Level 21 before 2021!

Are there any other low-level WaniKani users out there who would like to be my study buddies and race to complete level 20 by the end of 2020 and open level 21 before January 1st 2021?

Please jump in if you’re low-level and want to work towards this goal together with me!

If you want to go for the long term goal of level 60, then Let's climb Tokyo Skytree - level 60 in spring 2022

PS: The Forecast and Star Symbol get updated (regularly) using this sheet.
If you put in your speed, it will automatically update after some time.

Leaderboard:

Username Goal Speed Original Level Current Level Forecast Level
\color{black}\mathrm{Level} \color{red}\mathrm{21}
Olliee 21 8 days joined: 15 current: 21 forecast: 21
mweibel 21 7 days joined: 5 current: 33 forecast: 31
Dino_y_Pelusian 28 8-9 days joined: 19 current: 27 forecast: 28
Sancho 25 15 days joined: 9 current: 27 forecast: 27
truandissimo 21 7 days joined: 7 current: 26 forecast: 25
Aikibujin 25 11 days joined: 4 current: 25 forecast: 25
Joeni 21 7 days joined: 10 current: 24 forecast: 29
Vendetta1881 21 10 days joined: 8 current: 22 forecast: 30
Tahazameel 21 10 days joined: ? current: 22 forecast:
herjeon 21 10 days joined: 14 current: 25 forecast: 26
Tinks 21 12 days joined: 7 current: 22 forecast: 27
esutasan 21 18 days joined: 3 current: 21 forecast: 21
cecilyf 21 12 days joined: 6 current: 21 forecast: 27
RyanS17 21 8 days joined: 5 current: 21 forecast: 26
imnotshelley 25 16 days joined: 16 current: 24 forecast: 29
HilbertXVI 21 9 days joined: 6 current: 21 forecast: 34
PaperbackAddict 25 9 days joined: 8 current: 21 forecast: 34
tnetennba3 21 7 days joined: 3 current: 21 forecast: 37
monkeyshine89 35 8 days joined: 3 current: 21 forecast: 33
Yuuzuu 21 12 days joined: 6 current: 21 forecast: 28
Michito 21 x days joined: 3 current: 21
Vergl 21 8 days joined: 3 current: 21 forecast: 33
KyokaJiro 21 11 days joined: 7 current: 21 forecast: 25
bagusprabangkoro 28 7 days joined: 9 current: 21 forecast: 30
ontron 21 8 days joined: 9 current: 21 forecast: 28
Crystfhiar 21 10 days joined:11 current: 21 forecast: 26
bangis 30 8 days joined: 6 current: 21 forecast: 27
zEUs_Japanese 21 06.11.20 joined: 5 current: 21 forecast: 24
sagittarius18 21 10 days joined: 5 current: 21 forecast: 25
Marifly 21 12 days joined: 3 current: 21 forecast: 25
csiga9 25 7 days joined: 11 current: 21 forecast: 26
Teckna 21 14 days joined: 3 current: 21 forecast: 22
Xae 21 11 days joined: 3 current: 21
ErikShiken 21 7.75 days joined: 8 current: 21 forecast: 24
Krispy 21 9 days joined: 16 current: 22 forecast: 22
shaenicole 21 13 days joined: 13 current: 21 forecast: 21
PamuPanda 21 9 days joined: 5 current: 21 forecast: 22
tetraflu0ride 21 15 days joined: 8 current: 21 forecast: 21
Mikeyboy42 21 9 days joined: 6 current: 21 forecast: 21
Indigo5ive 21 7.5 days joined: 7 current: 21 forecast: 23
beckswithspecks 21 9 days joined: 3 current: 21 forecast: 21
CDR-Strawberry 21 X days joined: 19 current: 21 forecast: 21
tbr1 21 8 days joined: 7 current: 21 forecast: 21
Tiagobione 23 15 days joined: 11 current: 21 forecast: 25

