Hello,
Recently, I’ve changed a lot. Things that were once interesting and fulfilling have now become dull and boring.
This is a slow process, and over the years I’ve learned to let go of the past “me”. I’m nearing the 30 years old mark, maybe it’s the reason why this is happening ? Idk.
I don’t know if anyone can relate, but I started learning japanese 7 years ago and the past few years it was very troublesome to find the energy to study. I even put my learning on pause since last year.
My initial goal was to understand anime without needing subtitles. And why not move abroad ? I thought.
But I seldom enjoy anime nowadays. I find them very boring and uninteresting. Same with manga. Don’t plan on moving to Japan either.
Japanese and Japan used to be that “big thing” I was passionate about, but over the years the novelty has worn off.
I thought that this language may not be for me anymore. I’ve been pondering the idea of starting studying another one. However, even if I lost my main source of motivation, my love for this language remains. And It feels frustrating to give up on something that I love.
It aint about sunk cost fallacy. Over the years I had my ups and down, but I always came back to learning Japanese.
What I’m saying is that I’m lost. The changes within and outside of myself are pusing me to do other things with my life. Instead of repeating the same old cycle. I feel that learning has no meaning for me anymore, and I’m searching for a new one.
Since learning japanese is such a big quest, I’m sure I’m not alone.
If possible I would like people to share their experience with me. Did you loose your initial motivation ? And why ? How did you felt having no clear vision of where you wanted to go ? How did you evolve over time ? What made you stick with the language ? What gave you the strength to push past the challenges ? Do you think it was worth it ? Or do you have regrets ?
Particularly I would be interested about people who are not living in Japan and don’t plan on moving abroad. But all experiences are welcome.
Thank you.
TL;DR : This thread is about growing older and finding new meaning in learning japanese. I would like to know how and why the meaning you give to your learning changed over the years.
3 comments
Hey nice to meet you. For context I’m much older than you and so far I studied around 1800 hours.
> Did you loose your initial motivation
not yet
> How did you felt having no clear vision of where you wanted to go ?
I think I know how to fix this. There is something called “analysis paralysis” and some people get it a lot. But I basically never get it.
The trick is: Just decide something. If it doesn’t work, do something else.
For example, I will buy a book. If it’s too hard, put it on the shelf and pick up an easier book without hesitation.
> How did you evolve over time ?
At first I wanted to talk to people more but now I like reading.
> What made you stick with the language ?
I study then I am never bored.
> Do you think it was worth it ?
Just a hobby. It’s healthy to have hobbies so yeah worth it in that sense.
Do you mean worth it as a career goal? No this has nothing to do with my career. This is fun. As an older guy I already have an established career. I’ve been working for decades.
> Or do you have regrets ?
Na. I’m not that type of person. At any rate we’re all dust in the end so why spend the time you have worrying like that?
Hi ! I stopped japanese two years ago, because of various personnal difficulties and changes. Unlike you, I went twice in Japan, still love anime (and I’m 33 :p) and want to understand them. But I’m also concerned about japanese culture, and not just the anime’s part. My “meaning” is larger than before. Now, I want to understand japanese songs, drama, movies or books. I pratice a japanese martial and it’s usefull to know japanese. I’m waiting to travel an other time to Japan.
Maybe you need an objectif ? You’ve lost your initial one, but Japan is not just anime/manga. To keep motivation and direction, I aim JLPT and Kanken. Or you need no objectif, just cool down and accept you do it because you want and that’s all :p
Or you want to learn a new language or do something else, and it is ok too 🙂 You can listen japansese time to time in order to maintain your level and turn your efforts to learn a new language.
at the beginning of my japanese adventure i was one of those people who thought japan was this eden of perfection and all that, so obviously over time i evolved out of that mindset. the biggest thing that pushed that realization onto me was when i started talking to japanese people in japanese. and i think that is also one of the reasons i keep in touch with japanese now. although i still do love studying the language just for the language itself, i think it’s a lot of fun and it feels very very rewarding to finish a novel or understand 5 minutes straight of a japanese youtube video. but yeah i think if you wanna have an easy reason to stick with japanese, make friends who you can only speak with in japanese, or maybe find some other japanese media that you love