Kanji count: 126
Not as much as I could have done, but what can I say? To me that amount sounds astounding but, put in perspective, that is only 6% through the first volume of "Remembering the Kanji" ^_^;;.
~~~★
So I started this blog without reading many other blogs with the same topic. I wanted a way to record my journey with the language and so on, mostly to look back on. Within a short amount of time I found a few fun sites I now frequently check up on. I enjoy helping people so it turns out I want to share whatever I am learning with anyone willing to listen! Here are other blogs and websites I love to follow and get news on Japanese news, culture and other peoples journeys with Japan :)
Japan News
★JapanSoc ~ http://www.japansoc.com
Self-teaching help posts
★Tofugu ~ http://www.tofugu.com
★The Daily Yo-ji ~ http://www.thedailyyoji.blogspot.com/
★Maggie Sensei ~ http://www.maggiesensei.com/jp/
Personal Journeys
★1000 Things About Japan ~ http://1000thingsaboutjapan.blogspot.com/
★Constantine in Tokyo ~ http://constantineintokyo.com
★BRB, In Japan ~ http://www.brbinjapan.com/
Forum
★http://japanjuku.com
That's it for now, but I'm sure I'll find more in the future and let you all know!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
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
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
Sunday, April 11, 2010
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! :)
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! :)
Monday, March 29, 2010
Smart.fm
There are many resources I have found on the internet that help make learning Japanese easy and somewhat fun! One such website I have been using more frequently as of late is Smart.fm.
I think the website is really neat in that you can create your own lists to study, or study of other lists created by difference users. In my case I was very lucky to find what I was looking for, and that is vocabulary lists for the chapters in my Genki text book.
What is special is that there are a few different programs you can use, which includes iKnow!, Drill Beta and BrainSpeed. I believe (though I could be mistaken) that the first two are alternates for each other, which BrainSpeed is a way to test how well you react to words you learn.
More into iKnow!, which is what I primarily use. When you open it up it will tell you if it is time for you to study. There is a calendar included that shows how many times you studied in one day and what days. The further along you get with a list of words, the more spaced out the program wants you to study, so that you have optimum memorization. How many times I have tried to memorize vocabulary in one sitting, just to forget it in two days I can't even count. But this prevents you from practicing them all in one go.
Here is a screen cap:
When you begin studying a list in Japanese, you have the option of choosing romanji mode, kana mode, kanji focus mode and full mode. I think this is awesome because I'm officially done with relying on romanji, but have yet to tackle kanji, so I am able to study in all kana.
Long story short, I love this website. I think it is way better than normal old flash cards, because when you use the iKnow! program, it revisits words you have problems with constantly. And not only does it test your Japanese to English translation, but English to Japanese and English to written Japanese (where you type in the word itself). It's a great learning tool and I highly recommend it!
I think the website is really neat in that you can create your own lists to study, or study of other lists created by difference users. In my case I was very lucky to find what I was looking for, and that is vocabulary lists for the chapters in my Genki text book.
What is special is that there are a few different programs you can use, which includes iKnow!, Drill Beta and BrainSpeed. I believe (though I could be mistaken) that the first two are alternates for each other, which BrainSpeed is a way to test how well you react to words you learn.
More into iKnow!, which is what I primarily use. When you open it up it will tell you if it is time for you to study. There is a calendar included that shows how many times you studied in one day and what days. The further along you get with a list of words, the more spaced out the program wants you to study, so that you have optimum memorization. How many times I have tried to memorize vocabulary in one sitting, just to forget it in two days I can't even count. But this prevents you from practicing them all in one go.
Here is a screen cap:
When you begin studying a list in Japanese, you have the option of choosing romanji mode, kana mode, kanji focus mode and full mode. I think this is awesome because I'm officially done with relying on romanji, but have yet to tackle kanji, so I am able to study in all kana.
Long story short, I love this website. I think it is way better than normal old flash cards, because when you use the iKnow! program, it revisits words you have problems with constantly. And not only does it test your Japanese to English translation, but English to Japanese and English to written Japanese (where you type in the word itself). It's a great learning tool and I highly recommend it!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Give me a break!
A little while ago I ordered a special flavor of Kit Kat bars off of E-bay, and I just received it all the way from Japan! The flavor I ordered was Green Tea Matcha, and I just loved it!
I wished I ordered more, but it's kind of expensive shipping all the way from Japan! I won't do it too often, because of the cost, but I was just dying to try the green tea flavor for a long time. I can now rest peacefully ^_^.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Megacon 2010
Some of my family and friends went up to Orlando for the Megacon of 2010 this past weekend. It was a ton of fun, and my only regret was not bringing more money to buy more stuff! It was the first anime convention I ever attended and I was not disappointed. The only thing that bothered me was my decision to wear high heels that were made for looks rather than functionality! I went as Misa from death note, and was pretty pleased with the outcome of my costume. People even wanted pictures of me, which was very flattering! Anyway, I have a video that pretty much sums up the adventure.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Katakana Book Review
Title: Remembering the Kana (Part two: Katakana)
Author: James W. Heisig
Rating ***** 5/5 stars
Heisig did not disappoint me in the second part of his book "Remembering the Kana" in teaching me Katakana. Again I learned this written Japanese language in about 2 and a half hours and without much difficulty! Although I feel like it was somewhat harder than the Hiragana section, this could have been my bias towards my dislike of Katakana haha.
So I gave this 5 stars, because I know from experience without this book I would have waited ages to learn katakana, just because I wasn't looking forward to it at all. And even if I tried to tackle learning it, I would have failed without Heisig's teaching methods.
All I can say in short is, if you need to learn katakana, then read "Remembering the Kana"! I'm looking forward to starting "Remembering the Kanji" also by Heisig because if the method of learning is the same, then I will have an easier time learning. After learning the Heisig way I can't even imagine learning the characters simply by writing them down and using blunt memorization! The thought makes me cringe!
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