Resources for listening/reading N5

Japanese
#1

Despite knowing around 300 kanji, studying N4 grammar currently and having around 600-800 vocabulary points, my listening and reading are still utter poop level.

I’ve seen many reco, but so far nothing helpful for my own case. Listing a few :

  • Reading/Listening to content you know in your own language. Issue : I don’t remember them in the first place or they’re only in english/french, no japanese for me to switch to.
  • Podcasts. Issue : I will not focus on whatever is said, i’m not at the passive listening level.
  • Youtube videos. Issue : While not against, many don’t provide actual written support independantly from the video itself. Some put it ON the video, which is a nightmare to navigate, and some prefer to promote a paid course in the description rather than putting anything useful.
  • Yomu/Bunpro reading. Issue : “Tom is my friend. Tom is also a student.” I’m not going to go far with this kind of stuff. Usually, i complete them but don’t make any actual progress.

I’ll try any reco before giving feedback.
For now my goals are :

  • One minute of audio without any written support by the end of this month
  • 300 words text at 80% comprehension (for comparison, bunpro third reading pratice n5 had like 30~ words in a single text based on a words counter site) by the end of november
#2

Not to discourage you but I’m doing N3 and my listening skills are not good either. :laughing:
I also have the same issue with podcasts - I cannot focus if there’s nothing for my eyes to follow along. I mean, sometimes even with a video, my mind wanders.

However, here’s something you might enjoy: よつばと! You can access the chapters here:

Try reading 1 chapter then watch the Comprehensible Input videos here:

I started out not understanding most of what I read and his videos helped. But I can now read and understand on my own so I stopped watching his videos after #17.

Also, try the free, beginner videos of Comprehensible Input Japanese on Youtube.

I’ve watched most of their free content so paid for a 1 year subscription to go through their Intermediate videos. I can watch without subtitles or slowing the speed down. However, I still find myself not understanding anything if a native speaker just said something and I don’t know the context. It may partly be explained by my nervousness and panic but I do know that if they came with subtitles and kanji in those subtitles, I’d understand them more. :laughing:

1 Like
#3

Tried them, they’re great !

Comprehensible has a complete beginner one which i watched first. Made me laugh, i had seen the joke coming since the start. I didn’t expect such a clear and calm rhythm.
The beginner level is a bit harder but i still understand what was happening in the first video without getting every word.

Yotsuba is a little harder but still understood a good chunk of the first video (would say only half of the second one).

Thank you, this is great studying material.