I love finding your interviews on other channels. Definitely always an informative and interesting conversation, and it helps both channels gain some more exposure. In the past week or so, I've added Anki to my life, and it seems less hardcore than a lot of people say. (I'm only doing the standard settings)
Takeaways - Like something about the culture of your L2. - Find the necessity to learn your L2 - Put in a minimum of 1 hour a day - You know you're at a good level when you can understand and enjoy L2 content - Use Flashcards - Use interesting and compelling L2 input
I love your curiousity, Olly. You ask good questions, which indicates you're a good listener. I came for Matt, but I think I'll stay and check a couple of your videos. Good job. Keep these thought provoking content coming 👍
Yep. Any channel growing as fast as his will get lots of requests because it'll get noticed by a lot of people, but the other thing is that he's a nice enough guy to say yes. 😀
@@storylearning I can vouch for Olly. He mentioned Matt a while back on his podcast. I was super surprised when he brought him up and showed interest in having him on the Pod. You gotta get a few more of these videos with Matt. The questions you raised were really unique and I saw a lot of interesting paths you could have taken the discussion. But couldn't due to time constraints.
When Olly said he would trade his breadth of knowledge in many languages for matts depth in a single language. It made me wonder what language Olly would pick
Japanese I bet. I've seen a couple other polyglots express their love for Japanese, but also their frustrations for not being able to reach basic fluency despite their studies. It's a beautiful, strange (compared to english*), and difficult language.
3 yrs on and Olly still never had the decency to reply with an answer😲 we're here because we love his channel and share the love of learning languages 😍
This is exactly the kind of video I've been looking for! I gave learning Japanese my all in my college years, falling short of my imagined quick path to native level. I reached a relatively high level, but not Matt's level. I can read comfortably, but not necessarily have a great conversation. I have wondered for more than a decade, "Where do I go with Japan now?" I am grateful that you share your experience with that question, and dealing with the feeling of, "It was all for nothing." I have also wondered the opposite of Olly. What if I could trade my Japanese to have basic conversational ability in a handful of languages? Overall I think I'm the type of person who learns languages to "gain access to a culture", which only a high level can help with. I'm glad to have what access I've gained, and I'm finally starting a second language after 20 years. Thanks for the amazing discussion!
I disagree with that sentiment that you need a high level of the language to connect to culture. I’m not that good at Spanish but I’ve connected a lot with Mexican culture
He is extremely honest...re: wanting to be in a culture where he could be "higher" not being neg perceived like in U.S. I really like his self-awareness.
The honesty, openness, and mutual respect both these two people brought to the conversation is incredible. As someone who has left the US this year, I have tears in my eyes as I write this. People in the US are being pitted against each other and I feel it even with my siblings (I'm 65 and in the middle of eight children.) I'm now living in Spain and deeply appreciate sharing your journeys, struggles, and approach.
My 2 best language teachers by far...cheers guys, whenever I get language down I watch one of your videos and I realise its not that hard to learn a language if I apply your techniques.
43:42 I can back-up what Matt is saying, I have read and heard accounts of gaijin/foreign programmers in Japan having a technical edge in software development just from being able to look-up answers and solutions on Stackoverflow in English.
I think it is also super relevant for new information. Scientific fields that are changing quickly, usually that information is available in the local language of where that development happened and in English first. So, if something new comes out, if it wasn’t created in Japan, then they have to wait until someone translates it and the English-speakers have an advantage.
I really enjoyed this interview. Thanks for sharing. I've been following Matt's channel and applying the full intensity method he (used to) recommend to my Japanese studies for about two years now and the improvement is incredible. I definitely feel that I'm now breaking into the period where I can read or watch anything I come across with a high degree of confidence (although I'm nowhere near as fluent as I'd like to be yet) Here's to another two more years and beyond!
There's a guy in Brazil who uses Matt's method to teach English. His name is Mario Vergara. And I basically learned what I know about English by using Mario's method which is actually Matt's method kkkk. I just happen to know Matt this weak so I got really surprised. Anyway, I regard myself as a prove that Matt's method works very well. I mean I probably made a lot of mistakes here but the point is this: I can understand and I can get across my thoughts through the language so I've got some skill. And if I get here anyone (I'm serious: literally anyone!) can do the same.
I have a frustrating experience. Not knowing where to begin or hitting a plateau can feel demoralizing and make it hard to hit the books and study like you know you should…
Glad to hear there are teachers adhering to new knowledge instead of curriculum that's 40 years behind! And, the only mistake I noticed would be "as a prove that" instead of "as proof that".
@@runemaster861 Thank you for correcting me, Alliana. I know I have a long way ahead, that's why it's really nice when I manage to get real feedback (most of the time I don't really have any) coming from native speakers or people who reached a complete mastery of the language. And I completely agree with you, those techniques are way better than the old-fashioned and grammatically heavy ways of teaching and acquiring a second language.
great collab! it’s by far the best interview done with Matt. Great shout out to you Olly for the way you asked these intellectually challenging questions. It shows that you really put in your time to think about Matt’s work in relation to yours. And of course Matt’s awesome as always.
I really enjoyed this interview. And by the end you touch upon a topic I also think a lot about. 44:20 The objective "need" to learn English I think has more to do with how "big" your language is. Being from South America and having lived in Russia, I assumed the Japanese attitude towards English was the norm. I was surprised to notice this desperation to learn English in smaller countries with economies that can't sustain a translation industry or the production of knowledge in their own language. Learning English in places like Latin America/Russia (and it turns out, Japan) is a nice-to-have rather than a necessity, unless you travel far or work in an area of science/technology beyond the undergraduate level--- a (superfluous) luxury for the vast majority. The idea that the poor Japanese can't fathom what they're missing out not knowing English (If only they knew!)... I don't know, it sounds patronizing, especially coming from two native English speakers from countries with a history and an economic interest in shoving their language everywhere. There are also issues (in India at least) of social class and status-- with English being one of those markers. It's really hard to generalize as each society has a different attitude and (colonial?) experience with English as a foreign language.