\color{black}\mathrm{Levels} \color{black}\mathrm{16 - 20}
Vuxt 21 8 days joined: 13 current: 20 forecast: 21
ds52075 30 15 days joined: 15 current: 20 forecast: 26
SpagetBakemono 21 7.3 days joined: 6 current: 20 forecast: 21
Victor866 21 14 days joined: 7 current: 19 forecast: 26
Teadrinker 21 11 days joined: 11 current: 19 forecast: 29
someone972 21+ x days joined: 8 current: 19
Entropiya 21 7d joined: 5 current: 19
Sorrymasen 21 x days joined: 15 current: 18
leafybear 21 25 days joined: 5 current: 18
amagi 21 7 days joined: 1 current: 18 forecast: 24
nemuitanuki 21 x days joined: 11 current: 18
FelinePrincess21 30 10 days joined: 12 current: 18 forecast: 21
Jamuko 21 15 days joined: 2 current: 18
Dunkelfuchs 21 8 days joined: 17 current: 17 forecast:
P90 30 x days joined: 5 current: 17
Pinebubbles 25 15 days joined: 17 current: 17 forecast: 28
evolutionxbox 17 13 days joined: 17 current: 17 forecast: 26
vvv 30 8 days joined: 3 current: 17 forecast: 26
Chewt 21 8 days joined: 9 current: 17 forecast: 22
khudd2 21 7 days, 18 hours joined: 1 current: 17 forecast: 17
Abbas099 21 7 days joined: 4 current: 16 forecast: 35
acbnyc 21 8 days joined: 4 current: 16 forecast: 35
bcesards 21 14 days joined: 13 current: 16 forecast: 21
MissBerry 21 ~12 days joined: 5 current: 16 forecast: 21
eoame 21+ 8-9 days joined: 1 current: 16 forecast: 21

\color{black}\mathrm{Levels} \color{black}\mathrm{11 - 15}
Pearldrummer7 26 15 days joined: 12 current: 15 forecast: 26
amynor 21 30 days joined: 15 current: 15 forecast: 21
tankwidow 21 x days joined: 5 current: 15
elisabeth 21 13 days joined: 6 current: 15 forecast: 21
PecYog 25 9 days joined: 14 current: 14 forecast: 25
lillisimone 21 15 days joined: 11 current: 14 forecast: 25
Marc2lyon 21 12 days joined: 3 current: 14 forecast: 25
Michael20 30 8 days joined: 14 current: 14 forecast: 32
Tyogin 25 12 days joined: 10 current: 14 forecast: 25
Hoshikuzu 17+ x days joined: 10 current: 14
Amadessa 21 9 days joined: 6 current: 14 forecast: 21
Kazu0103 21 14 days joined: 13 current: 14 forecast: 16
Stephasocks 21 10 days joined: 13 current: 13 forecast: 20
TedLoukas 21 10 days joined: 5 current: 13 forecast: 30
Mikki_desu 30 10 days joined: 6 current: 13 forecast: 30
Asfand 21 14 days joined: 11 current: 13 forecast: 25
mrser 21 16 days joined: 13 current: 13 forecast: 23
JJ_Katzwinkel 21 18 days joined: 8 current: 13 forecast: 21
Yviee 16 10 days joined: 5 current: 13 forecast: 18
becha2 21 13 days joined: 10 current: 12 forecast: 14
ToastedRice 40 11 days joined: 12 current: 12 forecast: 27
Yagisama 21 14 days joined: 12 current: 12 forecast: 24
amb3rfro5t 21 10 days joined: 8 current: 12 forecast: 29
Raj_07 30 7 days joined: 12 current: 12 forecast: 30
jere169 21 10 days joined: 7 current: 12 forecast: 22
Zethetet 21 8 days joined: 1 current: 12 forecast: 27
Dandi 21 9.5 days joined: 5 current: 11 forecast: 29
xanathar 21 7 days joined: 3 current: 11 forecast: 35
Huwinner 21 9 days joined: 4 current: 11 forecast: 30
postliminal 21 15 days joined: 5 current: 11 forecast: 22
cringe 27 8.5 days joined: 5 current: 11 forecast: 27
jhnvrzsa 21 12 days joined: 11 current: 11 forecast: 22
nmcs4102 21 9.8 days joined: 10 current: 11 forecast: 22
keywi 21+ 11 days joined: 6 current: 11 forecast: 16
honj90 21 9 days joined: 2 current: 11 forecast: 20
ReiLossefalme 21 15 days joined: 9 current: 11 forecast: 21
diego_barreto 17 11 days joined: 7 current: 11 forecast: 17
Gemmabee 21 x days joined: 4 current: 13

