I would be practising in Australia, early in the morning before work/ uni. What are some of the best ways/classes/apps to improve listening and speaking??
I studied in highscool for 4 years then had 4 off. I’ve identified I need to learn alot more words and polish off the fundamentals again…
Thanks!
2 comments
1. Listen to podcasts (My favorite is Yuyu’sの日本語podcast)
2. Speak Japanese as much as possible (talk to yourself, use italki to find a teacher to pay to talk to you, find a language partner on something like HelloTalk, etc)
Podcasts and livestreams are *by far* the best internet content for conversational listening, but voice-acted content like anime, drama, and some games are a very useful stepping stone.
Textbooks and apps for language learners water down the language a lot, so if you use them you *have* to push yourself with native content or language exchange as well. They won’t get you past the “I took an elective a while ago” level. IMO they’re a poor use of time unless you’re getting academic credit from them.
https://www.youtube.com/@ComprehensibleJapanese is one of the best resources for getting your listening skill started, but it’s better for your long-term motivation if you follow it up with content that fits your interests (or helps you make new ones). I’d be happy to try to find more suggestions for you if I know where your interests and current skills are.