I'm from Spain and I think Matt is definitely right on the 'objective' part of English simply having so much more information than other languages (and I'm Spanish, it's like the 2nd or 3rd biggest language on the internet iirc). It isn't patronizing IMO, I know how it can seem like it if you frame it as "you need to know English to know what's happening in the world, to be fulfilled, to be cultured, etc", I think that can be argued against (but also argued for with very compelling arguments), but with the examples Matt talks about that are more practical, basically "learn programming" I think that he's right on the money. There's good programming tutorials and stuff like that in Spanish, but the sheer amount of free, excellent quality resources , with polished discourse that is available in English blows whatever there is in Spanish out of the water. This channel is proof of this, try to look for a language learning channel with such an active community that leaves such thoughtful feedback in Spanish (or Japanese, literally any language). Maybe there's a couple, but you'll struggle with it, and it'll be hard to see a proper community forming. And same with any topic, be it fashion, arts, cars, music, etc. I know good examples of some of those in Spanish, but in those cases, you can tell that they themselves know English and that the content that inspired them, or with which they perfected/completed their knowledge comes from English-speaking sources, and that in some sense you could just skip the middleman and go straight from the source if you already speak English. Conversely, I wouldn't call your comment exactly patronizing either but I do think it's making assumptions on "the common people" as if just because you don't have a technical background you can't pursue your interests to their highest potential. Idc if a dude from a random town in southern Spain has an engineering degree or not, or if it's a superfluous luxury to like trains, I think if the dude really wants to know about trains he will find the biggest communities, with some the people most passionate about trains around the world writing about trains in English. You can be a train fan and only like the trains that are close to you and you probably don't need English to learn more about them, and enjoy those benefits from those localised communities like tangibility, ease of access, etc; but in general pursuing any interest the amount and quality of resources available on any topic Of course, the reasons why this is the case are colonial either directly like in India as you mention or indirectly due to how the US became a global superpower and pushed their shit everywhere and basically achieved cultural world domination with Hollywood and i get why it would be patronizing to hear it "from the outside" , and also i could see how "trying to access external knowledge" can be perceived as "ignoring local concerns" but I don't think that's the case The only places where this doesn't apply IMO would be stuff that's very country-specific. For example, Spanish history, Spanish literature, stuff about the Guerra Civil, rural knowledge, legal documents from here, local fauna and flora, etc. For many of those things it's useless to know English. Or if you're German and you love cars, then you have all the information about the birth of the automobile in your own language, the museums are in your country, the books on it are published in your language, etc.
I appreciate you guys and your advice! I’m a working parent that also is learning Japanese in every free minute I can find. I do want fluency and it’s hard work! I can’t wait until I get there.
You're both absolutely amazing, I'd listen to you chat for hours, its so relaxing. I'm Irish, I've a bit of Gaelic to GE me trough, my English is perfect, Seeing as my Irish ancestors were forced to speak English of die. Anyway, you're both fantastic. I am 50 , I tried multiple courses, but I can't grasp the Irish language, maybe its a warning from my ancestors, I don't know. Hope to speak Irish before my memory goes, being treated for early onset dementia. I want to write my book, paint my pictures and tell old Celtic stories As Gailge (in Irish). So, thanks for your hour plus of calm relaxed conversations. Slainte
Really nice interview, good to see you both in the same place! 41:00 - I have spoke about this with my Japanese friends before, and they have said that they think it will be really useful, mostly talking about travel and going abroad over access to information. But they seem to beliee it is the most useful second language to learn.
Olly, you're great!!!! I think both are great . To dedicate to one language, or have a working and functional knowledge of many..the point is to communicate...
Great video guys: I can relate to Matt's experience & Olly's polyglotism! In case you're interested, field research in App. Ling. has proven: 1. FLA & SLA are definitely different; it's acquisition vs. learning. 2. L1 interference is real (the origami analogy). 3. The diminishing return at higher levels of language learning is a fact. 4. AJATT/mass immersion concept doesn't work well as input must necessary be meaningful for language development. Using analogies that the audience can relate to is a brilliant communication strategy! Don't fall for the sunk cost fallacy, as we don't live linear lives. Use the Japanese Hajime & Owari concepts to turn a new chapter. BTW- foreign language learning is going to come very useful in learning programming, if you choose to go for IT!
This is a super interesting interview. I've been studying Japanese very casually every day for the last four months or so. It's hard to keep the motivation up.
@@koluchkaZoZo ive let my studies slip for the last three months. I use wanikani to learn kanji, I learned hiragana and katakana on duolingo. I bought the genki 1 and 2 textbooks and workbooks but I barely opened them lately.
5:50 Ultimately, I think it's just a difference in expectations. For instance, it took me a while to understand why Krashen's theory was so powerful for language learners. From a linguistics point of view, there's just a lot wrong with it, in terms of explanatory power, internal consistency, etc. etc. But I get it: the very things that make it "bad" for linguistics are the exact same things that make it "good" for a language learner: namely, it's intuitive and vague enough to be inspiring. On the other hand, when you get into the nitty-gritty of linguistic research, it's difficult to extrapolate a clear narrative that a language learner could use. The more detailed you get, the more difficult it becomes to interpret the data in any meaningful way. I guess in the end, it doesn't really matter. It's not like language learners really need a perfectly sound scientific system to move forward. The only problem I see is that there's a risk that the science is dismissed out of a misunderstanding of one own's personal experience. And we hear a bit of this here, with Matt saying that many of these linguists haven't learned a foreign language for themselves. I don't know whether that's the case or not, but if it is, it should be irrelevant. The risk here is that, for any of us who got good at a language, whatever method we used we are likely to interpret as being a good method, and the results we achieved to be the direct consequence of that method. And our identities get caught up in it, to the point where it's vexing if the science suggests we could've been using our time more efficiently doing something else. So it's tempting to just reject all of that out of hand, with a "well it worked for me". Dunno, I guess it's just that if people are going to bring up linguistics, I wish they would try to really engage with it instead of dismissing it out of hand. Not to change their own methods or anything, but perhaps just to hold those beliefs a bit more lightly. For instance, I've been trying to get people to notice that, for all of these people who say "immersion only", and that you shouldn't "learn", you should "acquire", well, I've been trying to just point out to them what it means when those same people tell you that one of the best ways to acquire a language is to read. Because it turns out...reading isn't natural at all. You don't acquire it. You learn it, from explicit instruction. And becoming literate involves a thorough rewiring of the brain, such that even when a literate person is just speaking, the areas of the brain he activates are not entirely the same as those activated when an illiterate person is speaking. So there are very complex relations there that just don't fit with these "learning vs. acquisition" dichotomy. And the findings are really interesting. A literate brain is better at discriminating sounds and recognising words in spoken language. Weird huh? It gets very weird if you dig into the science. For instance, depending on two specific genes, you may be better off being a late bilingual than an early bilingual. That flies in the face of what many people believe: namely that earlier is always better. Turns out, there are two genes where if you have them, you're more likely to become a proficient balanced bilingual if you learn your L2 a bit later, say around age 10, rather than as a baby. Anyway, the point isn't to argue against anyone's method or anything, but just perhaps to slightly open the door to the other possibilities that science suggests. At the very least, for those who teach it should allow them to loosen up a bit on their own method, such that if they have a student for whom their method just isn't working, they're open to the possibility that another method might be better suited to that particular student.
I doubt you'll see this but if you do could you please direct me to a site, article, research study whatever where I can read more about it? I've found your comment to be very interesting and would love to learn more. If you could even just tell me some keywords to look up that would be enough! :)
@@Zeromus725 Sure thing. It essentially has to do with dopamine receptors. If you look up "Stelzel and Fiebach" and "DRD2" or "COMT" (the two genes I was referring two, where certain variations of those genes seem to be correlated with learning outcomes), you should find a series of studies that look into the effects of of variations of those genes on cognition in general. For second language acquisition specifically, the study I was referring to is VAUGHN, K., HERNANDEZ, A. 2018 "Becoming a balanced, proficient bilingual: predictions from age of acquisition and genetic background". Journal of neurolinguistics. (doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroling.2017.12.012).
Both did so well... Looking through the comments I think that can explain the way we acquire language as well... We form stronger opinions and aversions than others...and it takes us down different trails..
Yes. I agree. Children learn language through adaptation...in order to survive, I might learn, and speak. Adults, it Piggy backs on the survival mode skills, without needing it to actually survive... AND then pleasure mode kicks in....
