Why I Speak Japanese.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Here's the story of why I speak Japanese, and why it means so much more to me than that.
Japanese at Arlington Public Schools Petition: tinyurl.com/ya...
- - - - - - - - S I M I L A R V I D E O S - - - - - - - -
"How I Moved to Japan " tinyurl.com/yb8...
"28 Facts About Me in Japan": tinyurl.com/y7x...
- - - - - - - - D I S C O U N T S !!! - - - - - - - -
tinyurl.com/p8p... ← Japanese Learning on iTalki!
Click this for a Buy 1 Get 1 Free Language lesson with the teacher of your choice. (You get a discount, and I get a commission!)
NINJA WIFI provider:
tinyurl.com/j9t...
Cheap Pocket WiFi for your next trip in Japan. Link above gives you a discount at checkout!
JAPANESE STATIONERY
Discount code: KEMUSHI10 for 10% off your first stationery box with My Bungu Box
www.mybungubox...
- - - - - - - - S U B S C R I B E - - - - - - - -
Boomer: www.youtube.co....
Me: / kemushichan
- - - - - - - - H O W T O R E A C H M E - - - - - - - -
/ kemushijp
/ kemushichan
/ kemushijp
SnapChat @KemushiJP
- - - - - - - - M Y M A I L B O X - - - - - - - -
Send me messages or whatever you want via the address below!:
Yummy Japan - KemushiChan
〒150-0022 東京都渋谷区恵比寿南2-1-2 R・K・F恵比寿ビル5F
Yummy Japan - KemushiChan
5F, RKF-EBISU, 2-1-2, Ebisuminami, Shibuya-ku,
Tokyo, 150-0022, Japan
Business Inquiries:
Hello@KemushiChan.com
- - - - - - - - F A Q - - - - - - - -
Hi! My name is Loretta, a girl from the U.S. who moved to Japan! I'm here on the MEXT scholarship program as a graduate student, studying to get a Masters in Business Administration. Here are some answers to common questions:
1. Do I Speak Japanese? Yep! I was taught formally in High School and have been speaking now for over 15 years.
2. What are you studying? I'm a student in a Japanese "Masters of Business Administration Program"
3. How old are you?: tinyurl.com/y7x...
4. How did you get into Japanese school?: tinyurl.com/yb8...
5. What camera equipment do you use?: I film my videos with a Canon 60D using a 30mm Sigma Art Lens and I edit with Sony Vegas Pro 10 (with some help from photoshop).
- - - - - - - - ♬M U S I C I N T H I S V I D E O♬ - - - - - - - -
♪ "Flicker (Siarate Remix)" - Courtesy of Amarante
Listen on TH-cam: • Amarante - Flicker (Of...
♪ "Gisele Revisited" - by South London HiFi (TH-cam Audio Library)
Topics in this video: 外国人 日本 独学 英会話 語学 海外の反応 Foreigners in Japan Culture Shock Life in Japan Speaking Japanese The JLPT Self Study Teach Yourself Japanese Pimsleur Japanese from Zero
![Why I Chose a Japanese (and not a U.S) University [MY RESEARCH]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ykjbco2X2dg/mqdefault.jpg)
Kemushi-chan, you’re such a role model for me. It means so much to see a fellow black woman studying Japanese, especially when lot of people in my hometown ridicule me for picking it. But I’m determined. I want to achieve your level of fluency and confidence someday.
lol!
When I was younger I definitely....confused some people haha. That being said, it suddenly "made sense" when I had a marketable, unique skill to use during job-hunting. No matter what the skill, a usable skill in life or work will set you a part, eventually for the better. :) Wishing you all the best!
you need to move. i live in minneapolis and there are many black people studying japanese. you will find a support system among us and many of us are advanced level and beyond. keep working at it 応援していますよ！
KuraBlue 頑張って!!
Why is it weird for a black person to want to learn japanese?
FELLOW STUDENTS! I wanted to reiterate here that even though I collected my brightest moments into one sound bite, I understand personally how frustrating it can be to feel that another person's opportunities could never be a reality for yourself. Education/scholarships are a tremendous blessing, and it often makes me angry/sad when I remember how hard it was to pay for basic expenses, or how many students simply didn't have access to the basic things I might take for granted.
It's not that I was just "lucky" in life, but that someone actually took the initiative to create these opportunities for students after them.
One of my biggest goals right now is to do the same, and begin CREATING the types of chances that helped bring me to where I am today.
I hope in the comments we can discuss not only our goals, but also the struggles that need to be addressed. Tuition? School books / laptop fees? Living Costs? More programs? Please let me hear your voice and experience in a comment below.
Thank you for watching today and I can't wait to hear more about you.
KemushiChan ロレッタ you saw an opportunity and seized it. Many would have passed it by
KemushiChan ロレッタ I'm studying abroad in Tokyo for the next year and I'm SO incredibly thankful for scholarship support.
Have been wondering if a 電子辞書 would be a worthwhile purchase. Have you used one in your studies? And would you recommend them to intermediate/advanced learners of Japanese?
Hello, KemushiChan ロレッタ !
My name is Kelsey (my fiance, Evan, and I share a TH-cam account, sorry for any confusion. Haha)! I was also interested in Japanese culture when I was young, but Japanese wasn't taught at any of my schools growing up. The language I learned in high school for mandatory credit was not a language I had any connection to, nor was I inspired to learn any more of it after I graduated. I can't imagine how amazing it would have been to have the opportunity to start learning Japanese at a young age! I'm 25 now and I honestly think about this all the time because I'm currently trying to start learning Japanese seriously, but I don't know where best to start learning and I'm very financially limited.
But, after watching your video about the MEXT scholarship for research students through embassy recommendation I got really excited! I feel like this would be such an amazing opportunity to finally act on my interests and learn in japan with a goal in mind.
Would you be willing to give me some MEXT advice? Applications are open for a month, and I'm trying to find a Japanese university that has an english taught MBA program. Are you enrolled in an english taught program, or were you able to be enrolled in a Japanese taught program because your Japanese is so advanced?
I like Sophia University, but I'm reading that it is a highly saught-after private university, so I'm hoping for some suggestions of some other universities which offer english taught MBA programs that may be more attainable to me/ look more financially probable in the eyes of MEXT. Which ones did you come across in your search for a university when you were first applying?
I'm looking through faculty at a few different universities trying to find a professor that specializes in something I can get excited about so I may build my research proposal to best take advantage of their expertise. How did you find a professor to be your mentor through your studies? Did you have a specific area of study in mind before choosing someone, or did you find someone you liked and build off of their interests?
Thank you so much for reading this all the way to the end (TaylorB reference lol)! Any advice you'd be willing to give would be so extremely appreciated! Thank you so much for this video, and I look forward to your next video of you, Boomer, and Lily! 😁
KemushiChan ロレッタ
i was motivated to your video thank you bcoz of that i'm really have to study more harder but with the heart, bcoz I'm also dream to live or work in japan for my family and also reach what i wanted in life. Thank you for sharing all you been through in your life. It was really a good start for me to be inspired and motivated in to your words.
