I’ve been using Genki for the past 2 months (one lesson per week, just started lesson 9), I feel like I don’t retain much from it but at the same time I can answer question from that specific lesson if it a problem from it. It like I can’t write sentences to on my own but I can answer the question from the book and even recognize some of the grammar, so I don’t know is that normal or not?
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I think that it is indeed quite a normal experience. Japanese Grammar is immensely difficult on its own, and reaching a point of comfort with application and recollection is just something that takes a lot of time, practice, and repetition. Even with the high quality of Genki’s content layout and explanations, the reality is it will get you a good step-in-the-door to the ideas but perhaps not a full “mastery”.
Personally, I think it’s good (if you are able to and aren’t already) to have some sort of other supplemental resource to help hammer in all the content. Bunpro is my go-to since it functions on an SRS system like WK so you are constantly getting comfort-level-tailored exposure at regular intervals. There are even Genki content decks so you can exclusively work with the content you learned within the textbook. (Applied reading is, of course, also really wonderful practice- though it is daunting and a little frustrating trying to navigate native material like that with only beginner-level grammar concepts under your belt so far, so I think it’s reasonable to wait until a little more seasoned and confident.)
Above all else, don’t let it discourage you. Learning this all is no easy feat, but you’ll only keep growing so long as you keep trying. I certainly can relate to your feelings but with enough time and discipline I’ve seen very tangible improvement, and I know you will too.
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It’s normal to forget some of the Grammar Points. It’s Happening to me too.
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I was thinking setting up an hour each day from now on to just repeatedly writing down grammar sentences in past lesson per day, lesson 5 for 1 hour tomorrow just me typing up sentences with lesson 5 grammar for example, since I plan to take 2 weeks review before moving on to lesson 9.
I had the seth genki workbook and did that per lessons, for Bunpro I plan to get it when it on sale during Christmas with Wanikani lifetime, I do watch Detective Conan every night with JP sub for my immersion although I plan to read some VN soon in addition to strengthen my immersion more.
Yeah definitely, I did it once with English so I just have to refind my feeling again when I learned English and apply to my JP journey.
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Echoing the same sentiment as mentioned above. Japanese grammar is notoriusly hard, even with the guidance of a good textbook. Theres so much conjugation form, slang form, weird sentence structure (verbs only sentences is considered normal), honorific / polite form shenanigans, not too mention some specific grammar that’s only found in texts and speeches (のみ、べからす、はず), the many forms of conditionals, and so on.
BUT, ‘hard’ doenst mean impossible. And you certainly dont need to fret over every possible grammar. Keep calm and continue studying it. Overtime, youll find it easier and easier to remember and recognise. You just need to learn it, and most importantly, have constant exposure to it. Try reading a few easy books, write easy sentences, or listen to simple conversation. Sure, for now you might not be able to remember any grammar, but slowly you’ll recogise common grammar points like base verb + たい for want to do, te-verb for chaining verbs, negative verbs (and its many rules), and so forth.
If its any consolation, I started off using Tae Kim Grammar Guide as my ONLY source of japanese grammar. I dont reccomend that, as its akin to learning words using only a dictionary as your guide. But is is doable 
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On this topic, when you read VN do you read it raw or with textractor and go through all the process to immerse?
I am the exact same, and the solution for me has simply been to use the knowledge more, for exemple in my case via starting to read seriously (mangas/satori reader) 
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What happens is that I can recognize the grammar, and if not a quick look-up makes me remember it, and then the more I encounter it (in both cases), the more it “sticks” (recognizing it once never does the trick in my experience).
Yeah definitely, cause with DeDetective Conan I can recognize some of vocab and grammar I learned, so right now I expanding out with some VN to “accelerate” the process by consume multiple medias.
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Oh so then you just need “output”, right ? It is different skill from recognizing / reading / listening (input).
Maybe you could use Italki to talk to a japanese teacher or VRchat which is also popular and free
Indeed, what I lack now isn’t input but more so output, one of my close friend are also learning Japanese but he just started and he doing a college course so our time is really mismatch. So I don’t really have partner where I can practice with or someone to talk to. I think that is the core issue with me because my lack of output that why it feel I’m in a weird spot.
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It is probably common for people who learned via reading, but I would just say you are doing very well with your learning, just that you are now on a different “stage” of your path!
Like I said, I would recommend Italki to speak with a teacher (so he can help correct mistakes), VRChat is free on Steam and it’s easy to find beginner japanese talking rooms, and I heard sometimes HelloTalk gets mentioned too .
If you want to try to write, I am sure there is a thread around it for this, you could also make a japanese Twitter account, or keep a diary in japanese
I’ll keep this in mind thank.
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I dont read VNs in particular. But I usually read JP stuff raw since im lazy to go through the hoops, but i do keep a notebook (in this case, grammar notes stored in my Obsidian note app ) in case i need to quickly look up a grammar point