Fresh Start, New Approach

Japanese Language Study Logs (Public)
1

Hi, hello, it’s been a while since I’ve been involved with the Japanese Language.

In 2021, I started my journey learning the language. Ultimately, I failed. It was 4 years of flat progression, here on WaniKani I learned so many words. In other areas I learned nothing, I couldn’t understand conversations, and I could barely read. A lot of it was performative, nothing learned and nothing gained. Which tore me apart because I genuinely wanted to learn this language to experience more of my world. Untranslated video games, movies, and obscure manga that’s rarely updated, I wanted to see it all. More importantly I wanted to see Japan itself, earlier this year I struggled with my hundreds of reviews and lack of knowledge. I accepted I was going nowhere and stepped away in February…

Now I’m back, the cobwebs and regret cleared away. In 2 months, I’ll be going to Japan and I’m very excited. In 2 months, I hope that language learning is like riding a bike and all that I learned will come rushing back. Probably incomplete but I trust that I’ll remember all the quirks I learned. By the time I arrive in Japan, I’ll probably understand less than a toddler but that’s fine, because maybe next year I’ll be back in Japan.

My new approach is simple, 50/50. 50% learning, 50% fun.
What killed the attempt early this year is that I did all learning, no fun. I was sitting on a treasure of knowledge and not using it. I learned about this 50/50 trick from Drawabox and I knew it was perfect for re-engaging with the language.

The rough outline is this (future installments of this online journal will refine this):
I reset my WaniKani from level 43 (AHHH, oh god, all the time lost but that’s fine) so I’ll be doing that every day for the next two months. Get through Tae Kim’s Complete Guide to Japanese and the Grammar guide, obviously I need to know how to use the language. Then the most important part: USE IT, USE IT, USE IT. The learning part of this 50/50 will be graded readers, 100% focus on listening, writing, etc. The fun part of this 50/50 will be reading simple Japanese via video games, breaking down lyrics to Japanese music, watching Japanese shows, and writing!

To me, reading this back, it seems obvious. Not only was I told this information while learning, but I also just feel dumb. It’s like when doctors tell you the key to a healthy life is diet and exercise. Frustrating because it’s so simple, but you feel dumb because it’s that easy yet you’re searching for the secret sauce that makes it easier.

I’m going to try and update this journal every week on a Sunday. I’ll see y’all soon for the next update.

22 Likes
2

I have come to the same realization, and I think you’re spot on - unless your goal to read some random kanji in isolation, supplementing the vocab and grammer with readinga nd listening is the gateway to practical application of the language, for input at first and eventually output as well.

5 Likes
3

Monday 10/06

Not a huge update and I’m a day late. Starting in the middle of the week plus doing family stuff on the weekend snubbed this week’s learning. I didn’t do much but it’s like riding a bike already.

I started WaniKani again, still level 1 but I was preoccupied with the family.
Started reading Tae Kim’s Guide, got through the first chapter and I can write hiragana again.
Bought some notebooks to write down grammar notes and whatever else.

This week will have more done. Maybe I’ll start putting sentences in my weekly updates that show off what I’ve learned.

5 Likes
4

I wonder about your definition of failed. You made it to wanikani lesson 43! I expect that you are able to have a conversation, just not at the level you would like to. I learned some Japanese by watching musicals and plays. I seem to able to answer the listening practice for N3 while having no other solid skills in Japanese. I need do do what you did and are doing and hit the books. Italki helped me go from not talking to talking though and having a few classes scheduled keeps me motivated. It’s also been enjoyable. Something tells me you will do very well in Japan. Cheers!

5 Likes
5

Sunday 10/12

A marginally better update than I had last week.
I am on WaniKani level 2 and all those fun beginning level kanji are starting to flood my mind. I started reading Tadoku’s free graded readers, this time reading every book in the Starter/Level 0 range instead of picking and choosing. It’s been fun because while I’m going through the process of restarting WaniKani, the things I “forgot” are actually coming back to me. Reading these graded readers, I can remember the kanji and vocab I burned so long ago so it’s been a smooth process reading them.