This is a very interesting topic. I supported the petition. Here's why:
I had Japanese language course in middle school in Maryland. I would have continued Japanese language courses in high school, but I ended up moving to a different state where there were no Japanese language courses taught at all. Even though I originally got into Japanese "anything" through anime as a kid, it was my middle school language teacher who truly introduced me Japanese culture. He actually traveled to Japan sometime before the semester and saw how Japanese people lived. So, he worked with local people to build a mock set of a typical Japanese home at school and we got to go to it once a week and practice living as a Japanese person for class.
This included taking off shoes before stepping onto the Tatami mats, rolling up the futon and putting it away, learning where clothes are put away versus using a dresser in the US, and sitting with a kotatsu to learn the difference between staying warm at home in winter versus how its done in the US among other things. I will never forget that experience. In fact, the teacher's mock Japanese home garnered enough attention to be put into an official museum! Experiences like this is why I signed the petition. If schools take out Japanese language, then the opportunity to teach students about Japanese culture dwindles down to a brief mention in a textbook. I know, because the high school I went to after moving did exactly that for its social studies course.
Thank you for sharing the video and here's to your continues success and the success of the petition!
I love hearing you speak Japanese!
Sam サムコ I was just bragging about you to Boomer this morning 💕❤️ You're amazing too!!
awwwww Silhouetta I miss youuuu!
Sam サムコ _
get a room
I love your attitude. Yes, Japanese is a tough language to learn. And by working at it, I can learn it. Your bright, cheerful energy has helped bring you along.
By the Numbers only hard thing is their writing system. Japanese is a very logical language. How the sentences are build for example.
only thing that is maybe hard is the writing system since its vastly different to ours but besides that the language itself is not hard
I think it's easier than other Languages... Chinese or Korean for instance..
Hey, Thanks for the reply.... Is it? That's great to know...I've heard people say that before.
Torterra Plays Mc chinese is easy imo, japanese just seems like there's millions of things to learn before you can even get started
ロレッタさん、hey!!!
I'm Japanese American, born in the states and full Japanese blood.
Your story is so inspiring and I shared this with my Mom, and I aspire to be someone like you.
Also, this made me appreciate being able to speak both English and Japanese.
My high school doesn't have a Japanese class, and you video made me realize how important broadening your language is.
I am interested in attending college in Japan and working there in the entertainment world! This year (thankfully) I was chosen to study abroad at a university for half the year :) Just wanted to say Thank you for making this vid
Your videos remind me of when I was learning Japanese growing up. I remember the first word I ever learnt was すし when I took part in a fundamentals class during a high school open day. I spent so much time burning that word into my reading and writing memory, as well as a few other katakana and Kanji I learnt on the day. I fell in love with the sound of J-Pop and it evolved into becoming enamoured with Japanese culture.
Luckily, my high school offered Japanese studies from 7th to 12th grade at the time, so I was able to take it every year possible at the highest level I was permitted. I was blessed to have the opportunity to go on a heavily subsidised exhange for a couple of weeks in high school, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Living in another country at a young age really changes your perspective on the world. It wouldn't have happened if I wasn't able to demonstrate how passionate I was about Japanese language and culture since year 7.
University made studying Japanese beyond high school near impossible for me because there weren't joint programs with the core profession I wanted to pursue. Though, I can't seem to completely forget my Japanese and can still hold some very basic conversations. It even helped me develop some professional relationships with others who felt more comfortable speaking Japanese down the line.
I'm pretty sure they are phasing out language studies in schools here in Australia, too. I wish they were respected more, as they can spark new passion in and create opportunities for nearly any student. Hopefully this video helps to raise awareness for that!
Thanks for your videos, Loretta!
ありがとうございます！
I guess Im asking the wrong place but does anybody know a way to get back into an Instagram account?
I was dumb lost the password. I love any tricks you can give me.
@@callumaden9373 Huh?
ロレッタさんが話す日本語が大好きです！知的で頭が良い話し方ですよね！英語を学ぶ日本人として、尊敬しています😊
女子ですか。
k t
この子の日本語は、ほんとすごい。自然だわ
話が長すぎてつまらないと思いましたが、k tさんの優しいコメントを見て安心しました。ありがとうございます！英語がんばってください！
Loretta, I just wanted to thank you so much for inspiring me over and over again. I am currently 18 years old and I've been learning Japanese for about 3.5 years now, but I feel like I still suck. For the first 3 years I only had classes once a week for an hour, and even now, I don't have the time to study Japanese all that much. I have classes two times a week now, but they are such a low level that I feel like I don't even improve at all. So, after all these years, I still feel like I'm stuck at the "absolute beginner" level.
But watching your videos, especially this one, I feel *so* motivated to start working harder. Being able to speak Japanese at least somewhat well is one of my biggest goals for my life, and now I finally feel inspired to study, and study hard. This video seems like that last push to take me over the edge, and honestly? I can't even wait to start working on my grammar, my vocabulary and my kanji.
I might not have the same opportunities you have - I couldn't study Japanese a lot at high school and I can't study it all that well at uni, either - but I want to make the best out of what opportunities I have. And maybe, in a few years, I'll watch this video again, look back at where I was now and wonder why I ever struggled with Japanese.
Whatever will come, I want to thank you for inspiring me - us, with every video you make, for being so honest and wonderful and for just being you. Lots and lots of love from Germany & いつもありがとうございます ♡
as another fellow studying Japanese by self, try communicating with Japan People for learning a vast vocabulary
i usually visiting a web Showroom-live where Japanese people broadcasting live from amateur to idol
even tough i'm still got a little help from google translate :p
Thank you so much for the warm, sweet comment! Funny enough, seeing everyone else get motivated here in the comments is having the same reverse effect on me again. I really do hope your dreams take you far, and that along the way it's an amazing journey.
classes once a week in anything is going to cause a lot of regression. It's very inefficient. I have studied languages since i was 11 and daily exposure is key even if it is just music or a magazine article, etc.
Even if you don't ever get to a super fluent level in Japanese, don't worry too much about it. As long as you know basic Japanese, visiting Japan at the very least isn't a big challenge. There's a TH-cam channel (Abroad in Japan), and the host first moved to Japan without much knowledge of Japanese at all. He can now speak fairly fluent Japanese (Mostly due to immersion), but when he first started he didn't know much. He managed to make it through that, because (Surprisingly to some people) many Japanese people can understand enough English to be able to understand you if you need to use it.
