John
Passive Learning vs Deliberate Practice
You need a good foundation to be able to sit and watch anime without subs and actually understand it. I don't know if listening to words while you sleeps works. I've tried it a few times but I don't think it helped.
Deliberate Practice is a much better strategy.
You want to find where you're at and attempt things that are doable. You don't want to try to do something too hard, you won't understand enough to make any meaningful progress and it will be frustrating. And if something is too easy, you won't learn.
It helps to have an idea of what you should be learning. What you should be learning is going to change constantly. If you aren't sure, you could reference a book or JLPT to find a new topic. You could also hire a tutor for a session or two to get an idea of what you're weak at.
Any kind of practice can help as well. Whether using an app or study guide, if something seems too difficult or too easy then it is a good idea to try a different topic.
This is primarily the reason that passive learning at a beginner level does not work very well. You have to work towards goals and simply consuming content is not targeting areas that need improvement.
John
Owl and Sakura Creator