The Japanese immersion language learning rabbit hole goes very very deep, and it super interesting.
I'm writing some info about it here because I just don't want it to be lost to the sands of the digital times:
It all started way back when with this guy named Khatzumoto who did his own guerilla academic research, for lack for a better word - and proving it by getting fluent in 18 months.
The theories were based in comprehensible input (from Stephen Krashen) and nonstop immersion, which do carry weight and are great ways - if not the only way to learn ANY language.
He created AJATT, All Japanese All The Time, and basically created a mini cult that legitimately got people to fluency.
It might sound extreme but on the other end I heard of someone who did duolingo (100% slop product btw) for 6 months and didn't know how to say "Thank You" in Japanese.
Khatzumoto's ideas were manic, strange, but sometimes truly brilliant. I've never found a blog quite like it ever since - writings that an LLM really can't emulate.
The original blog 404'd but it's been revived by a community member here - https://alljapanesealltheti.me/index.html
I go back to them every now and then when I want some crazy motivation.
Nobody knows what has happened to Khatzumoto, he basically just dropped off the face of the internet - I wonder if he's doing alright.
I don't know if the same people are involved, but this is a more comprehensive and up-to-date website built around the same concepts that I came across recently, and where I would suggest anyone starting out go first.
If you only surround yourself with a single language for 18 months (literally fully immersive), you can learn any language fluently without even trying. Unless you never leave your apartment.
It all started way back when with this guy named Khatzumoto who did his own guerilla academic research, for lack for a better word - and proving it by getting fluent in 18 months. The theories were based in comprehensible input (from Stephen Krashen) and nonstop immersion, which do carry weight and are great ways - if not the only way to learn ANY language. He created AJATT, All Japanese All The Time, and basically created a mini cult that legitimately got people to fluency. It might sound extreme but on the other end I heard of someone who did duolingo (100% slop product btw) for 6 months and didn't know how to say "Thank You" in Japanese. Khatzumoto's ideas were manic, strange, but sometimes truly brilliant. I've never found a blog quite like it ever since - writings that an LLM really can't emulate. The original blog 404'd but it's been revived by a community member here - https://alljapanesealltheti.me/index.html I go back to them every now and then when I want some crazy motivation.
Nobody knows what has happened to Khatzumoto, he basically just dropped off the face of the internet - I wonder if he's doing alright.