I'm 12 and learning it I use basic apps like duolingo and books and self studying but I understand with you mean with the time thing since time t gets in my way so although it may be difficul I believe with enough practice you'll get it 💖
第二言語を勉強するチャンスはやっぱり大事だね。私はドイツ人ですけど、１１歳の頃、お父さんがフィラデルフィアで仕事を見つけて、家族四人でアメリカへ引っ越しました。７ヶ月経ったらドイツへ帰ったんですけど、そのお陰ではじめて本心で英語を勉強したいと思いました。その７ヶ月の間は普通の中学校に通ってたんだからそれも随分勉強になったと思いますけど、やっぱり帰ってからちゃんと独学して、色んなものを読んで、１１歳のボカビュラリーだけじゃなくてもっと大人的な、ちゃんとした言い方とかを身につけました。
それで、勉強はなんと楽しいことだと気づきました。
日本は子供時代から興味があったんだから（特に任天堂とか）１３・１４歳の時から日本語を自分で勉強し始めました。で、去年の夏、高校を卒業した直後、３ヶ月日本に滞在させてもらいました。まずは外国人の多いホステルで宿の代わりに働きましたが、そのホステルのお客さんのお陰で観光関係の翻訳仕事をやり始めた。日本語→英語の翻訳ですね。まあ、観光ビサだったから宿・食事という代償の仕事だったんですけどね。
それからドイツに帰って、今は大学で翻訳の専門をやっています。夢は翻訳じゃなくて通訳者ですけど、日本語の通訳はまだまだです…が、この動画を見て改めて勉強し続けたいなと思いました。
それにしても、今まで勉強できたことはやっぱり家族の金銭的と感情的なサポートのお陰ですね。本当に感謝しています。言語教育は他の国の人に繋がるものだから特にこのグローバルな近代社会で欠かせないことだと思います。だから、そういう機会を作る教育制度を支えたいです。
nils8950UTAUACC
完璧で素晴らしい文章ですね。これからも頑張って通訳になってください。
J’ai rien compris
nils8950UTAUACC
私も日本人ではないので、日本に行ったこともないけど、独学で日本語をマスターするのは無理かなとたまには思ってるんですけど、nils8950UTAUACC さん(もちろんロレッタさんも)の言葉になんか感激されました！勇気をもらったみたいくらい。これから頑張りましょう！
私も日本語を勉強している！ブラジル人だけど日本に興味があるから十二歳だった時に勉強し始めたんだ。今年の冬は初めて日本に行って本当に日本語で話す機会があった。前はブラジルを出たことがなかった私にとって、それは凄く貴重な経験で、心の中で何か変わったと感じがする。六週間だけだったが色々学んで今は日本はもっと好きになった。だから、日本語を学んでいる皆様、諦めないで頑張って下さい。きっと日本に着いたら「大変だったが、頑張って良かった！」と思うよ(o^^o) 私はまだペラペラ出来ないけど、頑張り続ける！ ファイトファイト
@@alsamiyasfh4416 Personne n'a rien compris :')
ロレッタの声質は日本語と合っていて違和感がないですよ。
Voice of Loretta is suited to Japanese.
ロレッタさん、
動画をしてくれて本当にありがとうございます！僕は15歳で三年間日本語を勉強してきました。ロレッタさんの動画みてすっごいやる気がもらいました。心の底から感謝を申し上げます。
僕は日本語能力試験三級は合格したが今年二級を目指します。でも僕は将来何をするべきかをわからなくて困っています。どうやらお手伝いください。
ありがとう
日本語字幕もつけましたのでCCボタンをクリックするとご覧いただけます！ I added Japanese & English subtitles, but if any of you would like to add another language here's the link! I am so grateful to everyone of you who supports my channel and helps with subtitles. THANK YOU! th-cam.com/users/timedtext_video?ref=share&v=2PGgeIh18_A
KemushiChan ロレッタ
Thank you so much for the subtitles 😊
Omg, I lived in VA as well and went to Fairfax Coounty school. I'm currently trying to teach myself Japanese, do you have any personal tips on easy ways of learning it? Tysm💖
Omg, I lived in VA as well and went to Fairfax Coounty school. I'm currently trying to teach myself Japanese, do you have any personal tips on easy ways of learning it? Tysm💖
Can you break the Japanese bit by bit in the English Translation next time, please?? For example: Niku (Meat) bakari (Only) taberu to (If Fat) hutoru (To Grow Fat) yo (Stating a strong conviction or to convey). God will BLESS you.
If I make them for German, they'd be only translated from your English translation but I suppose that they are well translated from you
I'm planning on studying Japanese and Korean (my second language) in college, but unfortunately my high school didn't support Japanese classes, so I'll be starting next year as a freshman in college. I've managed to teach myself hiragana/katakana and some basic kanji already which I hope will give me a little bit of an advantage. Also, anime has taught me a few words (more or less).
I do hope that I can one day study abroad like you do. ❤
You can always check the internet for basic grammars to start the study so won't be completely new to the subject in college :D
Korean and Japanese grammar are very similar :) Once you learn one of them, it should come easy for the other. Good luck though my friend! I’ll hope to continue my Korean soon after learning French and Spanish
Me too, my school doesn’t have Japanese courses do I hope to study it in college
凄い！ただ日本語が流暢ってだけじゃなく、話の組み立て方も素晴らしい。
めっちゃ日本語上手い…
俺も英語頑張らなきゃ！
私は高校生のときアニメが好きになって自分でちょっと勉強してみた。で、大学に入ってから、２年後大学を休んで、その時、出身にある日本語学校で日本語の勉強を始めた。そこで2、3ヶ月くらい勉強した。
その後で、他の大学に編入した。その大学で、また日本語を勉強したけれど、前の日本語学校より先生はあまり日本語で話さなかった。それに、１週間に３時間しか勉強しなかった。
大学を卒業した後で、すぐ働いた。会社に入ったばかりなんですが、家族と一緒に関西へ旅行に行った。京都に姉の日本で留学している友達と知り合った。姉の友達は留学のことを話してくれた。そのおかげで、日本の大学院に入ってみようと思った。で、日本語の勉強を続いた。
国で日本語を勉強しながら、働いていた。日本語の練習は無くて、全然話せるようにならなかった。その理由で日本に日本語を勉強しに来た。
Absolutely lovwd this! Thanks for sharing your journey. I've been learning Japanese independently for a number of years now on and off. In the past I'd get surges of demotivation because nobody understands why I'm interested in learning Japanese. For me it's nothing to do with Anime or Manga. I've always been into learning another language and what makes Japanese stand out out for me is how logical it is and how different it is from my own. As well as the Japanese culture.
Wow, my school only has Spanish now that French was dropped from it last year😕. I'm into Japanese largely because I like how articulated it sounds😅, it's cool to see how you picked it up. And you're so fluent too🤗😱
私も最初はアニメが好きだから日本語に興味があって、大学で日本語を勉強するのはもう3年間になったんだけど、日本語で話すはまだまだだ。やっぱり経験がたりないのせいだよね。もっと友達と日本語で話たい😥 だが、使う文法が間違ってることがあったら、すごく恥ずかしい:(
日本語上手ですね❗頑張って❗
Your story really surprised me because I also live in Virginia and am only a few hours away from William and Mary!
After I graduated high school, I attended my local community college for almost two years before depression hit. I experienced a major identity crisis and didn't know who I was anymore. I isolated myself from society for another two years, and that brings us to today. My depression is not nearly as bad as it once was, which is great! But in a way I still feel as though I'm stuck. I've been separated from society for so long that I'm not sure how to ease my way back into it. I'm not sure if I should go back to college or not because I'm fearful my depression will come back if I do.
