On January 13th 2025, three determined members of the SSi team, Aran, Tom and Kai, embarked on a bold and ambitious challenge, to learn Japanese in just 10 days.
What started as a seemingly impossible task turned into one of the most intense and rewarding language-learning experiences they’d ever faced.
Their journey began in a cottage nestled in the foothills of Eryri, Wales. While this might sound like the perfect location for a peaceful retreat, it was anything but a holiday for the team! They committed themselves to an immersive and rigorous learning schedule, aiming to reach a level where they could hold meaningful conversations with each other and even native speakers by the end of the challenge.
To achieve this ambitious goal, Arm, Tom and Kai have been using the newly developed SaySomethingin App, a cutting-edge tool which is designed to make language learning more accessible, immersive and fast-paced. Over the 10 days, they pushed the boundaries of what’s possible, testing not only their capacity to absorb new information but also their resilience and determination.
The Struggles and Triumphs Along the Way
By day 3, the team was already experiencing the intensity of the challenge Aran shared his feelings on our forum:
“I’m feeling pretty tired and intimidated going into day 3 – Tom and Kai are both quite a bit ahead of me, I spent a chunk of yesterday trying to get my app reset to the beginning, and I’m running on the trial webapp for now, to get the extra repetitions.
But even as the back marker of the team, I’m getting some of the early signs of progress that Kai is talking about – I feel swamped with words that I can’t quite remember, but I’m starting to be able to do some small amounts of independent production.
I’m also starting to understand the scale of the ten-day challenge – all I want to do today is sleep!”
Despite the challenges, the team’s perseverance paid off. Kai remained optimistic and documented their impressive progress:
“Massive update today—we just had a 45-minute chat, 100% in Japanese. As in, real communication, where we said many things, understood what others said, and could respond with more than just ‘hai’.”
Moments like these fueled their motivation and proved that the intensive approach was yielding tangible results.
Putting Their Skills to the Test
Day 10 of their journey took place in a Japanese restaurant in Chester, where the team put their newfound skills to the test. They were able to engage in meaningful conversations not only with each other but also with the restaurant staff. What had seemed like an overwhelming challenge just days earlier now felt like a major triumph.
Why Learn Japanese?
So, why did the SSi team undertake this whirlwind language journey? Along with testing and showcasing the capabilities of the new SSi App, 2025 is the year of a larger initiative, in Wales and Japan.
This campaign, which is the fifth in a series which is led by the Welsh Government, seeks to strengthen the cultural and economic ties between the two countries.
As part of this initiative, a £150,000 Arts Fund, managed by Wales Arts International and British Council Wales, will be launched to foster artistic collaborations between the two nations. The fund aims to inspire new creative projects, engage diverse audiences and deepen existing partnerships. Learning Japanese, as the SSi team demonstrated, is an important step in building these bridges and opening up opportunities for deeper connections.
What’s Next?
The overwhelming success of this challenge highlights not only the potential of the SSi App but also the rewards of diving headfirst into a new language. Aran, Tom, and Kai have shown that with focus, determination, and the right tools, it is possible to make astonishing progress in just 10 days.
We couldn’t be prouder of their achievement, and we can’t wait to see how their Japanese journey continues to unfold.
If you’re curious to learn more about their journey, check out our forum for their reflections, updates and tips. Who knows? Maybe you’ll feel inspired to start your very own Japanuary adventure!
A massive congratulations to Aran, Tom and Kai on their incredible accomplishment. Here’s to many more language learning milestones ahead!
The SaySomethingin App is available from the Apple App and Google Play stores.
The Perfect Gift for Language Lovers
We often find ourselves searching for meaningful gifts that will truly delight our closest family and friends. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, inspiring and maybe a little out-of-the-ordinary gift, we’ve got the perfect solution, a SaySomethingin voucher!
SaySomethingin offers an innovative and flexible way of learning a new language, Whether it’s Welsh, Spanish or one of our other available languages. Plus, you can gift 12 months for the price of 10! That’s a full year of immersive language learning through our app for the price of just 10 months.
Here’s why this gift could be the highlight of someone’s year!
Learning That Fits Their Life
SaySomethingin’s methodology is designed for busy people who want to make real progress without sitting through endless grammar drills or memorising vocabulary lists. The app focuses on helping learners build real conversational skills from day one. Lessons are audio-based and can be done anytime, anywhere. Perfect for a morning commute on the train, a lunch break or a brisk walk!
Language learning is more than just acquiring a skill, it’s about connecting with people and cultures in meaningful ways. Whether your loved one has always dreamed of visiting Italy or reconnecting with their Welsh heritage, a SaySomethingin subscription can be their first step towards making those connections a reality.
The Gift of Personal Growth
This special offer makes it easy to give a truly generous gift while staying within your budget. With the 12-for-10 voucher, your recipient will get two free months to explore everything SaySomethingin has to offer, giving them ample time to build confidence and experience real progress.
Unlike many other gifts, giving someone the chance to learn a new language is an investment in their personal growth. It’s a gift that keeps on giving, opening doors to new experiences and opportunities for self-expression.
How to Purchase Your Gift Voucher
If you’re ready to purchase your voucher, follow these quick and easy steps –
- Visit SaySomethingin’s voucher page,
- Select the voucher duration, (choose from 3 or 12 months), and add your email and the recipient’s email (optional),
- Follow the steps at the checkout and complete your purchase!
Don’t miss the chance to give a meaningful, life-enhancing gift. With SaySomethingin, you’re not just gifting a subscription, you’re giving someone the confidence to say something new, connect with others and see the world in a whole new way!
On Tuesday, November 19th, SSi were guests of S4C for the Wales vs. Iceland match at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The Red Wall created a charged atmosphere with their passionate singing, particularly during the ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau,’ which was a memorable moment. Hearing our anthem sung with such immense pride after the players entered the pitch was one of the many highlights of the evening.
As the fourth Welsh goal thundered into the Iceland net, securing Wales’ promotion to League A of the Nations Cup competition, a spontaneous rendition of ‘Yma o Hyd’, adopted by fans as a Welsh football anthem, echoed around the stadium.
If you want to learn our national anthem and the legendary ‘Yma o Hyd’, you’ll find all you need in this website’s ‘Free Resources’ section.
In addition to the remarkable singing, all of S4C’s guests were key decision-makers involved in promoting the Welsh language across various media, contributing to the game’s overall positive vibe.