Robin Macpherson had a great analogy. To imagine you're lying on a beach .The waves come up and wash over you and then recede leaving you covered with bits of seaweed and crap which resemble the words that stick in your mind. Of course this happens many times before you actively store it in your memory. We all have our personal paths so no one person is perfect but we get there in our own way. I like your Origami analogy a lot Matt, thanks !
I think a lot of people who studied Japanese in high school and then when deeper into it can relate to Matt’s experience of using it as a form of escapism and then being disappointed
Agreed. Sadly, the more I learn about Japanese culture, the less I romanticise it, however, I still love the language and a lot about their culture. I have some friends I met in Japan, so becoming more and more about to speak with them has kept me determined
Between 2011 and 2019, Japan's EF English Proficiency ranking went down from the 14th place to the 53rd. Partly this drop in ranking can be explained by increase in the number of countries in the EF English Proficiency Index, but the EF EPI score of Japan also went down significantly -- from 54.17 in 2011 to 51.51 in 2019. In contrast, the EF EPI score of China grew from 47.62 in 2011 to 53.44 in 2019. Interestingly enough, accordingly to a survey conducted by Japan’s Ministry of Education, English proficiency has been increasing in recent years: www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00594/japan%E2%80%99s-english-proficiency-drops-among-non-english-speaking-countries.html However, this estimate was based on the percent students who reached Eiken grade 3 (approximately CEFR A1) in Junier High or Eiken grade pre-2 (CEFR A2) in High School, and it is quite possible a higher percent of learners who reached A1 or A2, but less of those who reached higher levels of proficiency. In fact, if your goal just to pass an A2-level test, which includes a ton of artificial sentences intended to test your knowledge of the grammar rules, then perhaps the traditional approach may take less time to achieve that goal, because language acquisition is a relatively slow process, which pays off later on. Thus teaching to the test may prioritize short-term gains over long-term outcomes.
The standardized testing that they do is basically the equivalent of a Japanese learner studying for the JLPT. Sure you may have learned a decent amount of language consciously, but given how different English and Japanese are, it's hard to believe that any of them really acquired English. I'm sure it's a common experience for them to stop using it and forget everything, much like many Americans learning Spanish in high school and college forget the vast majority.
Putain! Super vidéo Olly! I loved the mention of introverts vs. extroverts in learning approach. The portion regarding Matt’s having felt isolated/outcast in US and creating a Japanese bubble was so interesting! This video is easily one of the best interviews I’ve seen on UA-cam. Bravo Olly and Matt🔥🔥🔥
I think that's why I'm fluent in English, cos all the content I need/want to watch/read are all available in English but not in my native language. I'm currently learning Chinese so my first priority is to find content that I find interesting in Chinese.
This was very interesting, but what I enjoyed the most was the choice of questions, these were the questions I would've chosen if I were doing the interview. Like the question about where did Matt develop all his theories and ideas above language learning. Also, I can really relate to the fact that the "dream tipping point" is hard to reach but if it *could* be reached... then everything after that is just smooth ride.
Great interview, loved both of you in it. Matt's reflections on the Ego and status and learning japanese because of it really resonate, i'd never seen anyone talk about it. His perspective on it checks out with what i've seen from a Spanish youtuber that talks about Japanese culture about there being "phases" of japanese learning, like "phase 1" is that enamourment, "phase 2" is like getting "redpilled" lol, basically realizing the darker parts of japan actually is and starting to hate it, and later phases are about integration and such, but this youtuber's always felt way too whiny for my taste. Matt's view of realizing that status seeking drive from within him makes a ton of sense and helps explain the feelings that arise in that other framework with some added context
Good interview, especially the middle bit about the emotional needs of fitting into the second culture. I made the unfortunate mistake of trying a one-way bargain with two different countries and languages, and failed both times. It was emotionally exhausting and in some ways traumatizing. Upon returning to the US after several years abroad I can confidently say I don't fit in anywhere. :( Now if only I could monetize that!
I'm going to comment on this older video. There is now a girl doing UA-cam videos from Tokyo named Emi Grace. She grew up in Tokyo and is currently in Uni there. Her English is completely fluent having grown up with a native english speaking parent and a native Japanese speaking parent.
I have a frustrating experience. Not knowing where to begin or hitting a plateau can feel demoralizing and make it hard to hit the books and study like you know you should…
I am a English learner as matt said "you need to already know English to understand the content that he is uploading ",i can understand 90% of this video but still struggling to speak
I'm certainly no expert but Olly's observation that English competency was higher in the 80s is interesting. I wonder how it relates to the post WW2 rebuild, and that Japan may have benefited more from English usage than it did before its economy matured and US influence and assistance in the country waned.
Probably the best interview with Matt. Great questions and interesting ideas. I'm currently using this method for my german. Would u really give all of ur languages to get only great in one? U have a great voice btw
@@vali69 update. Learning a language is hard asf. I restarted college and took a break. I’m having a go at it again and slowly making more progress. I can understand quite a bit of Japanese but speaking is more difficult for me. I Promise you tho, one day I will be 100% fluent. I promise.
Hey! Coming at you as a teacher (also a language learner, but here as a teacher). For me, the most interesting part comes around 40 minutes into the conversation: ua-cam.com/video/4ek9pjGzm8s/v-deo.html Going to sound a bit libertarian here, but "need" vs. "want" behind language learning will, in my experience, greatly impact the ongoing results. At 41.46, for example, Matt makes a valid point about English language teaching in Japan grammar school and secondary school and its focus on material necessary to pass official exams, indicating that the methods used are not conducive to a pleasant or satisfactory learning experience. However, those methods are geared exactly towards a "need-based" motivation, that is, the students perceive a "need" to pass the test and consequently accept, though grudgingly, the method employed to help them achieve that objective. The underlying "want-based" motivation is actually getting the job (grossly generalizing here!), the English part is literally a "need" in order to satisfy the "want". Identifying motivation is one of the principles in language teaching. If the motivation is a perceived "need", there may not be organic desire and other interferences can get in the way of learning. If the motivation is a deeper felt "want", a voluntary desire to achieve, it might be much more likely that language acquisition takes place, as can be observed by Matt's own story. This I did observe, anecdotally, in teaching ESL in New York City in the early '80s. Over 80% of my students were Japanese, and of those probably 80% were businessmen. Despite varying proficiency levels acquired before being assigned to the States, these businessmen did not demonstrate, in general, a real desire to learn English or immerse in the culture. They worked in offices filled with other Japanese, they went to Japanese restaurants that catered directly to them, enjoyed drinks with Japanese colleagues at Japanese clubs and only used English when "needed". Their motivation was a "need" which supported their "want" (which was often to get through the time in the States and get back home to Tokyo!) While they did well in class, they did not become fluent or particularly proficient. And as the company almost always paid for the classes, there was not even the pocket-book motivation some have when taking language classes. Method will depend upon the background and training of the teacher (and will almost always be ferociously defended by that teacher!) as well as the established objectives in the teaching/learning environment. Value of the method will depend upon the flexibility of the method itself and the open mind of the teacher employing it, as well as the motivation of the student matching up with what any particular method promises to deliver. (Did I just generalize again? Sorry!) Thanks for the interview. Kind of rambling for my liking (skipped through it instead of listening in totality, but that's me, not you guys). Some good points made. cheers, revel.