\color{black}\mathrm{Levels} \color{black}\mathrm{6 - 10}
Realta 21 10 days joined: 8 current: 10 forecast: 27
miconauta 21 10 days joined: 7 current: 10 forecast: 27
Flyerken 21 10 days joined: 7 current: 10 forecast: 27
Snowstorm 21 10 days joined: 5 current: 10 forecast: 27
Froglady2 21 10 days joined: 3 current: 10 forecast: 25
Simba144 21 9 days joined: 5 current: 10 forecast: 28
hodgeling 21 10 days joined: 4 current: 10 forecast: 22
kathryna910 21 10 days joined: 2 current: 10 forecast: 16
TweedleDumb 21 10 days joined: 7 current: 10
selinchan 21 8 days joined: 9 current: 10 forecast: 21
TheAncient 11 10 days joined: 4 current: 10 forecast: 11
Matskye 21 10 days joined: 3 current: 9 forecast: 26
Facade 21 10 days joined: 9 current: 9 forecast: 26
Reta232 21+ 10 days joined: 4 current: 9 forecast: 26
rainberries 21 10 days joined: 3 current: 9 forecast: 26
hazimaaen 21 11 days joined: 3 current: 9 forecast: 26
OikawaTooru 21 x days joined: 5 current: 9
Olligator 10 15 days joined: 4 current: 9 forecast: 10
hims 21 15 days joined: 5 current: 9 forecast: 22
Cassan 21 10 days joined: 6 current: 8 forecast: 21
AaronGomez 30 8 days joined: 6 current: 8 forecast: 29
kimnguyen417 21 10 days joined: 3 current: 8 forecast: 25
foxfaerie 21 8 days joined: 4 current: 8 forecast: 29
birdee 21 10 days joined: 3 current: 8 forecast: 25
majkpal 21 7 days joined: 2 current: 8 forecast: 22
Tael 21 8 days joined: 7 current: 8 forecast: 21
adeli 10 9 days joined: 2 (11/9/20) current: 8 forecast: 8
Willow_McKibbin 21 8 days joined: 4 current: 8 forecast: 12
Isedith 21 9 days joined: 7 current: 7
iknownothing 21 x days joined: 4 current: 7
nooby 21 x days joined: 7 current: 7
Jack04 21 10 days joined: 2 current: 7 forecast: 24
stupidsyrup 21 11 days joined: 7 current: 7 forecast: 20
leoxs 21 25 days joined: 5 current: 7 forecast: 12
T-Bone Shark 21+ 11 days joined: 6 current: 6 forecast: 19
Irwigo 21 x days joined: 4 current: 6
Vistiridesce 21 13 days joined: 5 current: 6 forecast: 19
Kudasai 21 10 days joined: 3 current: 6 forecast: 23
abrar95 21 8 days joined: 5 current: 6 forecast: 27
Cascades 21 x days joined: 4 current: 6 forecast: 16
nodoet 21 10 days joined: 1 current: 6 forecast: 19

\color{black}\mathrm{Levels} \color{black}\mathrm{1 - 5}
Coddiwomple 21 10 days joined: 2 current: 5 forecast: 22
maiki 21+ 10 days joined: 1 current: 5 forecast: 20
Keicci 21 10 days joined: 5 current: 5 forecast: 22
mpernst 21 11.5 days joined: 3 current: 5 forecast: 20
Onion_Lad 21 11 days joined: 4 current: 5 forecast: 17
markykabarky 21 8 days joined: 4 current: 4 forecast: 25
Pamplemouss 21 10 days joined: 4 current: 4 forecast: 21
Nightmaker 21 9 days joined: 2 current: 4 forecast: 20
H3x 21 14 days joined: 1 current: 3 forecast: 15
Glimmer465 10 15 days joined: 3 (9/26/20) current: 3 forecast: 9?
Jraff 21 7 days joined: 1 current: 2
schneesan 21 ?? joined: 2 current: 2 forecast: ??
GRASBOCK 50 x days joined: 1 current: 1
135 Likes

Good idea! I’m in :slight_smile:

Who has some tips for additional study material? I’m using Japanese the Manga Way (love it), 80/20 Japanese, and the little yellow grammar book of course. Youtube: Cure Dolly (if it clicks, it clicks…) and Japanese Ammo.

11 Likes

I’m using the Jalup app, love it! https://japaneselevelup.com/

6 Likes

Is there any reason you plan on going that slow? Like I don’t expect everyone to try and set a new speed record for clearing 1-60 but just curious

8 Likes

We’ve got a Race to your Goal December 2020 JLPT, which goes until 06th of December. You can join if you want, even if you don’t take JLPT.

For exmaple, I’ve set myself 30 as a goal.

9 Likes

Whenever I speed through things I eventually burn out. Therefore I want to set my goal low so I can take it easy. I like the idea of finishing level 20 by the end of 2020 too :wink:

47 Likes

I think all the posts about people making it to level 60 in a little over a year are causing skewed perceptions of what’s a good speed. It’s certainly a subjective thing, but I don’t think that this speed is slow. Especially if you consider that one can get started with a lot of reading long before level 60, and I think that regular reading is one of the best ways to build a strong vocabulary and intuitive sense of the language.

