Confessions of a Japanese Linguist - How to Master Japanese

By: Shane Jones

Narrated by: Dan Wooten

Follow the author on his odyssey from a 24-year-old Midwesterner unable to speak a word of Japanese as he recounts his initial struggle to survive even Japanese 101, to cramming four years of college Japanese into one year with top grades, to gaining functional fluency, conquering kanji, and finally gaining sufficient mastery over the language to develop marketable Japanese skills as a Japanese teacher and translator, all within four short years.

There is no shortage of excellent resources for learning the Japanese language. If simply having access to excellent study material or a learning environment were the key to language learning success, anyone today with an Internet connection or a good textbook would become a successful learner. However, without the proper insight and understanding of what it really takes to master Japanese, the reality is that most aspiring Japanese learners ultimately fail in their quest to master the language or even gain a basic level of fluency.

This is not your run-of-the-mill Japanese textbook. You won’t learn Japanese grammar, hiragana, katakana, or kanji by listening to this audiobook. Instead, Confessions of a Japanese Linguist - How to Master Japanese provides a full insider’s glimpse of what it really takes to succeed at Japanese, both inside the classroom and beyond, in order to attain a true functional proficiency in the language. As you listen, you will learn how to negotiate the many unique nuances of Japanese culture, as well as avoid the many pitfalls and detours in the learning process that can result in years, if not an entire lifetime, of lost time and frustrated effort in attempting to learn the Japanese language and grasp the complicated intricacies of Japanese culture.

Confessions of a Japanese Linguist - How to Master Japanese is a must-listen for any aspiring Japanese learner and is full of first-hand insight into the nuances of the Japanese language and culture for any listener with even a passing interest in the language and culture of Japan.

©2014 Shane Jones (P)2020 Shane Jones

A very interesting story that I enjoyed

This is an inspiring story. My only complaint is some japanese words dubbed in later

A truthful look at what it takes to master Nihongo

As a language learner currently pursuing a career in Japanese translation, I really connected with the author's story. From his upbringing in the Midwest to learning about his path to mastering the Japanese language, I was able to apply some of his methods to improve my own study habits and speaking ability. Confessions of a Japanese Linguist is well worth listening to. I really enjoyed it!