Are you looking to improve your Japanese listening skills but not sure where to start? With so many resources available, it can be overwhelming to find the right ones for you. In this article, we will explore the best resources for Japanese listening practice, from podcasts, anime and movies to apps and music.
We’ll also provide some tips and strategies for how to make the most out of these resources to help you improve your listening comprehension and achieve your goals.
More Japanese study resources
- How to self-study Japanese and the best resources to do it
- The best apps for studying Japanese
- Best free Japanese reading practice materials
Learn Japanese by listening
Learning Japanese by listening involves actively listening to Japanese speakers and practicing your understanding and comprehension of spoken Japanese. This can include listening to Japanese music, watching Japanese TV shows or movies, and engaging in conversation with native Japanese speakers.
Repetition and consistent practice will help improve your listening skills and increase your understanding of spoken Japanese. It is however also important to study grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure to better understand what you are hearing.
How to practice and improve your Japanese listening
There are many ways to improve your Japanese listening skills. Here are some important pointers to help you out.
Practice regularly
Make listening to Japanese a regular part of your study routine. This can include listening to Japanese music, watching Japanese TV shows or movies. And of course engaging in conversation with native Japanese speakers if you are lucky to know any. The key is repetition and consistency.
Focus on comprehension
Try to understand the main points of what you hear, rather than focusing on individual words or phrases. Let go of the perfectionist in you! If you get stuck on single words your level of listening will take forever to improve.
Use any and all Japanese-language media you can find
Find Japanese-language media that is appropriate for your level. It doesn’t have to be ordinary lessons, it could be audiobooks, podcasts, news or Youtube.
… but taking Japanese language courses are never wrong
Taking a Japanese course as a complement to self-study listening is highly recommended. It will give you the opportunity to practice your listening skills in a structured environment. You’ll also have access to a teacher who can help you with any questions you have. Here you’ll find great apps for online Japanese courses.
Immerse yourself
Hearing the Japanese language all day will make your listening skills take off quickly. The number one way to do this is of course… To be in Japan. If not, try to consume as much Japanese media as possible. Podcasts when you’re out and about, movies and anime at home.
Be patient
Remember that listening skills take a long time to develop for everyone.
Best resources for Japanese listening practice
There are many ways to practice Japanese listening without taking classic lessons. Here are some recommendations for apps and other resources to help you study.
Podcasts
Podcasts can be easily downloaded and listened to on-the-go. This makes it easy to fit Japanese learning into your daily routine. Listen every day to and from school/work!
There are also many podcasts for all Japanese listening levels. So regardles of if you are beginner to advanced you can easily find something to match your skill level.
Here are some recommendations:
JapanesePod101
Popular podcast with lots of content for every level of Japanese learner. Some content are free, so you can sign up and try before you make any comitment.
Spotify
There are a bunch of different Japanese podcasts you can find on Spotify. If you already have an account it’s very convenient. You can just search for “Japanese podcast”, or check out these recommendations:
- Nihongo con tippei
Entertaining podcast for intermediate learners with the host Teppei. - Lets learn Japanese from small talk
A podcast featuring two Japanese women… talking. It’s a great way to get used to normal Japanese spoken between friends, as opposed to the desu masu you have to endure in school. - Easy Japanese podcast
A podcast for beginners around the JLPT N3 level.
Radio
Radio is a great way to practice listening while also getting a glimpse into real Japanese life and happenings. One of the easiest way to do so (if you’re not in Japan) is to download a radio app. There are many to choose from, just search in an app store of your choise. Here is one of our favourites:
Radio Garden Live for Android and Iphone
A simple radio app where you can tune in to radio channels all over the world. And you guessed it, Japan as well. The app is free with ads.
NHK Radio News
For the more advanced learners NHK Radio News is a good way to stay informed about what’s happening in Japan, as well as training your listening skills. All free.
Listening with script
Sometimes subtitles can help you with listening practice, especially if the level is slightly above your own. Many Youtube channels offer subtitles. Another interesting app is Fluentu that has subtitles on steroids.
Fluentu
The app FluentU use real-world video content to teach Japanese. The subtitles are interactive so you can hover words and get a deeper explaination, as well as translations and definitions for new words and phrases. Additionally, FluentU includes a variety of exercises and activities that reinforce the material covered in the videos, such as multiple-choice questions, flashcards, and quizzes.
Price: 14 day free trial.
Youtube
There are a lot of videos on Youtube about everyhing from specific grammar points to live lessons and entertainment, often free. Just go to Youtube a search and you will find something that will help you with listening practice.
We can recommend that you check out these channels:
- Nihongo no mori
A channel run by very inspired and energetic Japanese teachers. Especially good for those who are studying for the JLPT. - Japanese from Zero
Great channel for beginners. The host packs a lot of energy and humor. - Japanesepod101
As the name hints this channel also has a podcast if you want to practice on the go, but their youtube channel is filled with a lot of grammar points to practice for free. - Ask Japanese
Great channel for practicing listening to real Japanese. Interviews with random people in Japan. Great for upper intermediate learners.
Movies and anime
Watch Japanese TV shows and movies with subtitles in Japanese or in your native language. Listen actively and try to understand the dialogue. Pay attention to the context and cultural references.
There are japanese movies and series on many of the big streaming services, like Netflix. However, the number of movies you can find are often limited. Once you’ve worked your way through the catalog, here’s altenatives:
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is an anime streaming service that offers a wide variety of anime shows and movies, many of which are available in original Japanese language. The premium membership service allows you to watch shows ad-free, as well as access to exclusive content.
Japanese music
Find Japanese songs that you enjoy and listen to them regularly. Pay attention and try to understand the lyrics. It might not be “normal” conversation or structured lessons, but the important thing is to immerse yourself in the Japanese language, no matter the medium.
Just search for popular Japanese songs and you can easily find them on Spotify, Apple Music or even Youtube.
Apps
There are many Japanese language learning apps that have listening exercises to help you practice your listening skills. It’s also a good way to learn the basics if you are a beginner.
Take lessons
Lessons might sound boring but it’s definitely recommended if you are at a beginner or intermediate level. The teacher will give you feedback and valubale guidance that can be hard to get on your own. The good thing is that today it has never been easier to book single or multiple lessons at a time that suits you. Here are our favourit apps for finding a Japanese teachers and booking a lesson.
Italki
Italki is a language-learning platform that connects students with native-speaking teachers for one-on-one language lessons. The platform offers a variety of languages to study, including Japanese.
Lessons can be taken via video or audio chat, and the teachers can provide personalized instruction, homework assignments, and feedback on your progress. The platform also includes a community feature where students can interact with other language learners and find language partners for conversation practice.
