Learning Japanese Through Movies – Easy or Difficult?

JAPANESE LEARNING TIPS (Lesson 4)
“LEARNING JAPANESE THROUGH MOVIES” – EASY OR DIFFICULT?
(By Golden Era – Japanese Translation Company)

In today’s society, the explosion of media platforms has significantly supported language learning. It can be said that learning a foreign language has never been easier. However, is learning through movies, YouTube, or music truly easy?
Let’s explore this together with Golden Era.

1. Drawbacks of Learning a Language Through Multimedia

• Fragmented knowledge:
Learning through movies or music won’t help much if you don’t have a solid foundation. If your Japanese level is only beginner, a movie or song filled with new vocabulary and unfamiliar expressions will only confuse you instead of helping you learn.

• Easy to get distracted:
The variety of multimedia platforms can easily distract learners. You may constantly wonder which content is suitable for your level.

• Trying to learn everything at once:
Some learners look up every new word and try to memorize every sentence. However, knowledge takes time to “sink in.” Overloading your brain becomes a barrier to effective learning.

• A “learning environment” that is there—but not really there:
In language learning, environment matters. However, it only works well if you have guidance or a clear learning method.

2. Modern Learning Channels

Modern learning is a combination of digital (online) and offline methods:

• YouTube
• E-books
• Offline classes
• E-news
• Social interactions / making friends

3. How to Learn Japanese Effectively Through Multimedia

• Prioritize school learning; multimedia is secondary

Learning through media is only supportive—it cannot replace traditional foundational learning. Foundational knowledge is essential. Multimedia content is fragmented and not systematically structured. Without basics, you cannot master the new knowledge from movies or music.

• Use multimedia mainly for reinforcement

Some people believe movies help expand vocabulary and grammar. This is true only if you choose the right films. A movie is suitable when you understand 80% of its content. The remaining 20% is where learning happens—because THE CORE OF LEARNING IS BUILDING NEW KNOWLEDGE ON TOP OF WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW.
If you know nothing, learning something new becomes meaningless.

Thus, watching movies helps with:

• Improving listening and speaking skills (only if you understand what you hear)

• Learning natural pronunciation

• Reviewing what you already know

• Learning new vocabulary if your level allows

• How to use multimedia effectively

If you're watching for entertainment:
→ Choose what you like, use subtitles, and learn whatever you can.

If you're watching to study:
→ You must be selective.

Guidelines:

o Choose films suitable for your level
o Choose movies with subtitles + Vietnamese translation (to save time)
o Learn whatever you can—don’t overdo it
o Learn anytime, anywhere; “catch” and remember any useful piece of knowledge
o Don’t try to learn overly advanced content—you’ll forget it anyway

In general, multimedia learning is excellent for those who know the correct method.
If you’re at beginner level, it’s best to watch cartoons, because they are designed for children. We learn Japanese the way a Japanese child learns their native language—learning through play, playing while learning.

Wishing you success!