Is anime effective?

Japanese
#1

So this is my first post!

Let me give some background. I’ve been living in Miyazaki prefecture for just over a year now. I’m not in the main city and basically no one here speaks English. I took the N3 in July and got an 80, failed obviously (didn’t study for the test since March when I went back to the US to get my dog), but I did pass all sections.

Anyway, I was wondering about people’s opinions about the effectiveness of anime as a study tool. For example, when I learn a new word or new grammar point, when I hear it in an anime, it feels like it finally clicks into place.

Recently, I heard “見に行く”、which caused the にいく grammar point to finally click. I use language reactor when I watch anime to be able to understand what was said just incase I don’t understand the meaning. I use the Japanese subtitles to read what was said and language reactor to see the English as well.

Please tell me your thoughts!

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#2

Any exposure to content made for natives by natives will be an effective tool for cementing vocabulary and grammar usage and nuance. People worry about “talking like an anime character” but I think that’s only possible if your sole input is anime and even then I think it’s typically pretty clear when standard Japanese isn’t being used.

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#3

Ben using anime for some references like how do they say words in native speaking etc. for me it works as long as you know how to use it properly not sounding anime’ish~

#4

That’s why I love any form of immersion, the potential for clicking into place moments is infinetely high :slight_smile: Plus, watching anime is fun, right?

A lot of people use watching anime as an effective study tool and there are a lot of ways how to do it. You seem to already have a setup in place, so how about checking if it’s effective for YOU? What do you hope to increase by watching anime? How would you notice if it’s working for you?

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#5

I like to watch Japanese live streams on YouTube both for listening and for reading (e.g., signs and advertisements as the YouTube walks along the street).

#6

I’m about 5 months into studying Japanese and I’ve found anime helpful in making associations between the words I’m learning on flash cards and how those words exist in “natural” speech. A flash bulb moment from a show I’ve watched sticks in my brain a little better than the raw kanji or the mnemonic I’m using to remember it.

The caution I’ve heard when it comes to “talking like an anime character” stems from using words in a context where they wouldn’t be appropriate, or sometimes using conjugations that skew too young or casual for the speaker or situation. I think as long as you’re mindful of that, it can be a useful tool.

#7

Short answer, yes.

I don’t currently live in Japan like you do, but I have before and still speak with Japanese people on a weekly basis. Everything for me helps, from news to anime.

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#8

Yes, as long as you’re carefully focused on the show, have some understanding, and aren’t using subtitles.

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#9

I’ve been using subtitles so that I can read the Japanese as well. I have trouble with understanding context at times so if I don’t see the word/kanji, I won’t understand what was said.

At the same time, it’s possible that I am too reliant on the subtitles. What are some steps to reduce subtitle usage that have worked for you?

#10

Luckily I don’t think talking like an anime character is going to be an issue for me. It’s usually I hear a grammar point or word and the meaning finally clicks.

Since I live in Japan, I hear the natural speech part every day, but the speech is often too fast for me to actually understand. I know when I talk to my coworkers, the grammar is probably atrocious and I throw in a lot of katakana words when I forget the Japanese word for something :sweat_smile: There is a massive gap between my reading skills and speaking skills.

#11

I especially meant no English subtitles. Japanese subtitles certainly could be useful

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