You are overestimating the number of people that want to leave their country of origin. I guess the reason for that is because you see a lot of immigrants coming to the developed countries and then you assume that everyone who lives in a developing country wants to migrate as well. That's selection bias. I live in Serbia, a developing country, and I plan to stay here for the rest of my life, in the city in which I was born into. Knowing the English language still makes a difference because you get more job opportunities and also there are a lot of computer programming/coding jobs which pay a really good salary but they require good knowledge of the English language. So there is material interest to learn English even if you don't plan on ever moving out from your city let alone from your country. Also, the thing that Matt was saying is totally true. There is so much good educational content in English. In general, there is a lot of interesting and quality content in English. I get Matt when he says that Japanese people are missing out on so much because they don't speak English.
Trying to watch C Dramas without subs and reading Harry Potter in Chinese (with Chinese English Dictionary). Still a beginner level but I found that Chinese learning materials is much easier after those. It makes more sense. :-)
Get a grant. Go look at UCLA dept of applied linguistics . One segment of the department has been researching multiple language acquisition for decades. People know more than you think
I remember watching Matts original japanese videos when he became disillusioned with Japan. I remember thinking "this guys got a lot of good information but he's kinda a downer." It was interesting to see him go from then to now where he seems to have a much more stable mindset in general. It seems like him starting to make meditation such a big part of his routine helped him recognize the effect his ego was having on him and let him see things from a more objective viewpoint. It seems like learning Japanese was a long and bumpy road for him, but Its become something he's genuinely proud of and it shows in his videos. Always a fan :)
Should I go with the languages that I went in for, in schools, To build on those, I never really learnt a language, but I always had a fascination toward language and how they work and listening to them.. Is it possible to learn a language as someone with troubles with speaking, having Asperger syndrome? It is possible? Or does it come down to genetics... Or being the type to be able to language learning? if that makes sense.
Matt seems to have a very similar way of thinking as myself. Very meditative and passive, but also likes to be challenged and debating, and discussing the meta-theory behind human learning Edit: I'm also really good at coming up with analogies and metaphors on the spot. I need to chat with this guy!
I think one of the biggest things of acquiring a language is to make it fun not a chore... I disagree with you need more than one hour... Howeverthe fun of learning a language will definitely make you put in more than an hour!
While I am not a primary source I feel the need to disagree with the notion that a non-native-english speaking person would only see english as a "Badge" on their chest. You have to realise just how saturated the internet is in English. All except for a fraction of a percentage of the Internets' reputable, sourced and verified information is primarily in English
OMG! There are SO many commercial interruptions on this video. it is significantly worse that television. I am a little more than half way through and I am considering stopping just because after about every minute and a half another advertisement comes on. Ruins the experience
it's true that just because one learns a language does not qualify them to teach that language in particular. what matt and olly are doing are providing their approaches to learning for other learners to apply, which i think is much preferable.
You can't teach anyone a language. People aquire language by understanding messages according to Steven Krashen. We know this to be true. They don't claim to be teaching anyone a language. He is just sharing his experience and method. He used to aquire Japanese. To help others who want to know how to go about it. If anything he's teaching people what to do to aquire the language. Not directly teaching the language itself to them.
Of all the possible ways to learn a language, this has got to be the most difficult one. Watching an anime where you don’t know many words, is very very UNComprehensible input. Matt succeeded at it because he is super bright. I’ll pass, and stick with reading native made material and home made flash cards. I tired Anki a couple of years ago and got swamped with unnecessary work. Matt, you are obviously a very bright guy, so why did you pick such a difficult way to learn a language?
Olly, it takes you faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar tooooooooooooo long to formulate a question. Hesitant speech; intruding images; diversions; not to the point. Your questions are usually interesting. But it takes you five minutes to formulate a question that should only take 20 to 30 seconds. By the time you finish stating the question, the question itself is completely buried.
1. Be interested in your language. 2. Use Anki with the base 2k or more words. 3. Watch shows with real life conversation in your target language to get used to hearing it and you'll see a lot of context to what is being said. 4. Read into grammar in your free time. It's pretty basic. The most important think is consistency. If you practice a lot one day and then skip the next two, you're going to progress slowly. A minimum of one hour a day (review your flash cards, watch a show, learn one grammar point) will get you really far.
His method is probably one of the more enjoyable ones. I'd rather sit down and watch 2 hours of TV and make some Anki cards than study grammar and vocabulary in a notebook or by using some textbook. It's difficult at the start but once the ball gets rolling it becomes easier and easier.
Thanks so much for having me on!! It was fun 💪
You had inspired me Matt. Thx alot
THE GOAT !
I love finding your interviews on other channels. Definitely always an informative and interesting conversation, and it helps both channels gain some more exposure. In the past week or so, I've added Anki to my life, and it seems less hardcore than a lot of people say. (I'm only doing the standard settings)
29:39 Ok matt stop bullshitting, you started learning japanese because anime sounds dope
do you remember this Matt? www.reddit.com/r/ajatt/comments/hfhlwr/why_i_quit_ajatt_forever_three_years_ago/
Takeaways
- Like something about the culture of your L2.
- Find the necessity to learn your L2
- Put in a minimum of 1 hour a day
- You know you're at a good level when you can understand and enjoy L2 content
- Use Flashcards
- Use interesting and compelling L2 input
What's L2?
Second language or the language you're learning
Great summary!
One very important thing i would suggest is.
Out-put.
You hv to use the language in real life.
Close your book n speak to someone out there .
@@ICanSpeakArabic Absolutely true!
I love your curiousity, Olly. You ask good questions, which indicates you're a good listener. I came for Matt, but I think I'll stay and check a couple of your videos. Good job. Keep these thought provoking content coming 👍
Thanks Leo, glad you liked it! You might like my Krashen interview next.
Omg Leonardo DaVinci commented on you video Olly!
Matt is really doing the rounds
Yep. Any channel growing as fast as his will get lots of requests because it'll get noticed by a lot of people, but the other thing is that he's a nice enough guy to say yes.
😀
@@daysandwords proud to say I've been following Matt since he had 2k subscribers :)
Matt is nice n clever businessman !!
@@storylearning I can vouch for Olly. He mentioned Matt a while back on his podcast. I was super surprised when he brought him up and showed interest in having him on the Pod. You gotta get a few more of these videos with Matt. The questions you raised were really unique and I saw a lot of interesting paths you could have taken the discussion. But couldn't due to time constraints.
@@novikane14 Cheers Novian
When Olly said he would trade his breadth of knowledge in many languages for matts depth in a single language. It made me wonder what language Olly would pick
Japanese I bet. I've seen a couple other polyglots express their love for Japanese, but also their frustrations for not being able to reach basic fluency despite their studies. It's a beautiful, strange (compared to english*), and difficult language.
3 yrs on and Olly still never had the decency to reply with an answer😲 we're here because we love his channel and share the love of learning languages 😍
@@user-zm9gc1kt8b ha yeah, we are still waiting Olly 🙏
Great interview. Matt's really an interesting guy - full marks (and a couple of bonus points) to him for his honesty.