I completed Tae Kim’s first section of the Complete Guide so now I remember how nouns and a few particles work. Those particles that are the equivalent of English Conjunctions are back to haunt me. HOWEVER, since I’m sitting down and reading all these graded readers and WaniKani’s example sentences with vocab, I’m starting to break a part these puzzles to truly grasp these particles. Happy to report that I’m succeeding in the 50/50 process.

3 Likes
6

Failed as in I failed to engage with the language. While you are correct, I did make it Level 43 and shouldn’t discredit that. I failed to actually use the language, I couldn’t talk or read anything past basic sentences and even that was a struggle. I don’t lament my time wasted because in my most recent update that knowledge lost is steadily coming back to me. This Italki thing sounds interesting and I should look into because I need to get in some real practice speaking with someone!

4 Likes
7

Sunday 10/19

This week was kind of a wash :confused:
I got a round of vaccines which knocked me out for a couple days. Work was busy so I wasn’t able to squeeze in some reading here or there. I won’t let that stop me though! What I could manage was just more WaniKani, more reading, and more grammar lessons but this time about verbs. To make up for a lackluster week, let me write y’all a little paragraph.

おはようございます！

Good Morning!

私は MS09_DOM です。

I am MS_DOM.

本や映画は好きですが、ビデオゲームが大好きです。

I like books and movies, but video games are my favorite.

冬休みには東京と京都に行きます。とても楽しいよ！

For winter vacation, I’m going to Tokyo and Kyoto. I’m going to have a lot of fun!

That’s as much I can muster right now, please share any pointers you might have. Thank you!

4 Likes
8

Sunday 10/26

I leveled up to WaniKani level 3 this week, I think this was a similar pace I had when I started all those years ago. Roughly 3 levels a month and this pace is at the default WK provides, 15 levels mixed with radicals, kanji, and vocab. I wanted to get through the Verb basics chapter of Tae Kim’s Guide this week but my slow pace was a boon. Even the basics like verb stems, polite form, and the volitional form takes a lot of work to get it right so I’ll start incorporating conjugation practice.

Alongside the verb basics, I went to the next grade of Tadoku’s Graded Readers and what a jump. I’ve been reading the Starter levels thus far but the first book of the 0 level had all the grammar I’ve been learning. Going from basic sentences (that I needed to read) that said “the ball is round” to complete sentences that include those aforementioned polite and volitional forms was a treat. This week I wanted to be bold and translate a song but maybe next time.

Outside of Japanese learning, I’ve been researching the “need to knows” for traveling internationally. I think once I get to Japan I’ll be leagues ahead MOST American tourists going to Japan. I’ve also been spitballing the idea to my friends that I’ll make them some basic phrase cards for them to carry around. I’m really excited for my vacation, just a little more than a month away.

5 Likes
9

Sunday 11/02

Small update: more WK, more reading, more drilling. Kinda got screwed in the second half of the week, Tae Kim’s website was down! It started working again on Saturday so I was able to learn a little more.

In other news, I tried some listening practice! I have to say, I do not like listening material that is meant for a beginner. I understand its uses but I do not like the slow cadence, it doesn’t work for me. What I did instead was listen to the news! I remember a conversation I had with my French friend and they told me how Northernlion, a streamer, was an important part of their life. Not just because he’s fun to watch but because he enunciates so clearly. When my French was learning English, that enunciation was critical to their journey. I struggled with trying to find a Japanese streamer or YouTuber to follow that I could have the same experience with. In my journey I couldn’t find someone who spoke clearly, which is why I went with the news. Sure I couldn’t comprehend the topic of discussion but I could hear every word.

5 Likes
10

I don’t mind the slow cadence for listening practice but I’m definitely much behind you when it comes to my Japanese studies. Maybe try to put the videos on 1.25x or higher speed to make it faster? I like seeing these daily updates from you. I also went through a similar process as you of having to set back my Wanikani levels further back. How has it been so far, is the prior learning coming back to you? Good luck for tomorrow’s studying and hoping your trip goes well!

