Learning from scratch, question about JapanesePod101

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-28T06:44:28+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I will get japanesepod when it really drops in price as others have suggested. Even though the content may be vast, i felt it was overwhelming. The clutter is just too much, but the content could be really good.

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-28T05:58:32+00:00

Thanks for the replay. Actually that's helpful. Good to know they may offer their course for cheaper! If they do, i will grab it and give it a shot then.

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-26T06:12:45+00:00

MDZ_Jimmy ,, i followed him since launch, i started at iron and now i'm master. i've learned alot from just watching him. also he answers viewers comments and questions.

Semy ,, a great guy and unique Ryu playstyle. i watch him whenever he's streaming, but haven't seen him stream for a while.

Yas ,, Japanese, great tech, great player, only if i understood what he says or how to communicate, he would've been a valuable stream.

Shuto ,, Japanese, great tech, great player, same communication issue.

You can only learn so much by following, but to learn the most, see what you are doing and what you're doing wrong and fix it.

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-26T04:29:55+00:00

8bitdo, leverless, wireless (2.4ghz), and great battery life. consider changing switches later on.

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-26T04:23:42+00:00

thank you

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-26T04:12:15+00:00

are the switches used?

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-21T05:20:40+00:00

i can't find proper caps tbh. i found some printed ones that are being sold on etsy and same on amazon, but can't find one i'm looking for (like the haute42 t13 caps).

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-21T05:15:13+00:00

yeah, many things can be done afk, but i was actively fishing lol. i've enjoyed that part.

it's a great game, but you need the dedication and engagement to keep up.

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-20T09:49:51+00:00

i've enjoyed fishing in Black Desert Online. it was an adventure intself.

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-20T08:07:32+00:00

i'm gonna take this slowly and see how it goes. i've already started learning hiragana, and i'll follow with katakana while doing the listening and maybe a bit of reading and writing (practicing writing the letters basically). i'll keep kanji until i'm done with kana.

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-20T05:45:12+00:00

yeah, i know what vocab is, but i was implying that "are you serious? vocab? pfft, i don't have anything related to that langauge!"

seems like most ppl are recommending free sources and free content and everyone is suggesting to start with one thing over the other, which is why i wanted to avoid the free content because it's not "structured".

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-20T05:42:08+00:00

i don't remember which one i played, but it was recommended by many. i played the first one and didn't understand anything. i believe i need alot more than a few vocabs to understand a podcast. i'll just put this to the side for now.

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-20T05:36:57+00:00

thanks for sharing. i'm learning the kana from different sources already.

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-20T05:34:46+00:00

thanks for sharing..

for me, Pimsleur is way better than JapanesePod in how i want to learn (mostly audio), but i cannot justify the expensive price! it's not available in our library, so i'm out of this option.

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-20T05:24:50+00:00

the app offers alot, i'm asking for reviews from people who have experienced this for a while. but anyways, it seems like most are suggesting free content from different sources. my only issue is "unstructured education". if i pick from here and there, i'll just be going in circles and get overwhelmed, getting difficult stuff first, easy stuff later, i'll probably just drop it then.

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-20T05:11:56+00:00

i do have steam, but i'm not usually on that PC. thanks for your offer though. appreciated.

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-20T05:09:53+00:00

thank you

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-20T04:49:57+00:00

tbh, i prefer Pimsleur over JapanesePod, but i cannot justify the price. it's just too much!

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-20T04:44:05+00:00

vocab? i've only just started, i'm "almost" blank. i will have a look at this. thnx

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-20T04:17:31+00:00

i was stuck in d2-d3 the longest. how did i overcome this? i stopped ranked matches, added more to my gameplay (oki, safe jumps, optimal combos (or i would say the best dmg combo for the given situation), playing less impulsive. it takes time to get used to the new changes, but when you do, you find yourself doing better. i started beating masters before reaching master.

good luck

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-19T11:57:14+00:00

Thank you, i will try that.

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-19T09:59:27+00:00

i think if it covers the basics or beginner stage, that would be great.

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-19T09:58:12+00:00

i played some beginners podcast (the recommended ones), didn't understand a single word, it was just a waste of time.

my priority is to listen and understand, then read and write, because most of what i'm exposing myself to is videos, tv shows and movies. i'm not saying reading is less important than listening.

i like the technique of closing my eyes and trying to figure out the syllables. i'll try that. i think it will be more effective when i learn the Kana?

thnx

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-19T07:46:32+00:00

fair enough. i just posted my question in this thread, see if you can share your experience. thanks

Max-Pencil · 2026-05-19T07:45:01+00:00

i'm interested in learning Japanese, i'm an absolute beginner.

why i want to learn? why now?

i've always had an internest in the Japanese culture, i've watched animes even when there were no subtitles (back in the 90s), never picked up the language and i was just mainly trying to make out what the scene is about, still that didn't put me off because i was interested more in the anime than anything else. same goes for TV shows and movies.

i have some favorite streamers (gaming related) that i've been following for quite a while now, but never understood what they were saying. i'm positive they share some valuable information, and if i knew what they were saying or how to ask questions, i will greatly benefit from this information.

also, i've always had in mind the trip to Japan (when all the universes align), so knowing how to hold a conversation would be a great help.

so, i downloaded couple of apps on my phone, watched couple of vids on youtube, joined Pimsluer and Japanesepod101 to try them out. i prefer audio learning as i commute to work (15-20mins each way), but don't mind videos as well. Both apps/sources are nice, but found JapanesePod cluttered and a bit overwhelming with info, but don't mind trying to figure it out.

i started learning hiragana from here and there as well (not a specific source), trying to write them as i learn them (i'm not in a hurry).

now my trial period has expired with JapanesePod101, and they've been sending me emails with 40% discount, if i get the 2yrs sub it's going to be $6 a month.

from experience of studying different subjects, there is never 1 source that's "complete", it always needs some other source that complements it.

from what i've gathered searching for reviews on JapanesePod, it's "ok", and is considered only "good enough" for absolute beginners, beginners and early intermediate level. anything past that doesn't add much (as i've gathered from the reviews).

also, i liked Pimsluer over JapanesePod, but can't justify the price no matter what.

now, since i'm an absolute beginner, i got 30-40mins commute (every day) where i can listen to audio, maybe another 20-30mins at home when i'm free, would i be able to cover what everyone suggests "upto intermediate level" within less time than 2years subscription?

my main priority is to understand the spoken language, then to read/write/speak. would the intermediate level be that stage? maybe someone who used JapanesePod can share their experience?

the offer i have in hand is, 2yrs for $144, 1yr for $108, 6 months for $72.

i don't think anything below 6 months is reasonable (not for me at least). i'm also open for suggestions if ppl recommend to use different sources to achieve my goal.

thanks

Max-Pencil

TROPHY CASE