Yeah I really enjoyed this conversation.
This is exactly the kind of video I've been looking for!
I gave learning Japanese my all in my college years, falling short of my imagined quick path to native level. I reached a relatively high level, but not Matt's level. I can read comfortably, but not necessarily have a great conversation.
I have wondered for more than a decade, "Where do I go with Japan now?" I am grateful that you share your experience with that question, and dealing with the feeling of, "It was all for nothing."
I have also wondered the opposite of Olly. What if I could trade my Japanese to have basic conversational ability in a handful of languages?
Overall I think I'm the type of person who learns languages to "gain access to a culture", which only a high level can help with. I'm glad to have what access I've gained, and I'm finally starting a second language after 20 years.
Thanks for the amazing discussion!
Great comment, thank you!
I disagree with that sentiment that you need a high level of the language to connect to culture. I’m not that good at Spanish but I’ve connected a lot with Mexican culture
He is extremely honest...re: wanting to be in a culture where he could be "higher" not being neg perceived like in U.S. I really like his self-awareness.
The honesty, openness, and mutual respect both these two people brought to the conversation is incredible. As someone who has left the US this year, I have tears in my eyes as I write this. People in the US are being pitted against each other and I feel it even with my siblings (I'm 65 and in the middle of eight children.) I'm now living in Spain and deeply appreciate sharing your journeys, struggles, and approach.
My 2 best language teachers by far...cheers guys, whenever I get language down I watch one of your videos and I realise its not that hard to learn a language if I apply your techniques.
Cheers Andrew!
43:42 I can back-up what Matt is saying, I have read and heard accounts of gaijin/foreign programmers in Japan having a technical edge in software development just from being able to look-up answers and solutions on Stackoverflow in English.
I think it is also super relevant for new information. Scientific fields that are changing quickly, usually that information is available in the local language of where that development happened and in English first. So, if something new comes out, if it wasn’t created in Japan, then they have to wait until someone translates it and the English-speakers have an advantage.
Is Christmas early? The collab I've always dreamed about...
happy to oblige :)
I really enjoyed this interview. Thanks for sharing.
I've been following Matt's channel and applying the full intensity method he (used to) recommend to my Japanese studies for about two years now and the improvement is incredible. I definitely feel that I'm now breaking into the period where I can read or watch anything I come across with a high degree of confidence (although I'm nowhere near as fluent as I'd like to be yet)
Here's to another two more years and beyond!
There's a guy in Brazil who uses Matt's method to teach English. His name is Mario Vergara. And I basically learned what I know about English by using Mario's method which is actually Matt's method kkkk. I just happen to know Matt this weak so I got really surprised. Anyway, I regard myself as a prove that Matt's method works very well. I mean I probably made a lot of mistakes here but the point is this: I can understand and I can get across my thoughts through the language so I've got some skill. And if I get here anyone (I'm serious: literally anyone!) can do the same.
Im proud of you.
I've also learned English based on the MIA principles.
I have a frustrating experience. Not knowing where to begin or hitting a plateau can feel demoralizing and make it hard to hit the books and study like you know you should…
Glad to hear there are teachers adhering to new knowledge instead of curriculum that's 40 years behind! And, the only mistake I noticed would be "as a prove that" instead of "as proof that".
@@runemaster861 Thank you for correcting me, Alliana. I know I have a long way ahead, that's why it's really nice when I manage to get real feedback (most of the time I don't really have any) coming from native speakers or people who reached a complete mastery of the language. And I completely agree with you, those techniques are way better than the old-fashioned and grammatically heavy ways of teaching and acquiring a second language.
great collab! it’s by far the best interview done with Matt. Great shout out to you Olly for the way you asked these intellectually challenging questions. It shows that you really put in your time to think about Matt’s work in relation to yours. And of course Matt’s awesome as always.
Thanks for your comment and glad you enjoyed it!
I want more videos with Matt!!! I really enjoyed this conversation.
I really enjoyed this interview. And by the end you touch upon a topic I also think a lot about. 44:20 The objective "need" to learn English I think has more to do with how "big" your language is. Being from South America and having lived in Russia, I assumed the Japanese attitude towards English was the norm. I was surprised to notice this desperation to learn English in smaller countries with economies that can't sustain a translation industry or the production of knowledge in their own language. Learning English in places like Latin America/Russia (and it turns out, Japan) is a nice-to-have rather than a necessity, unless you travel far or work in an area of science/technology beyond the undergraduate level--- a (superfluous) luxury for the vast majority. The idea that the poor Japanese can't fathom what they're missing out not knowing English (If only they knew!)... I don't know, it sounds patronizing, especially coming from two native English speakers from countries with a history and an economic interest in shoving their language everywhere. There are also issues (in India at least) of social class and status-- with English being one of those markers. It's really hard to generalize as each society has a different attitude and (colonial?) experience with English as a foreign language.
I'm from Spain and I think Matt is definitely right on the 'objective' part of English simply having so much more information than other languages (and I'm Spanish, it's like the 2nd or 3rd biggest language on the internet iirc). It isn't patronizing IMO, I know how it can seem like it if you frame it as "you need to know English to know what's happening in the world, to be fulfilled, to be cultured, etc", I think that can be argued against (but also argued for with very compelling arguments), but with the examples Matt talks about that are more practical, basically "learn programming" I think that he's right on the money. There's good programming tutorials and stuff like that in Spanish, but the sheer amount of free, excellent quality resources , with polished discourse that is available in English blows whatever there is in Spanish out of the water.
This channel is proof of this, try to look for a language learning channel with such an active community that leaves such thoughtful feedback in Spanish (or Japanese, literally any language). Maybe there's a couple, but you'll struggle with it, and it'll be hard to see a proper community forming. And same with any topic, be it fashion, arts, cars, music, etc. I know good examples of some of those in Spanish, but in those cases, you can tell that they themselves know English and that the content that inspired them, or with which they perfected/completed their knowledge comes from English-speaking sources, and that in some sense you could just skip the middleman and go straight from the source if you already speak English.
Conversely, I wouldn't call your comment exactly patronizing either but I do think it's making assumptions on "the common people" as if just because you don't have a technical background you can't pursue your interests to their highest potential. Idc if a dude from a random town in southern Spain has an engineering degree or not, or if it's a superfluous luxury to like trains, I think if the dude really wants to know about trains he will find the biggest communities, with some the people most passionate about trains around the world writing about trains in English. You can be a train fan and only like the trains that are close to you and you probably don't need English to learn more about them, and enjoy those benefits from those localised communities like tangibility, ease of access, etc; but in general pursuing any interest the amount and quality of resources available on any topic
Of course, the reasons why this is the case are colonial either directly like in India as you mention or indirectly due to how the US became a global superpower and pushed their shit everywhere and basically achieved cultural world domination with Hollywood and i get why it would be patronizing to hear it "from the outside" , and also i could see how "trying to access external knowledge" can be perceived as "ignoring local concerns" but I don't think that's the case
The only places where this doesn't apply IMO would be stuff that's very country-specific. For example, Spanish history, Spanish literature, stuff about the Guerra Civil, rural knowledge, legal documents from here, local fauna and flora, etc. For many of those things it's useless to know English. Or if you're German and you love cars, then you have all the information about the birth of the automobile in your own language, the museums are in your country, the books on it are published in your language, etc.