This coming July I will be attending my first ever missions trip with my church to Southeast Asia; and while I'm super excited to be going somewhere new, Japan is where my heart is. I have always dreamed of going there but have yet to find an opportunity. Over the years I've tried to teach myself Japanese, but you can only go so far by yourself. 😅
Sorry this comment is all over the place, and it sounds super depressing, 😂 I just decided to open up my heart a bit because this video really inspired me! I know that one day I'll get better! I'm hoping that this upcoming missions trip will open new doors for me to try new things and learn more about myself!
Thank you for sharing this video with us! And also thank you if you've actually read all of this! I hope you keep up this great content! 🤗
dont give yourselves limits .the mind is very powerful and only listens to what "YOU" tell it. im a selftaught japanese student with 3 years studying by myself with last year being fortunate enough getting a japanese girlfriend and she boosted my ablity while already being "FLUENT" enough to communicate with her while self studying and even way before metting her you can go very far by yourself ive been studying japanese bymyself for 4 years and the fact my gf can understand me is an accomplishment
Chelsey Fudd I’m actually really amazed to come across a comment like this, as I feel in a very similar situation to you. I am 24 now, but dropped out of college at 20 due to severe depression and agoraphobia. Since then, I’ve only had a few odd jobs that don’t last, and due to my struggles with mental illness, I isolated myself from friends and family and society as a whole. I’m currently in that ‘stuck’ phase too, of trying to get ahold of my life again, and start building my career and social life again.
I know this is long, but I just wanted to let you know you’re not alone in this situation! I was really happy to read about you going on a mission trip across the world, that is really inspiring to me. :) I’d also love to visit Japan one day, and I know that eventually I will, it’s just a matter of getting back on my feet again.
Anyways, I just wanted to reach out and wish you best of luck on your trip! Take care of yourself.
Thank you for your kind words! It's so encouraging to be reminded that I'm not alone during this challenging time of my life, and that there are also others in similar situations as me.
I pray that an opportunity will arise for you to travel and try something new as well! Maybe not even necessarily across the world, maybe even somewhere in your own community! Somewhere new and exciting that will give you a refreshed sense of purpose and inspire you to push forward!
Thank you again for your kind response! I'm glad to know we're not alone! :)
"Why I speak Japanese."
Me, @Loretta: Becuz ur fluent an amazin 👏
Koriand'r Of The Stars exactly
You're too sweet!
Hey Loretta! It was so nice of you to let us go through this throwback, I absolutely loved getting to know your story.
I actually could relate a lot because I'm Brazilian and I've spoken English as a second language for around 9 years, forever thankful for being grated a few scholarships and opportunities, specially throughout my time in high school, that would eventually change my destiny and lead me to where I am today.
I've been an ESL Teacher for 3 years and studying Japanese for 7 years now, my goal is to preach the Gospel in Japan and teach there as well!
Gerson Rocha amen , I like that .. let’s preach , where are you from in Brazil ?
Wow that's amazing dude! I rarely hear ppl talking about preaching nowadays. I'm so happy I came across this comment.
日本語が上手というレベルではなく、更にその上の【論理的】という凄いレベルですね！ これは、語学能力ではく、本来持っている彼女の【特殊能力】です。 英語でもかなり【論理的】に喋る人ですね。 説得力あります。 素晴らしい！ こういう人は、どんな言語をしゃべっても【論理的で説得力】があります！ ロレッタさんは、【飛び抜けた特殊能力】を持ってますね！ 大手日本企業は彼女を採用すべきです！ もちろん、【英語】で全世界に対し売り込むタレントとして！
特殊能力って！？日本語が支離滅裂でちょっと意味がわからないです。英語で全世界に対し売り込むって一体全体なんのことですか？
頓珍漢なコメントだな
Thank you for being transparent.
I get afraid sometimes because I feel like I started too late. I'm going on 29 and started off and on 4 years ago. I've been consistent over the past year and a half. I wonder if I'll ever have the opportunity to use Japanese. I'm still going though. I've come too far to stop.
Don't give up! You've already put 4 years of had work into learning the language, best to continue and once an opportunity presents it self you can seize it ^^
I feel the same ㅠㅠI'm always thinking if it's still too late for me to improve in japanese...or learn a new language
It's never too late. Sure the best time to learn something was 10 years ago but the second best time is right now. Push yourself, dedicate your free time to practice and immerse yourself in the language and culture as much as you can. I'm knocking on 28 and I've only just started learning. I just focus on one small thing at a time and master it before moving on. I'm gonna get there eventually, mark my words! Enough chit chat though, time to study 😎
I started at 33 I'm 35 now. I feel you i feel like its too late for me but honestly i don't give a damn it will work out somehow as long as I put in the work to learn the language. I am completely self studying so far. And I put in a lot effort and time. For me though its more like going to japan as an artist or going with an intra-company transfer in my current company and hoping i can get by with work experience vs a college degree bc i do not have one but in recent yrs that is becoming a little more lax that work experience in a feel can equate to a college degree.
@@SyrianSoaper I'm with you there. I'm 33 now and finally learning the language that I wish I would've or could've started 10+ years ago. We can do this!
私は、ロレッタさんのその誠実で真摯なお人柄、そして苦労を惜しまない力強い意志に、心から尊敬の念を抱きます。
Wonderful inspiration! Such hard work paid off!
If I may leave a message for those of us that are older but still interested in Japan or any other language/culture. It's NEVER too late to get started! While opportunities and experiences may vary, I do believe you can still experience great things by pursuing your interests and/or goals. I'm going to Japan for the first time this month and I've been out of college for a decade lol. But I have such a passion for Japan that I will still pursue it despite being in my 30's. So everyone let's do our best!!!
ロレッタさん、あなたは凄い、偉い、超前向き、努力家、ただただ尊敬します !!
日本人並に日本語うまいですね！
アクセントやイントネーションも違和感ないので凄いです...！
It's really nice to hear someones story about how they got into Japanese and as your title states "why" you speak Japanese.
My school doesn't support a Japanese Language program so I'm trying to learn it thru a course besides school.
It's hard because I don't really have anyone to talk to for practice. I don't have any Japanese friends unfortunately.
April next year I will be going to Shibaura Institute of Technology in Tokyo for an exchange program.
They've provided alot of information about living expenses. But I was wondering.
Is it possible for me, as a better than beginner Japanese speaking dutch person, to get like... a part time job or something in Tokyo to learn more Japanese? (and to earn some cash besides going to school there hehe.)
And do they go to school 5 times a week or less??
がんばろうって気持ちになったよ。
日本語すごい上手👏
うちも英語ちゃんと話せるように頑張る💪
すごく日本語が上手くて、違和感がないです！
韓国人ですけど、日本語は凄く難しい言語だと思う、でも努力すればいつか上達に成れるんだろと思って毎日頑張って勉強していますね
日本語上手いねぇ。。しかし、上達に成れるんじゃなくて「上達する」ですよ。それから、「流暢に成れる」も言えます。
椰子刺し武蔵ー ありがとうございます
もううまいやん
もう上手👍✨
"Subtitles"の要らないで全て分かりました!!!日本語がかっこいいです。皆さんは日本語を学び足ろう!本当に!
