Matt (Game Gengo): Learning and Teaching Japanese through Video Games and YouTube
What is the best way to learn Japanese? “Focus on what works best for you,” says Matt, creator of the Game Gengo YouTube channel. And when Matt says this, he means it. In the spring of 2020, armed with the fervent belief that language learning can and should be fun, Matt leveraged pandemic-induced downtime to launch his YouTube channel where he teaches Japanese via video games. Years later, his efforts have borne fruit, and now Matt has achieved what many can only dream of: becoming a full-time YouTube content creator.
As both a lifelong gamer and lifelong learner, I was compelled to reach out to Matt to see if he would be willing to share his story with Kokoro Media readers. Fortunately, he obliged, and in this interview, we cover a variety of topics, including:
- The trials and tribulations of creating YouTube content and what it takes to succeed
- How and when to start learning Japanese through video games
- The quest to discover, explain, and capture every element of the Japanese language
If you’ve ever wondered if video games can really help you learn Japanese, keep reading. Matt’s story and language learning philosophy is sure to make you a true believer.