I appreciate you guys and your advice! I’m a working parent that also is learning Japanese in every free minute I can find. I do want fluency and it’s hard work! I can’t wait until I get there.
You're both absolutely amazing, I'd listen to you chat for hours, its so relaxing. I'm Irish, I've a bit of Gaelic to GE me trough, my English is perfect, Seeing as my Irish ancestors were forced to speak English of die. Anyway, you're both fantastic. I am 50 , I tried multiple courses, but I can't grasp the Irish language, maybe its a warning from my ancestors, I don't know. Hope to speak Irish before my memory goes, being treated for early onset dementia. I want to write my book, paint my pictures and tell old Celtic stories As Gailge (in Irish). So, thanks for your hour plus of calm relaxed conversations. Slainte
Thanks I enjoyed that a lot especially the paper/origami analogy!
One thing frustrating though was the sheer number of ad breaks UA-cam inserted!
actually the other analogy about the latex glove was on point too
Really nice interview, good to see you both in the same place!
41:00 - I have spoke about this with my Japanese friends before, and they have said that they think it will be really useful, mostly talking about travel and going abroad over access to information. But they seem to beliee it is the most useful second language to learn.
Hey Luke!
I’m glad that MIA is going places!
Olly, you're great!!!! I think both are great . To dedicate to one language, or have a working and functional knowledge of many..the point is to communicate...
Thank you Matt, Very impressive, See you on Matt verses Japan.
Great video guys: I can relate to Matt's experience & Olly's polyglotism! In case you're interested, field research in App. Ling. has proven:
1. FLA & SLA are definitely different; it's acquisition vs. learning.
2. L1 interference is real (the origami analogy).
3. The diminishing return at higher levels of language learning is a fact.
4. AJATT/mass immersion concept doesn't work well as input must necessary be meaningful for language development.
Using analogies that the audience can relate to is a brilliant communication strategy! Don't fall for the sunk cost fallacy, as we don't live linear lives. Use the Japanese Hajime & Owari concepts to turn a new chapter.
BTW- foreign language learning is going to come very useful in learning programming, if you choose to go for IT!
Awesome conversation. Great respect to you guys.
The first few minutes of this interview effectively sums up the very reason I'm now following Matt.
Really interesting discussion
Cheers!
This is a super interesting interview. I've been studying Japanese very casually every day for the last four months or so. It's hard to keep the motivation up.
Hello I've been learning Japanese for a month and a half. If you don't mind me asking what method do you use?
@@koluchkaZoZo ive let my studies slip for the last three months. I use wanikani to learn kanji, I learned hiragana and katakana on duolingo. I bought the genki 1 and 2 textbooks and workbooks but I barely opened them lately.
5:50 Ultimately, I think it's just a difference in expectations. For instance, it took me a while to understand why Krashen's theory was so powerful for language learners. From a linguistics point of view, there's just a lot wrong with it, in terms of explanatory power, internal consistency, etc. etc. But I get it: the very things that make it "bad" for linguistics are the exact same things that make it "good" for a language learner: namely, it's intuitive and vague enough to be inspiring. On the other hand, when you get into the nitty-gritty of linguistic research, it's difficult to extrapolate a clear narrative that a language learner could use. The more detailed you get, the more difficult it becomes to interpret the data in any meaningful way.
I guess in the end, it doesn't really matter. It's not like language learners really need a perfectly sound scientific system to move forward. The only problem I see is that there's a risk that the science is dismissed out of a misunderstanding of one own's personal experience. And we hear a bit of this here, with Matt saying that many of these linguists haven't learned a foreign language for themselves. I don't know whether that's the case or not, but if it is, it should be irrelevant. The risk here is that, for any of us who got good at a language, whatever method we used we are likely to interpret as being a good method, and the results we achieved to be the direct consequence of that method. And our identities get caught up in it, to the point where it's vexing if the science suggests we could've been using our time more efficiently doing something else. So it's tempting to just reject all of that out of hand, with a "well it worked for me".
Dunno, I guess it's just that if people are going to bring up linguistics, I wish they would try to really engage with it instead of dismissing it out of hand. Not to change their own methods or anything, but perhaps just to hold those beliefs a bit more lightly. For instance, I've been trying to get people to notice that, for all of these people who say "immersion only", and that you shouldn't "learn", you should "acquire", well, I've been trying to just point out to them what it means when those same people tell you that one of the best ways to acquire a language is to read. Because it turns out...reading isn't natural at all. You don't acquire it. You learn it, from explicit instruction. And becoming literate involves a thorough rewiring of the brain, such that even when a literate person is just speaking, the areas of the brain he activates are not entirely the same as those activated when an illiterate person is speaking. So there are very complex relations there that just don't fit with these "learning vs. acquisition" dichotomy. And the findings are really interesting. A literate brain is better at discriminating sounds and recognising words in spoken language. Weird huh? It gets very weird if you dig into the science. For instance, depending on two specific genes, you may be better off being a late bilingual than an early bilingual. That flies in the face of what many people believe: namely that earlier is always better. Turns out, there are two genes where if you have them, you're more likely to become a proficient balanced bilingual if you learn your L2 a bit later, say around age 10, rather than as a baby.
Anyway, the point isn't to argue against anyone's method or anything, but just perhaps to slightly open the door to the other possibilities that science suggests. At the very least, for those who teach it should allow them to loosen up a bit on their own method, such that if they have a student for whom their method just isn't working, they're open to the possibility that another method might be better suited to that particular student.
I doubt you'll see this but if you do could you please direct me to a site, article, research study whatever where I can read more about it?
I've found your comment to be very interesting and would love to learn more.
If you could even just tell me some keywords to look up that would be enough! :)
Do you have a source for that thing about genes and age? I don't distrust you, I just think it's really interesting and can't seem to find much myself
@@Zeromus725 Sure thing. It essentially has to do with dopamine receptors. If you look up "Stelzel and Fiebach" and "DRD2" or "COMT" (the two genes I was referring two, where certain variations of those genes seem to be correlated with learning outcomes), you should find a series of studies that look into the effects of of variations of those genes on cognition in general.
For second language acquisition specifically, the study I was referring to is VAUGHN, K., HERNANDEZ, A. 2018 "Becoming a balanced, proficient bilingual: predictions from age of acquisition and genetic background". Journal of neurolinguistics. (doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroling.2017.12.012).
@@bofbob1 Many thanks! This is pretty interesting, I would say
Both did so well... Looking through the comments I think that can explain the way we acquire language as well... We form stronger opinions and aversions than others...and it takes us down different trails..
Excellent questions, really enjoyed this.
Yes. I agree. Children learn language through adaptation...in order to survive, I might learn, and speak. Adults, it Piggy backs on the survival mode skills, without needing it to actually survive... AND then pleasure mode kicks in....
Robin Macpherson had a great analogy. To imagine you're lying on a beach .The waves come up and wash over you and then recede leaving you covered with bits of seaweed and crap which resemble the words that stick in your mind. Of course this happens many times before you actively store it in your memory. We all have our personal paths so no one person is perfect but we get there in our own way. I like your Origami analogy a lot Matt, thanks !