I am 32. Native English and Spanish speaker from America. Been obsessed daily with learning and mastering the Japanese language. It’s so intriguing to me I can’t let it go. I’ve been researching and studying Japanese now for the last 5 weeks. I have a goal to master it no matter how long it takes me. Eventually goal is to pass the JLPT-N1 at some point in life. How ever, can it take me somewhere at a older age (say by the time I’m in my 40s) i master the language. i am dedicating time and some money and looking into going abroad (which costs too). Will it be a waste going into at a older age for further potential possibilities or will I be too old by the time I master it to do anything with it? Either way, I am doing this for the my own fun and I’m extremely enjoying this challenge. I’m passionate about it no matter where it takes me I want to be able to speak fluent Japanese without having to think much about it. That’s my main goal. But would be better if the goal pays off somehow?. I guess that’s a hard questions to answer but would appreciate some your thoughts/inputs/advice. Thanks! Keep up the great videos!
Thanks for sharing your passion. How did it go so far?
Thanks Loretta for your fun and interesting content!
日本語すごい上手ですね！ びっくり！ すばらしい ^ ^
Cripes, I'm just starting to learn. Am terrfiied - especially after hearing how brilliant you are, Loretta! Gulp!
You must have studied hard. Your pronunciation and language skills spot on. My husband and I translate Japanese to English for a living and I taught English near Osaka. I love hearing people honing their skills and sharing experiences like this.
The (lack of an) accent, the mannerisms, the colloquial-ness of your Japanese definitely do not sound like a typical person who only started learning the language as a teen... very, very impressive... it's awesome to see... good luck to you!
日本語上手だし、可愛いし、俺が２０歳若かったらプロポーズしたよ。
Loretta さんの話を聞いてからちょっと安心できる。でも、高校時代に日本語を学習するべきだった！じゃーありがとう
Your language skills are so fluent and amazing. Seriously. I always wished I would have spent more time on foreign language when I was in high school, but I'm trying now. I've studied Japanese on and off for close to ten years but I'm still very basic. I can't form more than one or two basic sentences at a time, and my reading skills are below average. My high school only offered two languages: German and Spanish. I wish more places would consider offering more Asian languages like Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, as they're very important (I think.) I'm focusing on German right now, but I don't even know where to BEGIN when it comes to "studying" so it has been a struggle.
We have the same history of wanting to learn Japanese because of anime when I was a kid. Im just envious of you because you got to formally study it in high school. But your words in the near end of the video inspired me to continue practicing and study it even more in the future. I hope i can work in Japan as well. 今日から、もっと頑張ります！ありがとうございましたケムシちゃん🙇🏻
知らない間に更に日本語が流暢になっててビックリした！！すごい！！
これからも応援しています
This is so inspiring I’m 13 and I want to study Japanese while I’m studying French in school (I know it’s a bit much) but I really want to and this video helped give another little push of motivation. ❤️
I'm learning Japanese since I was 14 years old, and I started taking it seriously when I was about to turn 16. (Now I'm 16 and 3months old)
I'm struggling sometimes, but I'm working hard everyday. I'm bad at memorizing tho😭
My plan is: After Highschool I'll be 17, so my plan is to find a job and work for an year to earn money to move to Japan and while working also learn Japanese :)
Then I'll see, either go to a College and do a part-time job in Japan, or maybe trying to find a job before I move.
Maybe I'll find a job as whatever I just want to move to Japan.
I could be a language teacher since I speak English, German and Croatian. All fluently)) And now studying Japanese ofc.
If you have any recommendations, please let me know🥺👋🏼
Also I know some japanese students at my school, but I'm always so nervous and I blush so I don't want to talk to them. I hate the fact Social Anxiety is doing this to me. I quit my Japanese course bc of it. 😭
すばらしい、私はあなたを祝福し、世界ですべての成功を収めています。
Loretta!! I sent you that tweet asking you to sign the petition,,,, this video means so much to us all in NoVA & JASWDC! Thanks for including a link to the petition in the description! (Also, I'm studying Japanese because I want to start exchange programs between Japanese universities and HBCUs, among other things! I've been feeling like things are hopeless and I'm wandering aimlessly, but this video inspired me to keep working! The biggest hindrance isn't exactly a lack of resources, it's a lack of KNOWLEDGE regarding what resources are available; a lack of a cohesive community of Japanese learners and expats [I've found a strong anti-beginner and anti-helping/exasperated sentiment among most higher level speakers and expatriates who have lived in Japan for a long time]; and finally, there isn't a big push for Japan-America cultural exchange anymore. In Virginia, DC, and Maryland, we see a HUGE focus on modern and popular Latino, Ethiopian, and Korean culture, however, outside of the Cherry Blossom Festival, there isn't that same sense of openness with regards to Japanese culture.)
mniy425 I want to thank you for bringing the issue into attention and forwarding it to Loretta. I also want to ask you if you can elaborate, when you state that you are seeing a pushback from expat in Japan. Are you saying they are not willing to let others learn beginning Japanese ? Or there not interested in the whole Japan’ and US exchanged program ? I’m sorry for the questions, I was just confuse on that assertion that expat are not willing to let other learn the language .
Paine Mcphee A lot of ex-pats have an aura of, "everyone who is new is embarrassing and annoying". From the Tofugu podcasters to the TH-camr Dogen, I see so many people assuming a.) Anyone starting to be interested in Japan is probably a weeb and are all embarrassing by virtue of being new, b.) People beginning to have interest in Japan or who haven't traveled there yet aren't putting enough time into researching things for themselves or are asking to be coddled ("stop asking me xyz, Google it!" As a teacher, answers like that really grinds my gears. My kids ask the same questions over and over, so I show them how to answer questions on their own and make those resources easily available to them! Or sometimes they really did do their best, they're just stuck on something I can help with!), and c.) If you teach English in Japan you're lesser than other people and deserve to be shamed for it. (I teach English as a second language in America, and I really don't get why ESL in a different country should be regarded any differently?? Teaching is something people go to school for and have to be certified to do...)
There's also this weird sentiment that if you don't completely assimilate to Japanese culture, you're being a bad/embarrassing representative of your country. As a WOC that REALLY upsets me. We acknowledge that forcing immigrants to reject their culture and completely assimilate to American culture is racist and horrible, but people measure how successful you are in Japan by how assimilated you are. If you're bitter and blend in entirely, then you're seen as "good"; if you're still excited and optimistic and stand out in any way (still can't speak the language well, make little cultural faux pas, etc.) you're seen as embarrassing or bad. Who does that judgement affect the most? People new to life in Japan, or those in the beginner stages of learning Japanese.
When I was in an immersion program, upper level students constantly ostracized the lower level students! They easily lost patience with them when a few brave souls tried to start a conversation, and constantly made comments about how bad they were and how they should be embarrassed. My teachers applauded how I "took the time to speak with the lower students", as if we weren't all beginners at some point and everyone deserved to be treated with respect...
I see a LOT of long-time nonnative Japanese speakers and long-term expats cop the same attitude and exclude new people, favoring to only be with those who have the same level of skill or experience, and judging those who don't. It's disheartening!!
