Two years ago, I posted on this sub, elated, as I had just experienced understanding my first sentence ever during immersion practice. The sentence was バンクーバーに行った . So simple, but for me at the time, so exciting.
Since then, there have been countless times where I felt like I couldn't understand the most basic things. I used to try and listen to YuYu No just because he seemed fun and energetic, but the lack of comprehension every time would just depress me. I kept tuning into his podcast occasionally over time, but never really understood enough to get any sort of enjoyment from it.
Fast forward to a few days ago. Lately, I've been feeling a lot more confident. I've been understanding a lot more in HelloTalk rooms, and in my bimonthly iTalki lessons. During a late walk a few nights ago, I decided to throw on YuYu No again. 5 minutes into the podcast, I had to pause, because I was freaking out: I was understanding almost all of it. Like 90-95%. I couldn't believe it, and was so happy, but assumed that it was just a fluke and that soon, I'd hit a segment where comprehension plummets, like it always does.
12 minutes in, I paused again. My heart is racing out of excitement, I quite literally am mildly out of breath because I'm so happy. I'm still understanding all of it. I stopped listening to make a voice recording to document the moment because I can't remember the last time I felt such pure joy. This year has been rough for me for various reasons, but this right here… this feeling makes all the pain and hard work worth it. I continued listening, and enjoyed the entire podcast, and understood a vast majority of the 30 minutes.
Some disclaimers: Of course, YuYu No is not a super advanced podcast., and of course, I still have so far to go, so much work to do. However, it is something I know that I personally have never understood before this point, and now I do, and it feels awesome, and now I want to listen to all of his podcasts.
I was so happy that evening that I couldn't sleep. There is something so incredibly rewarding about feeling the hard work over the last two years actually manifest. It is indescribable. The happiness has carried on into subsequent days. I've been beaming lately.
Y'all don't know me, but just know that being really happy for consecutive days was something I really needed. Japanese has depressed me so many times, and it will no doubt at some point depress me again, but things really seem to be improving rapidly and noticeably these days, and I am, again, over the moon. It dominates my daily thinking; the satisfaction is insane!
What makes it even better is I'm going to Japan in 2 months (my first time) with some friends who have no idea I know any Japanese at all. I've been keeping it a secret.
Keep grinding, guys. It's so, so worth it.
by domonopolies
14 comments
This is wonderful! I have heard that at some point the listening part will just “click,” and I keep hoping for that. Sounds like that’s what happened for you! I bet your friends will be shocked when you go on your trip.
That sounds like a great experience. Savor the moment 🙂
That’s awesome! I look forward to one day having a breakthrough like that.
Hell yeah brother(sister?). Moments like these is what’s its all about. Be it hard work or light amount of learning, it all pays off.
If you don’t mind me asking, where does the depression come from?
Congrats! That’s pretty awesome to read 🙂
Don’t want to rain on your parade, just manage your expectations:
> things seem to be improving rapidly and noticeably these days
If you’re at a level where you are starting to understand most of YuYu, you are extremely likely to hit more of the dreaded plateau.
Again, not trying to spoil your moment, just be prepared that the “rapid” progress might feel like it’s slowing down again, and that’s ok, it’s all part of the process.
Congrats!
You will definitely enjoy Japan a lot more knowing the language. It sounds like you’ll be here in the fall.
can I ask about your itinerary?
Such a positive share! Keep it up 🥹
YES I GET EUPHORIA ABSOLUTELY. I love learning Japanese, I think I’m addicted. I have to play a video game with Japanese text, I have to practice my Anki, I need to understand the jokes in the game I’m playing, I have to read at least one Wikipedia article a day in Japanese, and I need to spend dozens of dollars on test prep material even though I probably will never be able to visit Japan because a medicine I use daily is illegal there. But it is just so much fun. The more words and the longer the game and the thicker the book and the complex the Kanji gets me even higher, especially secondary school Kanji.
I like to enter REM listening to Japanese speech in my headphones. It makes me feel like the Japanese is sinking into survivalism and the subconscious. I feel sometimes my listening comprehension is better when falling asleep. I definitely start to fell like I’m not lost during the conversation.
I’m just impressed you understood Vancouver
It’s a wonderful milestone, congratulations on grinding this far! 🙂
I had a similar experience too, a few months back. I’ve been studying harder after a few-years break. Now I used to be crazy about some Japanese metal music when I was a teen. Recently, I put on some of my old favorite songs, and coulnd’t believe how much of the lyrics I understood. My old faves got a brand new dimension. It was such a lovely moment, thank you for reminding me of it! 🙂
Really glad to hear your progress update! I’ve had a few moments like that myself.
I was passively listening to songs in japanese and about 3 months in I remember hearing the lyric “あなたの側にいる”, it was the first time I ever understood something in JP that wasn’t from a textbook and I almost wept.
It’s really rewarding when the hard work pays off. Have fun in Japan! And keep up the grind!
peak reddit
I’m so envious! I study every day for at least a few hours it’s been about 8 months now and I’d say I only understand 30% of YuYu podcast. I can understand the topic of conversation and I can understand several phrases and sentences but 90-95% understanding still feels like a million years away 😭😭😭