For people who watch a lot of anime with just the subtitles on, does it help at all with learning the language? Or do you just find yourself reading the subtitles for the entire series?

I ask because I need to learn another language (Mandarin), and I sucked so hard at languages at school, I have no idea how to even begin to approach this task. I was wondering if watching Chinese dramas and movies with the subtitles on could help with the process.

For the guys who are reading this who have learned another language, and in a non-structured environment (ie, not in a class room), how did you go about doing it?

Damn, and you're an anime maniac

Guess I'll have to try something else then.

Watched around 70 Animes with subtitles but aside of some common expressions and words, i didn't really learn that much.

I haven't learned the language but after so many years of watching anime with subtitles I have learned certain words, so naturally when I hear said words I don't need to look at the subs to know what was spoken. Plus when there is is something important happening on screen and you hear words you know you get the jist of what is said without looking at the subs and "missing" out on the action.

Same here, I've been reading subtitles for the last 22yrs.

My sister is learning Cantonese and she finds that reading subtitles helps once you start to get the basic understanding of reading letters and hearing them. You become faster and more fluent as you start to apply what you have learnt on a regular basis outside of class. But you have to learn the basics first.

I watched a lot of subtitled anime and it certainly helped me learn words and pronounciation

It only helps if you already know some Japanese. That way you can better discern between words and can practice reading Japanese signs. Without any prior knowledge it won't help you jacksquat. So just get yourself some beginners learning book or site and then start learning vocabulary. Animes will not help you learn vocabulary but it will help solidifying the basics when you actually learn it on the side.

I've been on and off learning japanese for a few years now and I've watched close to 10000 episodes worth of anime but I can tell you that the ratio of what I learned through basic vocabulary training and what I learned through anime is around 20/1.

Only the massively repeated words

Same. Best to take a class or something if you really want to learn the language.

I can say it has helped me learn zero Japanese.