If you’re doing flash cards for Mandarin Chinese, color code … four different colors for four tones. Tone will become second nature
I think a lot of people who studied Japanese in high school and then when deeper into it can relate to Matt’s experience of using it as a form of escapism and then being disappointed
Indeed. I learnt Japanese later on in life and can still relate!
Agreed. Sadly, the more I learn about Japanese culture, the less I romanticise it, however, I still love the language and a lot about their culture. I have some friends I met in Japan, so becoming more and more about to speak with them has kept me determined
Those interviews are super interesting!
Other "polyglots" channels are an embarrassment..
Between 2011 and 2019, Japan's EF English Proficiency ranking went down from the 14th place to the 53rd. Partly this drop in ranking can be explained by increase in the number of countries in the EF English Proficiency Index, but the EF EPI score of Japan also went down significantly -- from 54.17 in 2011 to 51.51 in 2019. In contrast, the EF EPI score of China grew from 47.62 in 2011 to 53.44 in 2019.
Interestingly enough, accordingly to a survey conducted by Japan’s Ministry of Education, English proficiency has been increasing in recent years: www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00594/japan%E2%80%99s-english-proficiency-drops-among-non-english-speaking-countries.html
However, this estimate was based on the percent students who reached Eiken grade 3 (approximately CEFR A1) in Junier High or Eiken grade pre-2 (CEFR A2) in High School, and it is quite possible a higher percent of learners who reached A1 or A2, but less of those who reached higher levels of proficiency. In fact, if your goal just to pass an A2-level test, which includes a ton of artificial sentences intended to test your knowledge of the grammar rules, then perhaps the traditional approach may take less time to achieve that goal, because language acquisition is a relatively slow process, which pays off later on. Thus teaching to the test may prioritize short-term gains over long-term outcomes.
The standardized testing that they do is basically the equivalent of a Japanese learner studying for the JLPT. Sure you may have learned a decent amount of language consciously, but given how different English and Japanese are, it's hard to believe that any of them really acquired English. I'm sure it's a common experience for them to stop using it and forget everything, much like many Americans learning Spanish in high school and college forget the vast majority.
Putain! Super vidéo Olly! I loved the mention of introverts vs. extroverts in learning approach. The portion regarding Matt’s having felt isolated/outcast in US and creating a Japanese bubble was so interesting! This video is easily one of the best interviews I’ve seen on UA-cam. Bravo Olly and Matt🔥🔥🔥
I think that's why I'm fluent in English, cos all the content I need/want to watch/read are all available in English but not in my native language. I'm currently learning Chinese so my first priority is to find content that I find interesting in Chinese.
This was very interesting, but what I enjoyed the most was the choice of questions, these were the questions I would've chosen if I were doing the interview. Like the question about where did Matt develop all his theories and ideas above language learning. Also, I can really relate to the fact that the "dream tipping point" is hard to reach but if it *could* be reached... then everything after that is just smooth ride.
Great interview, loved both of you in it. Matt's reflections on the Ego and status and learning japanese because of it really resonate, i'd never seen anyone talk about it. His perspective on it checks out with what i've seen from a Spanish youtuber that talks about Japanese culture about there being "phases" of japanese learning, like "phase 1" is that enamourment, "phase 2" is like getting "redpilled" lol, basically realizing the darker parts of japan actually is and starting to hate it, and later phases are about integration and such, but this youtuber's always felt way too whiny for my taste. Matt's view of realizing that status seeking drive from within him makes a ton of sense and helps explain the feelings that arise in that other framework with some added context
wow matt your English is good.
It's his native langauge...
Bruh what do you mean his English is so good that’s his native language
Triple r/wooosh
Good interview, especially the middle bit about the emotional needs of fitting into the second culture. I made the unfortunate mistake of trying a one-way bargain with two different countries and languages, and failed both times. It was emotionally exhausting and in some ways traumatizing. Upon returning to the US after several years abroad I can confidently say I don't fit in anywhere. :( Now if only I could monetize that!
thanks for sharing
I'm going to comment on this older video. There is now a girl doing UA-cam videos from Tokyo named Emi Grace. She grew up in Tokyo and is currently in Uni there. Her English is completely fluent having grown up with a native english speaking parent and a native Japanese speaking parent.
I have a frustrating experience. Not knowing where to begin or hitting a plateau can feel demoralizing and make it hard to hit the books and study like you know you should…
9:16
"the best good?"
The best best would be the answer, wouldn't it?
I am a English learner as matt said "you need to already know English to understand the content that he is uploading ",i can understand 90% of this video but still struggling to speak
Awesome collab :)
I'm certainly no expert but Olly's observation that English competency was higher in the 80s is interesting. I wonder how it relates to the post WW2 rebuild, and that Japan may have benefited more from English usage than it did before its economy matured and US influence and assistance in the country waned.
Matt is in another epic crossover episode. Step aside Crisis on Infinite Earths!!
nice content keep it up
Probably the best interview with Matt. Great questions and interesting ideas. I'm currently using this method for my german.
Would u really give all of ur languages to get only great in one? U have a great voice btw
I don't know if I would make that trade. I'd certainly think about it.
Rare to get to Matt’s level? Hard? Challenge accepted!
@Rei Ren been 7 month and I’m still chugging along, baby steps.
@@mr.sushi2221 hell yeah keep going
@@mr.sushi2221 15 months since you posted. Any updates?
@@vali69 update. Learning a language is hard asf. I restarted college and took a break. I’m having a go at it again and slowly making more progress. I can understand quite a bit of Japanese but speaking is more difficult for me. I Promise you tho, one day I will be 100% fluent. I promise.
@@mr.sushi2221 How's it going now?
Hey!
Coming at you as a teacher (also a language learner, but here as a teacher).
For me, the most interesting part comes around 40 minutes into the conversation: ua-cam.com/video/4ek9pjGzm8s/v-deo.html
Going to sound a bit libertarian here, but "need" vs. "want" behind language learning will, in my experience, greatly impact the ongoing results.
At 41.46, for example, Matt makes a valid point about English language teaching in Japan grammar school and secondary school and its focus on material necessary to pass official exams, indicating that the methods used are not conducive to a pleasant or satisfactory learning experience. However, those methods are geared exactly towards a "need-based" motivation, that is, the students perceive a "need" to pass the test and consequently accept, though grudgingly, the method employed to help them achieve that objective. The underlying "want-based" motivation is actually getting the job (grossly generalizing here!), the English part is literally a "need" in order to satisfy the "want".
Identifying motivation is one of the principles in language teaching. If the motivation is a perceived "need", there may not be organic desire and other interferences can get in the way of learning. If the motivation is a deeper felt "want", a voluntary desire to achieve, it might be much more likely that language acquisition takes place, as can be observed by Matt's own story.
