Half way there in less than a year

WaniKani
1

I started 275 days ago according to my streak. I signed up and was immediately hooked, I have never broken the streak. Not sure if level 30 in this amount of time is normal pace, or fast, or slow but its definitely jammed packed. By the end of the day my reviews say at least 450 reviews done in the past day, my recent study is always at least above 90, I think I stopped being in the learning zone around day 200 (but never below 81% still hehe). Is it overwhelming? For sure. But its just addicting though is why I cant stop. Every hour I will complete the reviews set and anxiously await the next hour. the reviews end up being at least 20 but add up, especially overnight that when I wake up, I wont leave bed until I complete the 200 reviews that have accumulated (probably like 2-1/2 hours). Sometimes the reviews count for an hour end up being over 80. But oh boy am I locked in when the time comes.

The crab has consumed my life.

Although, I know I could definitely do better still, but thats where I slack. Like I still sometimes get all the synonyms for “condition” confused with, 暗 and 夜, and a few others I cant think of right now. But I know all I have to do is sit down and really crunch them in on a study moment like synonyms all written next to each other and I learn their differences. So why dont I? Im stubborn, I tell myself ill pick them up across the reviews. Which works I suppose, just takes longer like how I eventually stopped getting 人類 and 人種 confused, just brute force remembering.

I recently started grammar though so that also helps me finally retain and take contexts clues to help me improve. I was excited to finally be knowledgeable to take on this new tier of learning. Im using the Genki, and cant wait to see how it goes.

So even with my perhaps more rushed method, how am I doing with developing this knowledge of learning japanese anyway? I feel great! I’ll run into some japanese media or literacy and take a moment to really try understanding it. That feeling seeing that my learning is objectively present and reading what something is saying reminds me to keep going. Im learning another language, and one of the hardest ones at that, nothing is gonna break my stride!

Im still just a beginner with less than a year of learning but if ive gotten this far already in this amount of time, I cant wait to see where I will be next year at this time.

2

I’d definitely say you’re going pretty fast, but that’s based on my perception of many users taking 3+ years and still being on their journey, maybe even early on.

Comparison is the enemy of joy and all that, but if you want a point for reference im currently 380 days in (374 streak) and just about to hit the dreaded fast levels. Speaking of fast levels, you’re actually probably closer to 65% right now I think! Assuming you can handle the load increase.

I think that while not perfect, im likely a pretty large outlier in terms of speed, and I actually do not recommend at all spending the amount of time a day that I do in an effort to go faster. Marathon not a sprint after all.

That all said, my goal is definitely to continue going as fast as possible even through the 3.5 day levels, and working more on my grammar on its own after. I think you’re probably going to be better off than I by doing your grammar now, I just can’t help but grind kanji.