After having all kinds of experience of learning languages I'm starting to realize that I learn new things faster in Japanese when I already know the content that I'm going through from my past exposure to similar content in a language that I already know well.

For example, I find myself much better at learning new words in psychology in Japanese thanks to having previously learned psychology in other languages. It's much easier to remember as well.

So basically If you've read Harry Potter in English and would then read it in Japanese, I think that your rate of understanding the book and remembering the book ( in japanese words) and the words would increase significantly. Of course, I have no proof of it whatsoever but I think that this kind of a thing may speed up learning languages and could make learning more smooth.

Yes, having a stake in your material used for language learning is always a great boost.

About what level is Harry Potter? I`m by no means a proficient reader but I`m studying for the JLPT Level 4 (thank you company for forcing this on me) at the minute. I can do Level 5 no problem but I`m still a beginner to these things.

I was considering buying Harry Potter and having a go just for fun. What`s the harm? I actually already bought A Game Of Thrones in Japanese, mostly because the cover is beautiful, and it took me an hour to decipher 3 sentences - but even while in the shop the 店員 said that even for Japanese people that`s hard - lots of archaic kanji.

Anyways, I think you`re right although I`ve no proof either. Plus reading spells in katakana would be fun!

callmedodge Wrote:About what level is Harry Potter? I`m by no means a proficient reader but I`m studying for the JLPT Level 4 (thank you company for forcing this on me) at the minute. I can do Level 5 no problem but I`m still a beginner to these things.

I was considering buying Harry Potter and having a go just for fun. What`s the harm? I actually already bought A Game Of Thrones in Japanese, mostly because the cover is beautiful, and it took me an hour to decipher 3 sentences - but even while in the shop the 店員 said that even for Japanese people that`s hard - lots of archaic kanji.

(In my experience young adult books become fairly readable at about JLPT2 level. You still won't understand toooons of words, but you'll know enough that you can push through it slowly without wanting to shoot yourself in the face.

Books for elementary school students are fairly readable at a JLPT3-ish level. However, you could start pushing through at JLPT4 level and it probably wouldn't be bad.)

You're right. Anything you already know something about is easier to learn. Take it from me, I'm a teacher, I've studied these things.