2 Likes
11

I could try speeding up listening material specifically intended for listening practice but I still prefer natural stuff. The relearning process has been smooth. Truthfully, I could be doing more in a week than I am now. I’m still hungry for knowledge but like most people in the modern era, I struggle to hit that balance between goofing off, dealing with life, and finding time to study. Thankfully, the prior learning is coming back so relearning these things is a smooth process.

Thanks for enjoying these journal entries! Even though it feels like I’m launching these thoughts into the void, it’s cool someone took time to read them.

4 Likes
12

I’ve been enjoying these updates, I just don’t comment often and based on the hundreds of views on your post, I think many others prefer to lurk like me. I’m glad to hear that the prior learning is coming back! How has the learning been the past few days?

4 Likes
13

Sunday 11/09

I don’t know why but it feels weird to write an update when it’s been same old, same old. I’ve been staying on top of things but I’ve also stopped, sorta. I’ve been reviewing my notes on volitional forms and compound sentences, I’ve kinda settled here for now. This is a big hurdle I need to jump because it’s what killed my momentum time and time again during my first go around.

So I’ve just been taking is slowly but in the same vein, I’m less than a month out from my vacation so more of my time is preoccupied with finalizing things before I go. Have a good week y’all.

6 Likes
14

月曜日 11月 17日

おはようございます. 昨日は忙しいです. じゃあ, 元気ですか? 今日はフォントを話しましょう. フォントは「DFFuun-W12」という好きです. ダーククラウドと牧場物語:ワンダフルライフで使います. フォントはなにが好きですか? またお会いできる.

I did a lot of reading this week and I was busy yesterday. I thought instead of just saying that, I’d try to write a small passage about a font I like. I can sense I didn’t write, hopefully, one sentence correctly (the one about video games that use the font) but I’m not sure how to fix it. I referenced my notebook of Japanese grammar so I did my best to put these together. They extremely simple and lack a lot of grammar I know, but I haven’t really been writing in Japanese. I think this is where I might need a tutor to examine my work or I just need to write more.

I got a lot to consider moving forward with using all aspects of the language. Until next time y’all.

7 Likes
15

Thanks for posting another update. The reading practice you posted at the beginning of the update was also really fun to read through for practice. Looking forward to future updates and hopefully the planning for your vacation is going well!

3 Likes
16

月曜日 11月 24日

Oof, another wasted week but I’m not too bent out of shape about it. I was busy during work so the best I could muster was keeping up with WaniKani. Speaking of which, in a previous entry, I said my pace was 3 levels a month. I confused myself because I got to Level 3 but WaniKani does not start at Level 0 so the pace is 2 levels a month. That remains true because I’m almost done with Level 4. Another part of this week being wasted is I was reading books, none of which were in Japanese though. I wanted to catch up on several books I’ve been reading over the past months so I opted for that instead of language learning. One of the books is The Tatami Galaxy, it’s a funny, interesting, and reflective book, especially during this point of my life. Maybe down the line I could re-read it in Japanese. Going into this week I think I’ll continue the same old same old but mix in some canned phrases I can use while in Japan.

3 Likes
17

月曜日 12月 01日

Another Monday post because I’m scrambling to get things finished. Short and simple this time, I leveled up to Level 5 (yippee) and I finished Tadoku’s L0 graded readers. I gathered some simple phrases to ask where things are or to let people know that I’ve have dietary restrictions. It’s time for me to go to Japan, thank you all who decided to take time and read this journal. I wish I put more gusto behind learning but I’m more prepared to read and speak than some people in my group :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:.

I probably won’t make another update till after Christmas or the beginning of 2026, so さよなら for now.

4 Likes
18

Great job on getting through Tadoku’s level 0 readers! I wish I had starting using reading as a way of studying earlier, it’s so much more helpful than I imagined.

Have a fun trip in Japan and let us know how everything goes. Enjoy your holidays and I’m looking forward to seeing your next post in a few weeks :slightly_smiling_face:

1 Like