so much trauma and everything that I have PTSD and I also have other medical conditions that affect me on a daily basis but I don't have to live with that my entire life where it controls me if I manage my life right and I do things that can help me reduce stimulants in my everyday life that would Trigger or cause anxiety and stress and I also have other conditions orthostatic vasovagal syncope and postrual tachycardia syndrome. Unfortunately not many of my parents family members except me or my brother with our disabilities and find it hard to just even give us the time of day make us feel like we are included and special events and everything that goes on regularly in my year for our family it was just too much to handle it was just toxic and I was just like to myself I need to make a change cut this out of my life and I wouldn't change that for the World by cutting that out of my life cuz I'll talk to it that was and then only accepting the those who are willing to come back into my life that I knew were true family members. I've thought about it time and time again where I could just pack up everything pack up my pets and move to a small little town in a Countryside where I could just get that inner peace back where I could get my anxiety and stress and PTSD under control and manage better somewhere where my anxiety and stress would be minimized and my sensitive emotional balance would be controlled better and you know it's like okay let's run away to this but I don't have the money I don't have the means well then I had to take a step back okay well then what can I do right now will help me get that type of lifestyle that I want so desperately you know I live in the city and can't afford to move right now for the next 5 years at least and what can I do to make things better for myself find me lists and I would go back over those lists and I just grossly started 3 months ago just taking care of everything it was nerve-wracking but at the end of it within the next month I could go and look back yes I kind of regretted it but on the 3rd month now I don't regret any of it and it was for a good reason and it was a good choice it was a good move and call crazy people might say that's on logical but for me or for people who are very sensitive and just need a lifestyle that is slower than what our society is today where we can minimize all these things that cause US problems causing health conditions and whatever and just bring back a nice little paste relaxed about yourself type of living has made a great Improvement and like you moving to Japan I can't do something like that but I found through what you've done I've written stuff down I've taken notes based off of your channel and what you recommend and what you're doing and parts of those are tied to my everyday routine and my lifestyle now and it has made a drastic change for the better I'm grateful for that thank you so much
I love that you have chosen to focus on you and take it slower and be kind to yourself😀 You are doing great by recognising what you need to change for the better. Keep going♥️
Thank you for sharing your experience living in Japan and learning Japanese. As a learner of the language, your tips would be extremely helpful. 😊
Thank you! 😃
Oooo I would love a course!!
I would be interested in learning more as you create the course!
You’re lucky to have such a supportive host family. 💞
Hi Chani! Thank you so much for posting this, as well as your journey to / in Japan. This was such a wonderful video ❤ My mother was actually the one who found your channel about few months ago as we felt called to move to Japan about a year ago, and she was looking for videos similar to yours to feel inspired and motivated by. 🌻 It's occasionally hard to relate to other people if their lifestyle, personality etc is very different, so my we really enjoy your videos so much. & my mum since she can personally relate due to being in the same age range and dealing with similar things that life throws at us sometimes. We are very grateful to have come across your channel & video; thank you so much for posting all of these helpful videos! It definitely gives us encouragement to hopefully migrate to Japan soon. And as for your being interested in taking a course with you, yes most definitely!! That's such an awesome idea. Am truly looking forward to your course(s) if or when you make it! Thank you again Chani for the video, God bless 🙏🏻!
Thank you 🇯🇵 The feedback has been good so I am going to start working on it 😀
@@ChaniJapan That’s awesome! 🥰 I as well as my mother truly can’t wait to see your course when it’s finally done! I bet it’s going to be great. Super excited for it and best of luck! We’re rooting for you 🙏🏻
Thank you for another great video Chan, very informative. I'd definitely be interested in a course on learning to speak Japanese properly.
Thank you 🇯🇵 The feedback has been good so I am going to start working on it 😀
I would be super interested in the course!!! Love your videos!!
Thank you 🇯🇵
Yes! Your journey is so relatable. My husband’s mother did not speak much Japanese when he was growing up and has since passed away. We both love that part of his culture and want to embrace it more and more in our lives. Having a course and a guide outside of an app and AI alone would be amazing.
Thank you ♥️ There has been a good response so I will work on making a course 😀
thanks for sharing your experience
Thanks for watching!
You are very brave and I really enjoy your videos. Thank-you from Georgia, USA.
Thank you very much!
Great Story!
Thank you!
So glad to know others freeze up when trying to speak a new language. Maybe I'll keep my Spanish books a little longer and give it another go. I like the idea of getting a tutor, just to safely practice with. Good luck on your adventure. Very brave!
Thank you for your comment. Best of luck with your Spanish 😀
YES, very interested in learning from you. Hearing you're story about the struggle of learning a new language is something worth hearing. It's hard to find the correct books/apps to learn from when there is a lot to choose from , it can be confusing.
Yes! Thank you!