So I have to either repeat, which is taking its toll after second- third time, or go to YT and use other content for learners, but the quality of YT material is all over the place.
I love seeing updates like yours, thank you for sharing your experiences specifically after 1 official full year of CIJ! Have you watched all of the beginner videos? If so, have you tried sorting by easy and trying the easiest intermediate videos? If you’re starting to get bored of repeating the beginner videos so many times, and you’re starting to get comfortable with travel vlogs and dubbed kids’ shows for native speakers, I think it would be a good idea to at least try out some intermediate videos - you may be surprised that you understand them just fine. Everyone is different of course, but these 4 for me in particular didn’t seem any harder than the surrounding beginner videos (difficulty 40 - 49).
Seika’s Makeup Routine: Comprehensible Japanese
Making a Matcha Latte for the First Time: Comprehensible Japanese
Guess Where Yoshito Is: Comprehensible Japanese
Warm Items for Winter: Comprehensible Japanese