@@kotori40 Learn Japanese with fellow weebs on VRchat lol
僕の夢は日本語でぺらぺらになりたい! Seeing you speaking Japanese so fluently is a goal. My major is Civil engineering, but learning languages is my passion. I wish I could live in Japan, find a job there since engineers are struggling on getting jobs after graduating in Brazil, which is where I live :/
I’m 100% jealous Loretta. Lol I studied Japanese in high school, went up to level 3, moved to japan for a few years even after high school. My Japanese got fairly decent, but then after my visa expired, I didn’t focus on studying more to not only better my ability, but keep it in my mind! Now It is 8 years later and I can barely make a logical sentence. I’m ashamed I didn’t work hard at because now I have opportunities that have popped up to move back to Japan and I’m scrambling to try and re-learn things that are very simple vocabulary! Ugh! Soon I will be done with college (just a few months away!) then I can focus 10000% towards studying and practicing my Japanese as much as possible. Do you have apps you recommend? Like Japanese learning or quiz games?
Tigerlilycoconut
Write it! Japanese
Kanakana
Memrise
Lingodeer
Thank you for encouraging others to engage in something foreign to themselves, something different. For the first 25 years of my life I had no interest in Japan whatsoever, but at the age of 26 I started dating a man who was moving to Tokyo. I ended up moving with him. A very scary (in a good way) and different experience than I ever thought I had ever had. We stayed for a year and moved back to the US due to some ill family members. After 5 years we have decided to move back to Tokyo, so I am currently studying Japanese; regardless of how difficult it is, I adore it. Thank you so much for your message and for sharing your experience.
あなたの日本語はとても上手です。私は中国の学生で、ロンドンで勉強していますが、今は日本語を勉強しています。言語を学ぶことは非常に興味深いことです。
I agree with you that how important to learn a new language! As a Chinese student in London, since I almost finish my study in English, I'm learning Japanese by myself recently. In Chinese, we call language like "a door of language": 一门语言，it means a language like a door, it could help you to open a new world.
Language is also like a history book. There are full of interesting vocabularies to tell you the past of the memories of this nation. Thank you for sharing so inspiring video! 日本語を勉強頑張る。ありがとうございます。
Hello, I am studying Japanese in college but I still don’t know what I want to do with this degree:/ 助けて頂けますか？
私は日本語と日本文化などを学ぶポーランド人です。このチャンネルは凄くて、この発表に感動して、インスピレーションになったと思います。早いうちにやりたいことをやって、ブログを作っておきます！ありがとうございました！
あなたの不完全さを示すのを恐れないでください。誰もが何らかの不完全さを持っていて、それは問題ありません。それを人々から隠すのをやめてください。大丈夫。社会はめちゃくちゃです。
こんにちは！ 私はマリアです！I am 15 years old and I am half german and half japanese (my mother is japanese) but I‘m living in Germany. I‘m flying every second year to Japan to visit my family there BUT I can‘t speak Japanese because I never went to a Japanese school and my mother always speaks German so I can‘t really sepak it. Well I know the basics but I‘ve got really problems with learning it so do you have tips how I can learn it better? ありがとう！
With regards to languages getting excluded from curriculums... that's also what happened to my former secondary school (in Germany). When I went there in the 2000s I already felt sorry for a very nice lady who was a qualified Italian language teacher (plus one other subject) but could only teach Italian as an optional language club, never as a class.
My year was actually the last year who could choose to study Ancient Latin in school, the next reform made it impossible for STEM-focused schools to "go too much into depth" with teaching languages. =/
Although I did not go through formal education when I was young, like you, Loretta, I developed an interest in studying Japanese (by self-study) even if I didn’t know yet what to do with it. Cut the long story short, opportunities really did present themselves later on and now I work here in Japan as an engineer. And even though I’m miles away from your level now, knowing that we share similar backgrounds (rigorous nihongo trainings, used it in workplace) inspires me to aim higher and keep on nurturing this skill. Thank you for sharing your story. ❤️
凄い 上手ですよー日本人より ナイスですから これからも 頑張ってくださいね
I'm starting a Japanese degree at uni this September and even after self-studying, going to Japan for 3 months, loving the language and the culture, and having a beautiful time, I still find myself doubting my choice. Maybe just because people question it so much because it's way more unusual to study here. I find myself worrying about jobs and how useful Japanese would really be for my future.
This video helped calm my anxieties just a bit. So I guess I just wanted to say thank you, Loretta.
I dunno, does anyone else feel like this?
I WISH I had started japanese at a younger age, but unfortunately they didn't have those classes at my school in MN. So I had to start self teaching myself at 25, now I'm 27 and I've realized that I want to use Japanese in my everyday life, but sometimes I just feel so discouraged because I think I'm starting too late. I want to go back to school I just wish it wasn't so expensive! This video is just what I needed. I'm sure I can find some scholarships. ロレッタさん本当にありがとうございます❢
Good luck with that! Im self teaching myself as well which is basically imo sucks but I have no choice since here in Hungary theres like no schools which supports Japanese courses at my age(17). Also Im going to visit Japan for 2 weeks in November and Im hella scared about it since hearin a speech like this makes me confused and unable to understand things. However I dont want to use English in Japan so I got 2 rough months to get in the shape. Anyways Im sure u will be fine man B-)
I'm just starting at 37. As long as you're alive it's never too late. . .
@@EscapeRouteMedia I got ya beat...I'm 47 & just started learning. Definitely never too old to learn something new. I didn't start for a career change but simply because I love Japan!
I started Chinese (Mandarin) at 25 and I am 35 today. Just started self-teaching Japanese, so it’s never too late. Of course knowing Chinese characters makes Japanese vocabulary a LITTLE bit easier for me to learn, but not by much!!!
This was such a wild video for me. I’m black and also from Virginia. I’ve always had a love for languages and other cultures. It was also wild to hear you grew up near Fairfax/Arlington cause I’m currently at GMU taking Japanese as one of my classes. I’ve heard GMU has a great study abroad program so I hope to take a semester at a university in Japan. Thank you so much for the video :)
Hey neighbor!!!!! 😍❤️ Its a small world, eh? Hope the classes aren't too brutal!
KemushiChan ロレッタ Hey! I’m definitely gonna study hard and watch more of your videos to get me through it!!!
素晴らしい日本語、今後の活躍を祈ります。
You can't just ask why some speaks japanese. ^^
ここ数年の間に日本語がとても上手くなってきましたね！
これからもdream chasingのことでも動画制作でも頑張ってください！
You're always glowing brightly and I hope to see you around here sometime, KemushiChan. (^^)
Thank you!!! :) 最近、進歩が気づかないほど遅くて、逆に下手になっているんじゃないと思いましたが、このコメントを読んでほっとしましたね！よーーーーーしっ！がんばらないと！
Somewhere around 13-14yrs old I tried to teach myself Japanese online but when I went into High School I could only choose between Spanish, Latin, or French. So, I chose French & have kept with it because of how much time I've put into the language already and how much I love the language, but my desire to learn Japanese has always been so much greater and also so much more difficult to figure out. Now I'm 25 (still learning French) but as an adult you lose access to quite a lot of resources, at least for free & having to work and whatever can be added conflicts. I wish I could spend everyday just learning without having to struggle with scheduling and paying so much and whatever else. It's tough for sure
Wow i had no idea you were from NOVA or did marching band! I grew up in the Virginia Beach area and did marching band as well. I also had no idea the NOVA schools taught multiple languages.
