In the continuing effort to raise my child bilingual, finding good Japanese TV shows that he can enjoy has been a major priority (maybe I shouldn’t say that out loud). I was happy to discover that some of the most popular and addictive ones are on YouTube, for free, and updated frequently with awesome, original content. I thought I would introduce you to them, as … Continue reading →
Studying Japanese in 2021… How far we’ve come from studying Japanese in 1899. Or in 1999. No one says they wish they could study like it used to be. With all the super advanced tools, the unlimited and instant access to everything Japanese, you have it made. This is the age of studying Japanese (or any foreign language). But does it sometimes feel like it … Continue reading →
If you broke down the entirety of Japanese studying into just two elements, it would come down to: 1. Flashcard studying (Jalup App, Anki, textbooks, etc)2. Immersion (enjoying native Japanese entertainment) You probably already understand that first comes flashcards. But then what? 1. When do I start immersion?2. What’s the best balance of time between flashcards vs immersion?3. How does this balance change over time? … Continue reading →
The number that seems to endlessly follow you everywhere you go: reviews due. When it hits zero, you get a rush of dopamine. When it hits 300+, you curse your existence. So you focus on getting to 0. But what you do before then can change your motivation drastically. Looking at your reviews while you review? Whether you use the Jalup app or Anki, there … Continue reading →
Ever read a blog, forum, or some other social media where someone was sharing their success story to learning Japanese? They shared their methods and techniques, and told you how you can do it too! You just got a front seat to survivorship bias. And it’s something important to know when you get stuck and wonder “why can’t I do it when everyone else can.” … Continue reading →
The endless search for the best method. The one that works so well that you can cut off months or years of required study time if you just keep up with it. But is this an illusion? How important actually is the method? If you chose another method, could/would you be as successful? Your focus has probably been on the method. However, I’ve noticed 5 … Continue reading →
Answer the following question. Which path would you choose: 1. Try to become fluent in Japanese in 2 years, with a 75% chance of failure2. Try to become fluent in Japanese in 5 years, with a 25% chance of failure The answer might be obvious to you. The answer might require you to think hard. You might think the answer is the same for everyone. … Continue reading →
It has been 10 years since I started Jalup, and I thought I would take this moment to look back at its history, explain some stuff you may have always been wondering, share some cool facts you probably didn’t know, reflect a bit, and to answer questions that I’ve been asked and have never really answered in public. This isn’t meant to be a full … Continue reading →
