Practicing Listening to Japanese, part 5: hearing, not listening

Less than one week ago, I posted about my vow to really step up my listening practice for Japanese language, the JLPT, and to communicate better with my wife.

Already, I am off to a bad start: I haven’t been able to make my 2 hour “quota” until tonight. However, the good news is that my efforts are evolving and adapting. First, I decided to buy some proper noise-cancellation headphones recently, because it’s hard to hear podcasts on the bus, or at work. Already, I noticed the difference in quality, though these headphones are pretty tight around my ears (they also pinch the back of my jaw a bit, which is a bit uncomfortable). It’s nice because I can enjoy podcasts from Nippon Hōsō and RKB Radio while writing this post! This morning, while watch NNN News during work, I could listen much more clearly. Sometimes you have to find the right tools for the job.

Lately, I also read a good article that shows you should take something you already like, and enjoy it in the language you are studying too. So I made some adjustments in what I read/listen to lately, so that’s it’s easier to stay with it long-term, rather than ones that seem “useful”.

But also, I got some very good advice from a certain long-time blog reader. Actually, to be fair, this reader gave me this advice a long time ago, as did a second reader “Arun“, but I didn’t really get it at the time. Now, I appreciate the advice more and wanted to share with a wider audience. The advice was simple: when listening to Japanese media, don’t worry if you can’t understand it or not. Just keep listening day after day, and you will get used to the sound.

Case in point, I watch the cartoon Shimajiro with my daughter regularly, and in terms of vocabulary and grammar, I can understand it pretty well. The problem is is that I still have to concentrate while watching. Obviously, if I had acclimated to the sound more, then I wouldn’t even have to concentrate; I could just understand without even thinking or translating (like English). This of course matters in the JLPT too. If you’ve been studying, then there’s nothing unexpected in the listening section if you’re used to the sound. Until then, even basic grammar and vocab will confuse you if your listening skills aren’t sufficient. The point is, just keep listening. Find some good conversational podcasts, and just keep at it. As mentioned in my last past, it’s like getting used to someone who speaks a different accent: there’s nothing to “study for”. You will just get used to it or you don’t.

Thankfully with so many options now, thanks to the Internets, there’s no excuse. My efforts to