First of all, feeling discouraged isn’t a sign that you’re not able to do it or not doing a good job, it’s more a signal to re-evaluate your process and maybe consider making some changes to it. One thing that might help is a grammar resource to work through, though it doesn’t have to be a textbook. I’ve been using MaruMori, which was recommended earlier in the thread, but you can also use Tokini Andy on YouTube who works through the Genki series and beyond or Tae Kim/Cure Dolly (neither of which I’ve watched but they’re frequently recommended).
I think the other thing to keep in mind is that not recognizing everything or even a lot of things you read or listen to/watch is okay. If you understand everything 100% you’re probably watching something below your level anyway, and not really stretching your knowledge. I spent a lot of time feeling frustrated that I wasn’t understanding things I thought were at my level, and spent a lot of time and energy treating the media like a puzzle to solve rather than something to read or watch and enjoy. I’ve shifted focus now to accepting that uncertainty and not looking up everything or turning on subtitles and just enjoying the stories as best I can and allowing myself much more exposure.
But the important thing, remember what made you decide to learn Japanese and make sure that you’re keeping that in mind, and then tailor your plan around how you feel can best get you there. Making changes to your learning plan is not at all a failure, and neither is taking a step back and changing your approach; the only failures are giving up or simply not trying to get better because change is hard. You can do this!
When you just start learning Japanese, it feels like you are really making progress, because you didn’t know anything before, so every single bit you learn feels like a huge step forward.
But then there soon comes a time when you learn enough to realize how much there is still to learn, but still not enough to be able to actually use that knowledge for anything. You are currently there.
It feels like no matter how much more material you learn, you are not moving forward. It’s important to remember that this feeling is false. Every Japanese learner goes through it. You just need to keep studying every day until the amount you’ve learned finally reaches a critical mass and allow you to read simple materials like
Providing you keep studying grammar in parallel to your WK studies, you’d be able to start reading somewhere around lvl 20. A lot of people here, including me, started reading around that time.
At first, it won’t be easy, but then you would keep getting better and better at it. Then there would again come a time when it would feel like you’re not learning everything – and again the solution there would be to keep going!
Everyone has their own pace. For me it took 8 years (not months!) to reach level 60 on WK. And I’ve had many failed attempts at learning Japanese even before WK! Yet I managed to get to the point where I can read my favorite manga in Japanese!
Remember, you are not doing this to compete with someone, you are not doing this for others. You are doing this for yourself!
So, ignore other people’s quick success stories (especially as some of them might be exaggerated or even outright made up) and go at your own pace.
The great thing about WK – is that it provides you with a daily routine. Even if it feels like wasting time – just keep doing it every day – and eventually you would start seeing progress!
So, may the Great Cat of Meowtivation and Purrseverance return to you and best of luck with your studies!
You all gave me soooo much advices, encouragements and resources… i don’t know what to say, but thanks to all of you i’m boosted again ! thank you… thank you ..