This I did observe, anecdotally, in teaching ESL in New York City in the early '80s. Over 80% of my students were Japanese, and of those probably 80% were businessmen. Despite varying proficiency levels acquired before being assigned to the States, these businessmen did not demonstrate, in general, a real desire to learn English or immerse in the culture. They worked in offices filled with other Japanese, they went to Japanese restaurants that catered directly to them, enjoyed drinks with Japanese colleagues at Japanese clubs and only used English when "needed". Their motivation was a "need" which supported their "want" (which was often to get through the time in the States and get back home to Tokyo!) While they did well in class, they did not become fluent or particularly proficient. And as the company almost always paid for the classes, there was not even the pocket-book motivation some have when taking language classes.
Method will depend upon the background and training of the teacher (and will almost always be ferociously defended by that teacher!) as well as the established objectives in the teaching/learning environment. Value of the method will depend upon the flexibility of the method itself and the open mind of the teacher employing it, as well as the motivation of the student matching up with what any particular method promises to deliver. (Did I just generalize again? Sorry!)
Thanks for the interview. Kind of rambling for my liking (skipped through it instead of listening in totality, but that's me, not you guys). Some good points made.
cheers,
revel.
So is this Matt vs. Oly and Japan or is this more of a Battle Royale type thing?
How do you put a whole TV show into Anki?
But as Matt said, aren't there some sounds you can't do in another language ?
Let's not forget Khatz used a lot of analogies on the AJATT blog. I'm certain that was a big influence on Matt too =)
You are overestimating the number of people that want to leave their country of origin. I guess the reason for that is because you see a lot of immigrants coming to the developed countries and then you assume that everyone who lives in a developing country wants to migrate as well. That's selection bias. I live in Serbia, a developing country, and I plan to stay here for the rest of my life, in the city in which I was born into. Knowing the English language still makes a difference because you get more job opportunities and also there are a lot of computer programming/coding jobs which pay a really good salary but they require good knowledge of the English language. So there is material interest to learn English even if you don't plan on ever moving out from your city let alone from your country.
Also, the thing that Matt was saying is totally true. There is so much good educational content in English. In general, there is a lot of interesting and quality content in English. I get Matt when he says that Japanese people are missing out on so much because they don't speak English.
Trying to watch C Dramas without subs and reading Harry Potter in Chinese (with Chinese English Dictionary). Still a beginner level but I found that Chinese learning materials is much easier after those. It makes more sense. :-)
I kind of do Yoga's method. I'll do Anki, jump to DuoLingo, another vocab app, watch a show or something, back to Duo
English passive listening: 1h07min
Get a grant. Go look at UCLA dept of applied linguistics . One segment of the department has been researching multiple language acquisition for decades. People know more than you think
I remember watching Matts original japanese videos when he became disillusioned with Japan. I remember thinking "this guys got a lot of good information but he's kinda a downer." It was interesting to see him go from then to now where he seems to have a much more stable mindset in general. It seems like him starting to make meditation such a big part of his routine helped him recognize the effect his ego was having on him and let him see things from a more objective viewpoint.
It seems like learning Japanese was a long and bumpy road for him, but Its become something he's genuinely proud of and it shows in his videos. Always a fan :)
Matt ❤
Should I go with the languages that I went in for, in schools, To build on those, I never really learnt a language, but I always had a fascination toward language and how they work and listening to them.. Is it possible to learn a language as someone with troubles with speaking, having Asperger syndrome? It is possible? Or does it come down to genetics... Or being the type to be able to language learning? if that makes sense.
There's no genetics, it all depends on you. Don't let your flaws in certain areas define what you can and cannot do.
I want to echo the other answer - if you learnt English, you can learn another language. Good luck.
How can I apply MIA to Spanish or any other language?
The stages, steps
Apply the japanese quickstart guide on massimmersionapproach.com to spanish
Matt seems to have a very similar way of thinking as myself. Very meditative and passive, but also likes to be challenged and debating, and discussing the meta-theory behind human learning
Edit: I'm also really good at coming up with analogies and metaphors on the spot. I need to chat with this guy!
I think one of the biggest things of acquiring a language is to make it fun not a chore... I disagree with you need more than one hour... Howeverthe fun of learning a language will definitely make you put in more than an hour!
While I am not a primary source I feel the need to disagree with the notion that a non-native-english speaking person would only see english as a "Badge" on their chest. You have to realise just how saturated the internet is in English. All except for a fraction of a percentage of the Internets' reputable, sourced and verified information is primarily in English
A message for Matt - if you're ever thinking of learning Thai, give me a shout. Would love to help you.
Someday I will get to Thai.
谢谢你俩
yes, "i need to be good at japanese" , not "i want to be good at japanese" hahaa
If you are a native speaker of English then in my opinion you don't have to learn any other language
OMG! There are SO many commercial interruptions on this video. it is significantly worse that television. I am a little more than half way through and I am considering stopping just because after about every minute and a half another advertisement comes on. Ruins the experience
You have 2 options, use addblock or pay the premium subscription
I know. UA-cam is showing ads non-stop at the moment... sorry! The uninterrupted version is on the podcast if that's more convenient for you.
You can skip to the end of the video then replay it and all the ads will be gone
That's crazy. I only got three or so ads, including the pre-roll ads
TV has 2 minutes of ads every 5 to 8 minutes. This is nowhere near that bad.
When if ever are the language learners going to understand that learning a language does not qualify you to teach it ???
I agree, but I wonder why you say that.
it's true that just because one learns a language does not qualify them to teach that language in particular. what matt and olly are doing are providing their approaches to learning for other learners to apply, which i think is much preferable.
You can't teach anyone a language. People aquire language by understanding messages according to Steven Krashen. We know this to be true. They don't claim to be teaching anyone a language. He is just sharing his experience and method. He used to aquire Japanese. To help others who want to know how to go about it. If anything he's teaching people what to do to aquire the language. Not directly teaching the language itself to them.
Matt is the young Stephen Krashen, language guru level just needs more charm and likability…
Of all the possible ways to learn a language, this has got to be the most difficult one. Watching an anime where you don’t know many words, is very very UNComprehensible input. Matt succeeded at it because he is super bright. I’ll pass, and stick with reading native made material and home made flash cards. I tired Anki a couple of years ago and got swamped with unnecessary work. Matt, you are obviously a very bright guy, so why did you pick such a difficult way to learn a language?
Olly, it takes you faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar tooooooooooooo long to formulate a question. Hesitant speech; intruding images; diversions; not to the point. Your questions are usually interesting. But it takes you five minutes to formulate a question that should only take 20 to 30 seconds. By the time you finish stating the question, the question itself is completely buried.
Matt: Tries to explain himself and finish his sentences.
Guy: *NO*
His method is torture.
1. Be interested in your language.
2. Use Anki with the base 2k or more words.
3. Watch shows with real life conversation in your target language to get used to hearing it and you'll see a lot of context to what is being said.
4. Read into grammar in your free time.
It's pretty basic. The most important think is consistency. If you practice a lot one day and then skip the next two, you're going to progress slowly. A minimum of one hour a day (review your flash cards, watch a show, learn one grammar point) will get you really far.
No. Grammar based language learning is torture.
His method is probably one of the more enjoyable ones. I'd rather sit down and watch 2 hours of TV and make some Anki cards than study grammar and vocabulary in a notebook or by using some textbook.
It's difficult at the start but once the ball gets rolling it becomes easier and easier.
If you are enjoying it, going deep is fun.
For extrovert best speak day 1