After leaving Japan and a 3+ year study break I want to get back to Japanese and eventually sit N2. But after so long I know I have forgotten so much of what I learned for N3. Now obviously I don’t want to go back to the beginning and go through every single thing I had previously learned so I can get back to the level I was at then.
So I’m looking for suggestions for resources that will help me identify gaps in my knowledge so I can study more efficiently and relearn what I’ve forgotten as fast as possible to move on to studying for N2.
I have both the N4 and N3 パターン別徹底ドリル problem books so my initial thought is to work through those to identify gaps in my knowledge then use my textbooks or Bunpro/ anki to revise those specific points. But does anyone have any other resources that might be effective in actually identifying what I’ve forgotten.
There’s no resources for “identifying gaps” specifically. It’s more like “if theres some piece of knowledge you don’t have, it will become clear”. Be that some piece of information that you forgot or some piece of information you never learned, it doesn’t really matter.
I wouldn’t over think it. Just study like normal. If you want to have JLPT focused study for whatever reason then find out what level seems like the one a bit out of your reach and just study for that. Prior levels’ grammar and vocab will still be relevant and anything you don’t know (that you should) will be apparent.
I agree with this sentiment. I have a tendency to over-study when I’m unsure (in any domain), but I have found the best thing is to just study at the level you would and beware that occasionally you’ll have to study stuff that feels really “basic”. Just don’t let your ego get in the way and you’re set.
Yeah, on my journey to being 上手 I had to go back and revisit “fundamental” grammar more times that I can count. It’s normal and no one should let their pride get in the way.
If you’re interested in an app that you can go over N3 grammar points really fast perhaps Bunpo could be helpful? you could go over it really fast as in a couple of days fast, and get an estimation whether you need to revise N3 or just move on to N2.
I came from a 4 years break and was probably around a wobbly N4 when I stopped learning and it’s true that you gonna deal with the things you don’t remember/know anyway while dealing with N2 material, but there’s nothing wrong with revising things you learned previously. I always go back to basics when I come back to things, because it deepens my level of understanding. A quick revision of N3 would surely take less time than learning it the first time around and will warm your engines to tackle N2 grammar.
You could also do the exercises from Genki Exercises - 3rd Edition | Genki Study Resources to see if you fly through them or if there are some things you struggle with (I have used them a lot when I went through Genki 1 and 2 so can vouch for them. I haven’t used Tobira, which is a more intermediate textbook, but seems like there is something on the website for that too so maybe give it a try if Genki 1 and 2 is too easy! Tobira Exercises | Tobira Study Resources )
If you’re doing N2 your are going to want to be actually reading and listening to Japanese. Any and all gaps will be revealed pretty quickly and filled in with context.
About identifying gaps itself, try analyzing practical skills you care about – reading / listening / speaking / writing. And then, figure out the order of importance of limitations – grammar, vocabulary, or Kanji?
Honestly, I’d start with immersion.
Otherwise, check JLPT-focused exercises for various skills?
Still, in the end, it’s just studying / revising grammar, vocab, Kanji as usual. And then, make sure they are practical.
