Hello I have been experimenting with different techniques over the last few weeks. Right now I am trying full audio immersion. I need some help gathering the materials I need though. What I am doing so far is Listening to a stream of Japanese television while I do my work. At the same time I am recording the audio using audacity.

So far I have about 12 hours of Japanese audio split into one hour chunks. The problem I am running into is that I can only use the stream during non peak hours. That means early in the morning Japanese time or late at night. This has made gathering audio difficult. If anyone has any advice, links,etc on getting Japanese audio I would appreciate the help.

Something that might do you better than hours immersion in incomprehensible audio might be to focus on a single episode of a show or podcast (30-40 mins). Have that single audio repeat several times while you go about life. Then study the audio. Once you've mastered it, repeat it for a few more hours. Then move on.

The repetition should help your listening far better than scattered audio, and the studying improves your vocabulary.

Also just keep listening/decoding/doing vocabulary. From experience it starts small, then builds up more and more. Eventually if you keep going your going to understand most of everything you hear.

Changing OSes of simple things like your iPod and your web browser or websitse really helps too.

I'm reluctant to change my total OS to Japanese because I use my PC for many other things and my command of the language is not very strong, but I learned a lot of new words here and there.

For instance I learned the word すべて completely from context, I never looked it up but I basically know what it means.

zachandhobbes is right. I learned a lot of words like that as well. I think after a while with some sort of immersion you become less aware of what you actively study. Like for example, I don't remember studying "べく" but I know what it means based on context.

I changed my youtube account to Japanese, it helps you find Japanese TV/ドラマ/etc. Plus you get extra immersion in writing.

Listening to non-news style podcasts works best for me. I have them shuffle and loop throughout the day. Stuff that sounds like normal people just sitting around chatting. Like JUNK, コーヒーと牛乳, and 道産子女子高生のしゃべり場！まりもえお！ (no longer being made). Although I will let news play in the background I find that because the speed and tone of most them it's harder to passively listen to (for me at least) and try to pick things up.

zachandhobbes Wrote:Changing OSes of simple things like your iPod and your web browser or websitse really helps too.

I'm reluctant to change my total OS to Japanese because I use my PC for many other things and my command of the language is not very strong, but I learned a lot of new words here and there.

For instance I learned the word すべて completely from context, I never looked it up but I basically know what it means.

Heh, After my first day of Japanese 101 (only class I've taken) I went home excited and switched everything (including my OS) to Japanese.