Today’s topic is improving those listening skills through keyword repetition and breaking down long words, getting the gist, and using different listening materials.
*Keyword Repetition:
When you first start listening to Japanese speech, I’m sure it all sounds like a big jumble. You don’t know when the sentence ends or the next sentence begins. But I think if you listen for word repetition and patterns, you can simplify difficult/long words or phrases:
For example: In the Netflix anime, Violet Evergarden, her occupation is a difficult phrase: 自動式人形サービス
But it can be broken down into:
自動式 (じどうしき): automatic
人形 (にんぎょう): doll
サービス: service
She repeats this word combo about 100 times throughout the series, so it’s easier to remember. It’s much easier to remember a word or phrase if you can remember the context associated with saying that word.
*Listen for the gist:
This goes with reading as well, but basically try to listen for the overall context as opposed to trying to focus exactly what they said about one word you remember hearing them say. If you hear りんご, 友達, and ご飯, then your brain can piece together a situation from those three words. Plus with a visual context, you will immediately get it.
Sometimes you might be wrong, but that’s okay. You need to just start thinking or guessing if you want to improve instead of focusing on knowing every single word in the sentence in my opinion.
*Diversify your listening mediums:
Dramas: script-based
*so sentences are more coherent thus can be easier to understand
*but they might use bigger words
Anime: script, good for single words and simple phrases, BUT DON’T try to mimic sentences
*characters sometimes tend to use exaggerated or rude phrases and speak in unnatural voices
Variety Shows / YouTube / Interviews: real life speech
*they use choppy sentences, slang, references to comedians or trends, which can be hard to understand
*but editors will add subs to highlight key phrases
The Intermediate Struggle
A couple years ago, I thought I already had good listening skills, but it wasn’t until this year I realized I was not nearly as a good as I thought I was.
This is my personal opinion, but…
When you are at the intermediate level, you essentially have a sudden realization that you can understand 50-60%, but other is still a mystery. You will notice specifically the way Japanese people talk and what grammar points that are being used. When it comes to this, you usually realize your vocabulary is REALLY lacking. You know enough grammar to get by, but the sheer number of unknown words will start to get to you (least to me).
At the intermediate point, I personally feel like knowing more vocabulary is probably more beneficial for listening comprehension.
I hope this helps or motivates you.
framed in beige 