Online Resource
Learning Guide
We recommend that you listen to native Japanese conversations to get used to a more natural Japanese language. So far, Tagood Japanese youtube channel has 47 Japanese conversation videos and 137 short videos, which include Japanese expressions cut from those videos, with more videos being published every week. All the videos come with Japanese and English subtitles, as well as explanations of expressions used in the conversation.
How to study Japanese using videos
1. Select interesting topics and interesting videos from Tagood Japanese channel.
2. Watch the whole video from start to finish without stopping. At the end make a note of what percentage you understood.
It's okay if you don't understand everything in the conversation at first!
Just knowing what topic they're talking about is enough.
3. Watch the video again, this time checking the expressions while stopping the video. This way , you will be able to understand more of the conversation.There is a summary of the expressions in "The Bridge", so it will be easier to understand if you listen to the video while using the book!
4. Stop the video when necessary and write down in you notebook any words that you don't understand, and if possible, put them into flashcards (such as Ankideck or Brainscape) to help you memorize those words. Study the flashcards, then come back to the video and rewatch it a third time.
5. Choose your favorite minute in the video, slow down the video to 70-90% and try to shadow that part. You should say the words at the same time as Mina and her guest, like you would with your favourite movie! You should repeat this 5 to 10 times. Then try to shadow that part at normal speed.
6. Watch the video one last time, and note what percentage of the video you understood, comparing your initial percentage with the final percentage. This whole process from step 1 to 6 should take around 1 hour per video, or you can split the steps up into different days, aiming to study 1 to 2 videos per week!
Once you feel you have mastered a video, you just add it to a playlist that you can listen to while doing house chores, commuting to work or even sleeping. This will internalize the vocabulary and expressions more deeply into your brain, helping you take one step closer to reaching you Japanese goals!