Questions About Language

General · 3 replies · 83 views · 5 followers

LIU KAI JIE

27 days ago

Hello, teacher. I’m from China. I’m having trouble fully understanding the material you’re teaching in your videos because my English isn’t very good. Is there anything I can do about this? Since your videos don’t have subtitles, I can’t use translation software either, and I’m really frustrated right now.

5 Likes

Tomo Fujita Mod

27 days ago

Thank you Liu for sharing this topic. Best way is don't worry about what I am saying... focus on what you are listening *Guitar Part" No need to have too much explanation.

I highly suggest to watch each video a few more times so that you will understand by sound and movement.

Music and English is universal language so you can learn a little more (basic words)

Thank you.

Tomo

5 Likes

LIU KAI JIE

13 days ago

Thanks, Tomo. I’ll watch it a few more times to really understand the content in the video. I’m now spending about half an hour every day practicing R37 rhythms, scales, and triads to gradually build muscle memory.

Sammi Fujita Mod

27 days ago

Hello! Thank you for your message, and welcome from China!

I can understand why this feels frustrating. Learning guitar and learning in another language at the same time is not easy, and I really respect your effort and patience.

Tomo’s teaching style is also very deep and detailed, so even native English speakers often need to revisit lessons many times before things fully click.

A few things that may help:
• Slow the videos down to 0.75x or 0.5x (speaking parts)
• Watch small sections repeatedly instead of trying to absorb the whole lesson at once
• Pay close attention to the sounds, feel, and demonstrations on the guitar
• Ask questions here in the community anytime if something is unclear

We really appreciate your feedback about subtitles as well. That kind of feedback is helpful for us to hear.

The important thing is to keep going step by step and not rush the process. Even understanding a small part more deeply each time is real progress :)

Sammi

5 Likes

LIU KAI JIE

13 days ago

Thanks, Sammi. I’ll keep at it, and I’m confident I’ll succeed.

1 Like

Tobi

27 days ago

Hi LIU KAI JIE !

I’m also from China, and I totally understand the frustration of hitting a language barrier while trying to learn a complex skill like guitar. However, I’ve found that Tomo’s lessons are actually some of the best "Guitar English" courses available.

Here are a few tips from my own experience that might help you push through:

• Don't overthink the grammar: Tomo’s teaching is very visual and repetitive. Even if you don’t catch every word, the connection between what he says and what he plays is always right there on the guitar. Over time, your ears will start to "map" the sounds to the words naturally. It takes time to learn English just like learning guitar, so don’t worry!

• Embrace the original terminology: I highly recommend learning terms like "turnaround," "shuffle," and "swing" in English. These concepts don't always have perfect Chinese translations, and mastering them in English will make it much easier for you to jam with musicians from all over the world in the future.

• The "Immersion" Method: I improved my English (and Japanese) simply by consuming years of YouTube content, games, and anime. Try to watch more English-speaking guitar videos on YouTube. It might be blurry at first, but your brain will eventually pick it up.

Tobi

3 Likes

Tomo Fujita Mod

26 days ago

Thank you Tobi for your suggestion and advice!

Keep it simple! You are totally right! Don't worry too much details. Try to follow key words, key points. And follow the sounds!

About musical termoiology and names... try not translate it. Learn as "Major 3rd" "Swing Groove" etc.

Learn from fun!

Thank you.

Tomo

2 Likes

LIU KAI JIE

13 days ago

Thanks for the advice, Tobi. I can understand the basic music-related vocabulary, but sometimes I worry that the parts I don’t understand are also important, which makes me anxious.

1 Like

Tobi

13 days ago

totally relate to this. From my experience, I can’t understand everything at once either.

I just keep reviewing the lessons and my notes. Sometimes Tomo will show an idea, or something in his improvisation leads me to another lesson later, and it starts to connect over time.

So I try not to worry too much. If there’s something I don’t understand, I write it down and come back to it, or try to find the answer later.

The more I learn, the more questions I have—it’s exciting, but also a bit stressful at the same time.

1 Like

Tomo Fujita Mod

27 days ago

I am so happy to see these subscribers from China!

Thank you so much!

Tomo

2 Likes

LIU KAI JIE

13 days ago

You’re well-known in the Chinese blues scene. Wei Wei, my teacher in China, has mentioned you as well, so I’m combining your teaching philosophies to keep improving. (However, language remains the biggest obstacle at the moment.)

1 Like