I agree with you about the importance of experiencing a language at an early age. The schools in my area offered French and Spanish in 6th grade but that was the earliest you could take a language in public school. Having these opportunities are so important bc learning another language exposes you to so much more in life. I started Japanese my sophomore year and then went abroad and now I'm moving there in August to work and I know that wouldn't have happened if I wasn't exposed to Japanese. Like you I was first interested in Japanese bc of anime, but there's so much more that the language can introduce me to. Thanks for making this video!.
感動しちゃったなぁ
ロレッタみたいに頑張ろううって気持ちになったわ笑
I started learning a month ago after a few months of being obsessed with anime at the age of 21.
As important as getting a headstart is, I also want to remind people that they can start late too, even if it feels like they're past the age for learning new things
I agree with you. I live in Prince William County which is across the river from Fairfax County and one of the things that I've learned by living here is that this is a big world; not everybody is like "you" and "you" is not like everybody. I took German for two years in college because I needed the elected to graduate but when I went to Germany to live, I was so happy that I was able to communicate with the people there. The same is true when you learn Japanese or Korean or Hindi or French. If you want to do something very simple like take a bus someplace, do not expect the bus driver to flip out the English dictionary. If you want to live in the world of the people, you going to have to learn how to get along with other people. If you want to stay locked in at home and never go to the store or never go out for a snack, you still to communicate with other people. Should we all be somewhat multilingual - we most certainly should be. It just seems to make sense!
I have finally gotten the chance to study Game Design in Japan coming september. The only problem; my level is not high enough. I've been studying on and off since I was 11 and now I have been studying kanji with the Heisig method since January. (Currently at 550 kanji). I never had lessons, since I couldn't afford them, yet in High school I had to choose between German and French. I did not enjoy either and felt frustrated that I could not learn more Japanese. Then I had to do a major, which I chose something else because I want Japanese to be a bridge, not the main goal. I really want to become very fluent, but it seems there is never enough time. I'm taking the N4 this year but with Heisig method, I haven't really gotten far on N4 kanji either. Trying to get out of the super basic stuff that I know from grammar and words, but then there is more kanji that I cannot read :(
I am older, and starting from square one with learning Japanese. I remember watching your video “ I am going to Japan” right after I had just returned from a 90day trip to Japan. I recall how fluent you sounded speaking Japanese on that video, and hoped one day I would sound like that. Well fast forward and you are beyond fluent, and I just started learning to read and write hiragana & katakana. This is going to be a long journey.
I’m currently 16 and i’m still in high school and I have no idea what job I want to do in the future at all. I took Spanish and French as subject and i’m doing really well in both.
And I can speak 2 more languages fluently english (obviously) and fluent in Afrikaans.
But yea idk what I want to do
i'm worried that i will never be confident using japanese (even if one day i actually get to see the country with my own eyes) because my high schools didn't have japanese language and i'm now looking at going back to school at 28 years old to study the culture i've always loved. i'm worried i've "missed my chance", but i'm damn well going to try!~
thisismyexcitedfacee It's never too late honey. I'm 26 and i took a post beginner class when i was 23 as i had self taught myself the basics a year prior but i didn't continue the classes due to work committments, i have pretty much forgot most of what i had learnt even though i progressed to intermediate level and i was super good memorising and writing kanji. We used to have a 10 question kanji test at the each lesson and i would always get full marks. I am starting to gradually learn it again with textbooks i have as i am going travelling next and Japan is one of the places i will be visiting. I hope i have somewhat encouraged you to pursue your dreams as some random comment i read on youtube did the same and kinda lit a fire inside me to pursue my dream of being fluent in Japanese. 🇯🇵 😁
Le Guépard Blanc this was so lovely! thank you so much. i hope you have the most amazing time when you get to japan! hopefully i will get there too one day! (going back to school is definitely still on the cards for me!)
I started at 33 years old. Never too late if you're consistent with your studies. Even a small amount, but done every single day, adds up in the long run.
If you get the chane to visit Japan for a few weeks, it can feel like a quantum leap in your studies. I did 3 weeks in Japan and it felt like I improved more than 1 year of college (not in Japan). Seeing it everywhere and hearing it constantly helps the brain I think, immersion is king imho.
Truly inspirational story, Loretta. It's so interesting that your initial study abroad sparked something in you. It's led you on quite a journey. What's even more interesting is that your desire to keep learning never went away. With your Japanese you have another lens to see and communicate, through. It's going to be so interesting to see where this path leads you. Sky's the limit! 100% respect.
Growing up in very impoverished Northeastern NC, I never had access to Japanese classes. We were lucky to have Spanish once a week in high school! But I knew I was super interested in languages so I chose to study French for the first time once I got to college-now I’m fluent in French, Portuguese, and working on learning Japanese! It’s crazy to look back and reflect on it. Very inspiring, Kemushi chan
NOVA & Fairfax County represent!! I had no idea you were from my county. Amazing. :)
Aaaa I'm from Fairfax county tooooo you have no idea how excited this makes me ily loretta 💜 (in a not-creepy way)
Update as I watch more: hnnngh half of middle school went to fchs that's crazy to me bc you're probably my favorite TH-camr and *what* also I'm in marching band too 😁
Anyways sorry if this is weird but you're a really big inspiration to me. I've been learning Japanese for about a year and a half but my school doesn't offer it is as a class so I've had to learn it on my own which is super difficult but I'm doing a summer abroad program in Japan this July which I'm super excited about. I think I want to study Japanese in college if it's offered as a major, otherwise as a minor with a major in linguistics or maybe Spanish. I really want to be an English teacher in Japan once I graduate
What instrument do you play?!😍
Same 😳😳 i was so suprised when she said that
日本語うますぎるし、めちゃめちゃ美人☺️💕
I am all amazed at how you worded this. It definitely shows your passion, and i personally think that your story is very inspiring. I agree with you 100%. I wish I could too have taken my japanese studies more seriously early on when life was easy~ thank you for this video. Ill keep doing what I can!
Hi Loreta-san! You really inspired me to continue studying Japanese. Although I majored Dentistry in college, I can't shake off the joy that I experience when I study Japanese. Now, I'm aiming to get a MEXT Scholarship so that I can proceed to graduate school, integrating what I've learned from college and what I want to discover as a future researcher in Japan.
Self studying Japanese a little over a year I hope to learn how the Music Industry in Japan works & someday break the language barrier.
I have a BA in Music but I know I can get better work experience which has been a journey.
I’m still thinking on Grad school & would like to possibly take Japanese classes to more motivation to grow & learn
I would say if you do make it here for grad school, try to find a way to work in a case study/interview with Sony Music/entertainment and you maybe able to wiggle your way into th industry a lot easier that way. Job hunting is rough, but if you're student a lot of companies are open to interviews and such, which makes it easier to connect and network.
