Hey Steve,

At the moment I am learning Japanese, I have been learning on and off for a long time but I havn't really stuck to it. I am now back into studying with a new method and I would like your opinion on it.

I now use the "Assimil: Japanese with Ease course". I have only been listening to the lessons, I take about 2 or more days for each lesson, listening to it whenever I'm free. The progress is very slow since I have had this course for nearly a month and I'm only on the 15th lesson. So far I listen to the lesson a few times then read it for the meaning then I keep listening until I can understand it. Is this a good method of learning? Should I only listen to it a few times then move on? I do not bother with the writing excersizes because I simply don't enjoy them.

I do enjoy this course, however the voice actors seem abit bland and lifeless... my only concern is my pace.... should I be spending so long on one lesson?

Many thanks,
Ben

(p.s. I already know all hiragana, and some katakana from previous study with japanese)

Just keep moving on. Don't wait until you understand each lesson. They go back again. you just need exposure, and your guide should be your interest in what you are listening to.

I have the same questions about my learning and my feelings change a lot as to how to mark my progression. I just learned recently that I can use the ipod icon at the top right of the lesson to counts the times you've read and/or listened to a lesson. I think I am getting ready to mark lessons as understood when I get the word counts below 17% and see that I've read it a dozen or so times. I know I am over thinking this. Every time I sign in and read Steve's posts or the guides on marking progess in learning the languages, I feel more comfortable.

I know what you mean about the flatness of some of the lessons. There are podcast blogs for the languages where I've found more lively conversations. I think this site is devoted to listening to the flow and sound of the words so we can have an easier time copying the sounds ourselves.

Keep trying different things and posting on the forums, forget about pace, let the system track you, and enjoy your natural rhythm.

Your brain requires two things in order to learn a language. One is repetition, in order to groove the connections between neurons in your brains, and the other is interest, or a challenge or novelty.

When you do not fully understand a particular content item, but feel that listening just one more time, you may get more of it, then you are still motivated, and there is still a challenge, and you should listen again.

When you are tired of the content, or do not like the voice any longer, you should move on. You need to combine novelty with repetition. The further along you come in the language, the less motivating it is to listen repeatedly to the same content.

In my view, the learning process is the natural and unconscious result of your activity, not a process of the deliberate acquisition of knowledge.

Mr. Steve, I am learning some languages at the moment as well {and have been on this journey for a couple of months now}. I do tend to lean more towards listening to material as opposed to reading.I thoroughly enjoy listening to music in the languages I'm studying as well. Actually-I listen all the time-and seldom ever read. Is this okay, and if not-what are some things that can help stimulate my desire for reading in other languages. Also, when I listen I tend to fade out sometimes-and my mind will come to a blank {especially when I'm doing my daily chores which proves to be sufficient time to do it}, is this okay? Thanks for your help and reply,
Darryl
:)

@Benkei

Ich drücke Ihnen den Daumen.
成功を祈る！
せいこうをいのる！
Seikou wo inoru!

Personally, I can’t stand listening to most things more than once or twice. I have found only a few lessons that hold my attention beyond that. I prefer to listen of other things. To get in my much-needed repetition, then, I look for lessons with very few new words. I prefer listening to the same words in a new context. This way I keep it interesting.

I largely agree Jacob , but in the first few months repeated listening is very effective.

I'm currently learning korean and i prefer short texts with few new words. I've tried to study long podcasts with A LOT of unknown words and i get VERY VERY VERY bored. It's painful to go through them more than once especially 10 minute podcasts. That is, on lingq specifically when I'm actually studying. I watch a lot of Korean tv / movies and even though i don't understand a lot of words I enjoy watching them and can watch them over and over again But thats because the visuals keep me interested.

My preferred method of study with lingq at the moment is listening to short 1 minute texts with a couple of new words. I find it easier to listen to 1 minute 10 times than to listen to a 10 minute podcast. I'm looking forward to moving on to longer content But I've realized I'm not ready for that yet...

Oh and I usually study a bunch of short 1 minute texts one after the other. I'll listen to maybe 5 of them and then go back to the start and listen to the first one again and repeat that maybe 5 times each until the new words sink in. Then I study 5 new ones the next day . Eventually a few days later i go back earlier recordings and listen to them. IF i understand them fully I usually move them over to my archive if i dont i Keep them in my active lessons.

When you listen to audio clips, being a podcast or a lesson. Is it worth noting down the vocabulary? Kind of like what we do here on lingq? Or is it best to just keep on listening, not recording vocabulary.

Well I listen and read to the transcripts when I'm logged into Lingq. No reason for me to write down anything. I just create lingqs. If I'm away from the computer I just listen and never write down anything because I already saved the lingq. BUt honestly some people like to make word lists and write things down over and over again sooo If writing something down helps you learn faster... go right ahead. Theres no RIGHT or WRONG way to study. Just have fun. If you learn alot faster by writing things down go right ahead. We all learn differently. I tried writing things down like word lists before but I get soo bored with the process that i don't do it. I also get bored doing studying the same way over and over again soo I do different activities to keep it fresh....