Background: started the N5 class last january, changed job mid-september, became a father in octobet, completed class and passed the exam in december.
Then… I literally downshifted. The N4 class started in january but it seems like I cannot do my daily reviews anymore, forgot so many kanjis and vocabulary and now I feel already 1 month behind. I said to myself that I would have stayed on track, weekly reviews and all, practiced listening more since it’s a weak skill… It feels like I wasted a whole month if not more.
On top of that there is my brain often self-judgemental and harsh on myself.
So yeah, I am trying to breathe here looking for some advice from the community about how to get back on track and maybe try to be more efficient and motivated because it’s already feeling overwhelming. My Anki decks are there looking at me
It sounds like you have a lot going on, probably without a lot of spare time and sleep if there is a baby at home!
First, why are you taking Japanese? If you live in Japan, have a Japanese partner or need the class for work/a degree, then you may need to set daily reminders to study.
If you don’t need Japanese right now, then you might benefit from taking time away from the class. You have a lot going on in your life, and sometimes if you don’t slow down, you burn out (I quit my previous job because of burnout and have no regrets about shifting my priorities). You can still study kanji daily and maybe do some self-study or try a private tutor for speaking practice, but with less hours each week.
Honestly? I do not want to renounce it. I literally have this as my main hobby rn, already left behind several things, and I would really want to keep studying to reach a good level. I guess it’s because of time invested, interest and yeah, even self esteem probably (which is not a good connection, I know).
I just wanna avoid buenout and keep the spark alive, if that makes sense.
Japanese is a primary hobby for me, too, so I get that. The key for me is finding something fun to connect with regularly, and allowing phases where I let go of elements as they become less relevant or cause some symptoms of burnout.
Maybe right now it’s not the time for a class or srs, but it’s a great time for an audio program or a graded reader / Satori subscription. Those are just examples, but whenever I needed to boost motivation, letting go of something I wasn’t attracted to and picking up something else not only rekindled my spirit for Japanese but helped me advance simply because a new routine changes the perspective
A pause in srs doesn’t mean you never do it again! For some things I paused, I picked up later in a different way and the change helped me. For other things, I could only realise in retrospect it was helpful to have done them then, and helpful to have moved on now, if that makes sense.
So my summary is, consistency is so important to Japanese and makes it more rewarding as a hobby, but as for the actual activities we do, change is often not only refreshing but a necessary part of growing with this hobby
I think this is essentially correct. SRS and directed study are useful but not necessary parts of learning a language, and it’s completely fine do do something less hard work when you’ve got a lot on elsewhere.
Listen to podcasts, watch videos, read books. As long as it’s content aimed roughly at your level you’ll learn from it.
Thank you both, you gave me some points to ponder about! I will keep attending class because it allows me to progress on grammar, but for a while I will just do the basic and will try to let it go if I don’t learn the vocabulary strictly related to the lessons.
Was asked by a few classmates for some study group, but I wanted to do something else and I read a japanese book instead.
Outside the class I will try to focus on what I enjoy. Let’s see how it goes.
Thank you both! Sometimes a few words help a lot. Much obliged
You’ve already received good advice here, so I’m not sure how much this will add, but if you’re not finding motivation coming naturally it may be because you’re either not remembering or don’t know why you’re learning the language - if it’s just something to do, when life gets busy as it certainly has for you, that naturally relegates it lower down the totem pole. And if that’s where it is for you, then that’s fine - Japanese will still be here ready for you when the time allows if it can’t be a priority.
If you do have some personal reason for wanting to learn the language, hopefully that will help with the motivation. At that point, just remember that motivation can’t create time or address other life issues, so even if it’s highly important to you for intensely personal reasons, there may be days or even weeks where you can’t do a lot of study. That’s also okay - no language learner should ever have to prioritize learning the language over the demands of their life.
I would just suggest try to interact with the language and learning when the time allows. If that means cutting back or eliminating SRS, or reducing the amount of work done, that’s okay - it may mean you get to your goal a little slower, but if it avoids burnout and lets you maintain some progress, it means you’ll still get there.
