White Guy Speaks Perfect Japanese from watching Anime. Here's how he did it.

My interview with @mattvsjapan

NAVIGATION:
00:00 - Who is Matt vs Japan?
1:24 - How did Matt learn Japanese?
4:03 - Context teaches more than textbooks
5:35 - Why you need to forget English
6:16 - Should we learn like babies?
10:04 - The only way to learn a language
10:57 - The real reason for flash cards
11:56 - The most effective input
15:18 - Why your brain enjoys this method
16:57 - What did you do specific for Japanese?
20:34 - Identity and language
23:48 - Matt speaking Japanese
25:58 - Why you can't hear pitch accent
28:53 - Why most people don't learn pitch accent
31:16 - How Matt learned pitch accent
33:25 - Improving Japanese pronunciation
36:50 - Staying focused on your goal
40:58 - Diminishing returns from input
42:41 - Converting input into output
46:17 - The barrier to effective output
56:08 - The refold formula for language
59:09 - Outro

[twisted-t]

This guy was watching so much anime he's got anime eyes.

[hollyy]

If you feel bad because you have the language skills of a 6 year old in your target language, just remember that it took them 6 years to get to that point and it probably took you a lot less.

[Dreadlock]

When I was in college, I went through a phase for a while where I tried to learn Japanese. There was this Japanese pub near my school that all the students from Japan went to and worked at and so I decided one day I was gonna go there and order and try to have conversations with people in Japanese. So I spent a bit of time memorizing how to order, practiced it a bit, and after sitting in my car nervous for a while, I finally got the courage to go in. So I sat down at the bar, and asked for a beer in Japanese. The bartender looked at me blankly for a second and then in perfect English with no accent said “I’m Korean, I don’t speak Japanese. What do you wanna order?”

That was pretty much the end of my effort to learn Japanese 😂

[chuck]

When I get tired of learning a language, i just watch a ton of videos about how to learn a language.

[cloudynguyen]

You will find this absurd and love to mock if you never learn second langauge. But for us non native English speakers, this is how we learn. Through cartoon, action movies and lots of internet exposure.

[transon]

So I'm Vietnamese living in Germany leaning how learn English from a guy in the U.S. explaining how to learn Japanesse. Amazing how connected the world has become.

[myturkishlife]

I worked with a guy (car design) he was from South Korea, he always used to say "now over to you for the latest update"
I asked him where he learnt English he said it was from watching the news channels 😁 and soap operas 👍

[henrikr]

As someone who learned English by this method (unconsciously, without knowing that it was a method), all he says makes complete sense. From getting lots of input (TV shows, movies, books) to looking up words, to memorizing patterns of usage and pronunciation, this is exactly how I did it.

[Baloo]

Watching my 5 year old become conversant in Mandarin by just arguing with his grandma has been incredible.

[sk_bort]

Did you master japanese?
-Yes.
What did it cost?
-My native language: 40:28

[invest_in_dogecoin]

This dude is so smart and explained it so well. He’s inspiring me to continue my journey and Gain fluency in Spanish.

[callmeqt]

As a guy who has already learned 3 languages, and is working on Japanese as his fourth right now:
This is all exactly what I've found out - the hard way - through my own experiences. Lots of comprehensible input = learning the language
That's the secret. All you need to know.

[TrueSweatix]

Sections in the video:
- (1:24) How did Matt learn Japanese?
- (4:03) Context teaches more than textbooks
- (5:35) Why you need to forget English
- (6:16) Should we learn like babies?
- (10:04) The only way to learn a language
- (10:57) The real reason for flash cards
- (11:56) The most effective input
- (15:18) Why your brain enjoys this method
- (16:57) What did you do specific for Japanese?
- (20:34) Identity and language
- (23:48) Matt speaking Japanese
- (25:58) Why you can't hear pitch accent
- (28:53) Why most people don't learn pitch accent
- (31:16) How Matt learned pitch accent
- (33:25) Improving Japanese pronunciation
- (36:50) Staying focused on your goal
- (40:58) Diminishing returns from input
- (42:41) Converting input into output
- (46:17) The barrier to effective output
- (56:08) The refold formula for language
- (59:09) Outro

[Nathan-qzwu]

"Japanese man speaks perfect English after watching American soap opera, Friends" The primary way non native English speakers learn English is from watching and listening to Shows, movies and music from America. Lol

[Yutaro-Yoshii]

I love how Matt almost "changes personality" when he speaks in Japanese. He kind of sounds like he lost his confidence, but that's completely normal. In Japanese, humbleness and selflessness is valued more than self confidence, so a lot of people end up speaking like that, including myself to stay out of trouble.
As Matt said, I too believe that language learning is as much of a culture learning as learning the technical skills. In my case, it really opened my eyes because I realized that ways of thinking and communication can be drastically different depending on culture groups.

[kevito]

Incredible interview, This Matt talk is more deep and personal than usual.
A big hug for both.

[gmttrjt]

hey, im japanese and poor at english, so im probably making some mistakes. but i wanna say aloud that his japanese is really really perfect, not almost, PERFECT.

[ICEcoldJT]

“I will keep moving forward…until I can speak fluent Japanese from watching anime.” - Eren Jaeger

[chadbailey]

One of the best Matt vs Japan interviews on YouTube. Bravo! This is so valuable. Thank you!

[majorjay]

This was a great interview! I am definitely re-evaluating the way I learn Japanese now. I bought a couple textbooks and while I don't regret it, I definitely feel like something was missing and everything Matt said about learning through input might be the help I need.