I am nearing the end of my third year studying Japanese; I started in 9th grade because of high school language classes.
I’ve been really good at learning the curriculum for my high school’s Japanese class, but lately I’ve been feeling like I’ll never become fluent. It’s frustrating.
I’m also currently working on my associates for digital filmmaking. And I dream to move to japan and make films that are in Japanese. But I don’t know how I’d be able to do that. There isn’t much of a film industry in japan, besides Studio Ghibli and NHK. And I don’t think there’s an actual film school there.
So lately I’ve just been sitting here wondering what and how I’ll move on with my studies and career once I graduate next year. :/
Roni Rene Welp, keep at it's all I can say. It sounds like you've been doing great this far working towards where you want to be. That's all anyone can expect from you, really.
just keep going. even if you don't wind up fulfilling your ideal goals, you will find something that is meant for you. don't give up!
Our paths have a lot of similarities, I studied Japanese at high school from 2003, and it was the turning point of my life that culminated in me moving to Japan in 2016. Your Japanese is one of the best I’ve heard, as you are able to express your logic with clarity and also maintain a sense of authenticity rather than putting on a “mask” personality or completely changing the voice as some other language learners do when they are (probably) not yet quite comfortable with the language. I also love how you recognize that there is much to improve even though you have great fluency, I am probably what others would call “fluent” and use Japanese every day in the workplace, but like you, its a case of 日々精進！
It's funny that I can understand everything you said, but I can't speak confidently. I really want to speak in Japanese naturally, but I learn Japanese just as my side 'hobby' while I am doing Master here in Tokyo. My sensei doesn't really care because he can speak English perfectly, neither do my Japanese labmates. I hope someday I can be as fluent as you are. Thank you for giving me motivation. :)
Such a lovely video!! I really needed this sort of inspiration today. I am currently working as an ALT in a public Japanese high school. Asides from test studying (for Kanken and JLPT), I don't utlize my Japanese as much as I should.
At one point, I developed a phobia of speaking Japanese to natives.
I feel completely drained and as if I am fighting an uphill battle. Even with a total of 8 years (4 from uni) under my belt, I feel as if my Japanese has gotten nowhere at all.
Maybe I should reshape my focus as to why I am in Japan. When I was first selected to work as an ALT in Japan, my goal was to just live there.
Four years later of doing ALT, even with this unforgettable experience, it is not my main focus.
Now that I am in Japan, and don't want to teach English, I am trying to figure out more options.
Sorry for rambling on. Good video!!
PS: I'm also from the DMV! :D
Loretta, you're such an inspiration and wish I would have seen a video like this when I was growing up. I am and would have been so inspired to be much more serious about my language studies and considered making a job out of them. I've been studying foreign languages since I was 14 (now on my 7th one). Though unlike you, I have only intermediate fluency in 2 (Spanish, Russian). You're fluency is really remarkable. I hope whatever the future brings you is wonderful.
日本語、むちゃくちゃうまいっす！Awesome!!
I was also introduced to Japanese through anime at first. But I found myself only knowing Norwegian and English. Therefore, after I thought: Ahh my fellow middle and high schoolers all got to learn at least a bit of fresh, and german! But I know nothing :(...(Some things happend so I didn't get my Spanish course that I wanted really bad...). In addition to that
I also tried to quit PC gaming as much and used language study as a time filler...
I am planning on a month long holiday to Japan next year to try and learn and experience more of everything there. I am bringing a friend from home to, so we will hopefully have a awesome time!
As for the Japanese study motivation... I belived that knowing different languages make your critical thinking better. Like having an additional perspective to look from. Hope I manage to grind myself through learning Hiragana, Katakane by heart and some common Japanese before I travel next Year.
You have no idea how much this video helps me! I've been learning Japanese for some time now (got my N2 certification last December, currently learning for N1), and watching this video really sparks my motivation to study harder since going to Japan is one of my dreams. I also uploaded 1 or 2 videos of myself learning Japanese, but I haven't uploaded anything for maybe a year, 色々迷っているからです。Maybe I'll start uploading again... I remember how fun it is to shoot and edit videos haha. 動画ありがとうございます！
😭😭😭😭I just love this video so much, God bless you Loretta-Sensei!!!!!!
Love all of this! I've been an on off language learner for most of my life. I did German for a bit, Spanish in high school, Chinese at some point, etc etc, but didn't really stick with any of them. I'm committed to Japanese now, as an adult, but I always wish I had been able to stick with language study consistently from much earlier in life. Knowing another language opens up entire worlds for anyone willing to put in the work!
I moved to Japan recently, and am already seeing improvements in my Japanese abilities, so I'm def looking forward to seeing how much progress I can make. Thanks for all of your videos and the work you put into them. You def inspire me to keep focusing on my studies! :-)
I'm sure so many language learners can both relate and admire your story!
I've spent almost ten years (from high school and college onward) studying Japanese, studying abroad, and finally graduating with a degree in Japanese. Nevertheless, without aspiring to live or work in Japan, ever (I am married and learning my husbands language, Chinese, while also trying to continue with Japanese) I find that I've hit a bit of a plateau in which I don't improve and have flatlined as a decent conversationalist without any further depth or growth in Japanese. It's a very difficult point to reach in life when you've mastered the intermediate level but cannot find the tools or immersive environment needed to advance any further :/ However, I'll struggle with my identity crises while at least applauding you for your success with what I know was a very difficult path!
ケムシちゃんどうもありがとございました！今私は日本語を勉強しています、多分 2年間から3年間までです。私はあなたのビデオにたくさん幸福をもらいました。あなたの話すことが大好きそうしてもっと日本語を勉強したいです。また、どうもありがとございます。とてもよかったです！
私もDCエリア（メリーランド）出身です！ロレッタさんの経験、なぜ日本語勉強し続いている理由をシェアしてくれてありがとうございました。It makes me feel very special to hear the success stories of someone from the same area as I am. I stumbled upon this video a bit late, but I'm so glad I found your channel! I hope you know you're a huge role model for students, especially from the DC area. Maybe someday we'll meet in Japan! 本当にありがとうございました！
Come on over buddy!!!!!
@@kemushichan Of course! Right after uni graduation next year :)) thank you for responding!!!!
私これをました日本語にもっと今いいえを英語
Learning a language is a life long thing. I'm glad I also had the chance to learn Japanese on a scholarship. I'm going to keep pushing until I'm able to speak as comfortably as Loretta!
I've achieved N3 level so I know it's not impossible!! :D
ロレッタさん、こんにちは、貴女の積極的で、前向きな姿勢、そして、難しいと言われている日本語の上手な話し方に感動しました。日本の国立大学で勉強しているとの事、貴女の動画を楽しみにしています。頑張って下さい。期待しています。
また、私は日本で働きたいので、午後に言語を話せるようになりたいのですが、いつかはあなたと話せないので、午後にはよく学ぶことができます。 その日の言語を学ぶために一生懸命働く🎎🎎🎎