Progress

Although I have been interested in Japanese culture and attempting to learn the language for the past couple years, it wasn't until this past January that I really sat down, got some resources, and made a genuine attempt to learn.

However, balancing college classes, a part time job, my boyfriend, family, friends and whatever drama at the time, it has been a lot harder than I hoped. But I am still as motivated as ever. After quitting my part-time job (for various practical reasons, I swear, hah), I have been able to put much more effort in teaching myself. I spend almost every day studying something, but sometimes it ends up being every other day, especially these past two weeks where classes are throwing papers left and right.

Anyway, I wanted to list out what I'm using as primary resources!

★Kanji learning: "Remembering the Kanji" by James W. Heisig
★Kanji practice: Anki, and the Reviewing the Kanji website ~ http://kanji.koohii.com/
★Guideline for learning: Genki Integrated Elementary Japanese Course I
★Vocabulary practice: Smart.fm
★Listening practice: The Genki companion website has great links ~ http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/self/self.en.html . I also use YouTube! There are great teachers such as:
~~~www.youtube.com/gimmeaflakeman (150 lessons and growing!)
~~~www.youtube.com/thatjapanesegirl
~~~www.youtube.com/misshannahminx
~~~www.youtube.com/bumnumba1 (I can't help it, but learning Japanese with a teacher that is drunk and profane is absolutely hilarious)
★Grammar, phrases, etc: The Daily Yo-ji ~ http://www.thedailyyoji.blogspot.com/ . And Maggie-sensei! ~ http://www.maggiesensei.com/jp/
★Sentence practice: Lang-8 ~ www.lang-8.com


Anyhow, those are the primary sources I like to use as much as possible. There are more websites I enjoy visiting for more cultural/news related information, but I think that's due for another entry. ^_^V

Taking the plunge into Kanji

Although there have been many people telling me kanji is not that hard to learn once you actually start, but that didn't stop be from being reluctant. It's taken me months to finally force myself to stare kanji down in the face and declare "I will master you!" Well... maybe not master, but at least try to learn.

So yes, I have begun to study the dreaded kanji. And like my peers have told me, it is not as hard as I anticipated, especially with the help of Heisig. I reviewed his "Remembering the Kana," or raved over more like, so it is only natural I would use his "Remembering the Kanji" as a resource.



Although I have just barely begun, I have high hopes and expectations from this resource. Because I learned the kana so quickly and efficiently, I don't see why the method would be any different for kanji. Actually, I'm pretty sure Heisig wrote "Remembering the Kanji" before "Remembering the Kana." In any case, for the first time I am somewhat excited to start tackling these beasts called kanji.

There is also a great website resource to help review and continue to learn the kanji from "Remembering the Kanji." At http://kanji.koohii.com/ you can sign up to keep track of kanji you learn, and it also lets you review what you've learned already as well. Although I haven't checked it out yet, there are other users that post their "stories" and ways to memorize different kanji for all to see and possibly benefit from. I've heard some people can be unnecessarily erotic, but I believe there is a plug-in you can use to avoid such posts.

So, how many do I know to date you ask?

Fifteen.

Hey gimme a break here I just started! :)

Hiragana Book Review

Title: Remembering the Kana (Part one: Hiragana)
Author: James W. Heisig
Rating: ***** 5/5 stars














This book is amazing. I cannot stress how much Heisig helped me learn hiragana. And you know what? It only took 2-3 hours! Maybe more with a few extra notes I looked over, regardless Heisig promises you will learn the hiragana within 3 hours in the beginning.

It's interesting the methods he uses to help you memorize that kana, but by far the most useful. Instead of mindlessly copying down the hiragana over and over. He gives you both key words and components connected with imagery to remember the kana and strokes. What makes this help is he continues to use the same image components when the shapes reoccur. Interesting things like puppy dog tails and daggers. It is much better than simply associating the individual hiragana with individual images such as I have seen in other author's works. It is easy to mix up the shape later on that way.

Another interesting approach Heisig conducts is the idea the hiragana should be memorized in a different order rather than the standard dictionary way. The pages and hiragana are all in order of a Japanese dictionary, but as you progress you jump pages in what he thinks is an easier and better way to learn. And that it is. Heisig also asks you to keep track of how long it takes to complete each lesson, and at the end you add up all the minutes. That's how I found I that I memorized the hiragana within 3 hours like he promised.

I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. For I know officially can read and write the hiragana, and it only took 3 hours spread out within 3 days.