75 Likes

I bet two weeks per level is faster than the median level up time for long term, active users of WK.

Lots of people start out faster but then burn out. The trick is to find a consistent speed that’s sustainable to the end.

50 Likes

Oh finally a group with a goal even I can achieve. :laughing: :laughing:

51 Likes

I am also in :slight_smile: I will aim for 25 though.
At university we use the marugoto books - good for classroom, not good for self study. I also use Genki for refreshing grammar, etc and a few JLPT books as I plan to take the N5 in July. It might get cancelled due to Corona (it should take place in a very affected region) though.

7 Likes

This is the truth. Case study: me. xD

13 Likes

Fair call I can appreciate arbitrary cut offs to match numbers

Was just wondering really since I had thought 30 was a moderate rate for some one in March to get to so 20 seemed low to me
But everyone has their own motivations so paces are bound to vary.
Like I want to do n2 in December so I’m trying to stay close to the max speed you can go and am aiming for like 50+

4 Likes

I’ve gotten to level 10 before and burned out. Slower (10+ days per level) seems to work better for me. I have a day job, a relationship, a dog and lots of other hobbies. I’m also learning Spanish and I’m trying to get my French up to fluency level. That’s why I’m planning to go slow this time :slight_smile:

17 Likes

That’s a good goal. :slight_smile: My one year anniversary on WK was in Feb I was around level 24 then.

15 days per level is a good pace if you have a bunch of other stuff going on and struggle to set aside even an hour for WK.

頑張れ!:smiley:

8 Likes

Ooo! I will most certainly tag along for the ride. I am nearing the end of level 3. I just need to complete a few more kanji and then learn 20 or so vocabulary. I should be on level 3 by next week, basically.

I try to do 10+ things per day. If radicals are involved, I might do 20 or so because radicals are easier (at least in the early levels). I have never once forgotten a radical and their meanings always come to the forefront of my mind whenever I see them, so yeah. I tend to do more in a day if the vocab are the same as the kanji, too. Like with the kanji and vocab: 犬 (いぬ)

Looking forward to learning alongside you, basically. Getting to the beginning of level 21 by the end of this year seems doable.

7 Likes

Perfect! I’m so glad that we are many here around the same level!

Looking forward to learning alongside you too!

3 Likes

Yup, same here. Full time job, kids, Life! Plus I know that a typical pattern for me is to start something, do too much too soon, burn out, not learn the lesson, do the same thing over again. This time I want to learn from my past mistakes!

12 Likes

Well said to both of you.

For me? I don’t have kids, relationships, etc. To be honest, my only excuse for going “slow” is that I want to not feel like I am rushing. I am on day 42 or something of level 2. That’s… bad. I believe I did too much in one go near the beginning and that’s why I just sort of stopped doing stuff.

I have been consistently doing my Japanese studies for the past few days now that I have gotten into a new routine. I have reimersed myself in Japanese stuff, too. Like watching videos of places in Japan, listening to Japanese songs (favourite is - YouTube right now).

Ah. Learning Japanese is a lot like riding a roller coaster, to be honest. Fun, though! Good luck to everyone else who has had a rough start. As long as you don’t give up on your dream of learning the language, you’re bound to come back one day and get a good routine going. =D

7 Likes

I don’t think that it’s slow tbh.
Anyways try not to think too much about your goal and more about being disciplined. I know that you are starting out and you have dreams an all that, but to be honest they aren’t really that useful.
There is a type of person here and everywhere else that gets done what they say they are gonna do, and maybe you are one of those. But many of us don’t have their discipline and work ethic, and maybe it’s better for us to think less about plans and more about actual daily work. I mean I planned finishing wk in 2 years, and here I am after like 4 lol. It’s really harder than it seems and like I said planning something like that might work for some, but if you know you tend not to finish things, like me, well we better just stop thinking or talking about our goals too much, because it makes us feel good like we already got the achievement and then we lose motivation.

8 Likes

I totally agree with you. Seeing some posts where people race through WK might especially screw with people who are new to WK or learning japanese in general.

Reading does take up quite a bit of time and you are gonna be a bit slower when you’re doing other things outside WK (obviously). But reading is probably one of the best ways to learn/study a language IMO.

Although I think you shouldn’t go too slow, since you might lose interest or something like that, the bar is different for everyone and everyone learns differently. In the end if you get it done, it probably doesn’t really matter how long it took you.

12 Likes