NerdQueen's Study Log 🌻

Japanese Language Study Logs (Public)
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みなさん、こんにちは！NerdQueenのstudy logへようこそ！

Hi everyone, welcome to NerdQueen’s study log!

Recently, I’ve been feeling a bit aimless in my studies. My inputs/outputs feel so random, without focus or consideration of progress. I wanted to create a study log to help give focus to my studies and actually reflect more on what I am doing to continue improving Japanese. So…let’s get into it! :sparkles:

About Me :pencil2:

Hey everyone! My name is Katie. I am 31 years old and live in the greater Boston area. By day, I work as a lawyer. By night, I write romance novels, knit sweaters, play way too much Civilization, and drink lots and lots of coffee. I’m talking Gilmore Girls levels of coffee.

My Japanese Journey – So Far :cherry_blossom:

After watching Sailor Moon on TV as a kid (Toonami anyone?) I became obsessed with Japanese media. As a teenager I was really into Gothic Lolita fashion and began casually studying Japanese. And by casually I mean just imagine spelling out my name in the worst pink gel pen katakana you’ve ever seen.

About seven years ago, I went to Japan for the first time. After that trip, I got serious about studying the language and have been studying almost every single day since then! The majority of my studies have been 独学 but I took an online class via the Showa Institute’s Boston campus last year and loved it! Shout out Kowata-sensei.

On paper, I’d put my ability around an N3 level (I know everyone says that…). My speaking and listening skills are weak, however, and I am hoping to improve those!

Long-Term Goals :art:

  • Someday, I would like to be able to read my favorite Japanese novel, “Breasts and Eggs” by Mieko Kawakami, in Japanese.
  • It would be cool to pass JLPT N1, too T_T

Short-Term Goals :books:

  • Get over my fear of speaking in HelloTalk/Discord chatrooms.
  • Finish WaniKani within the next year or so
  • Re-read Tae Kim

Current Routine :fairy:

Kanji Grammar Vocab Input Output
WaniKani (d) Bunpro (d) WaniKani (d) YouTube (d) Tandem (w)
KameSame (w) Tae Kim (w) KameSame (w) Podcasts on Spotify (d) HelloTalk (x)
Books & manga (w) Lang Correct (w)

(d) denotes “daily”
(w) denotes “weekly”
(x) denotes “occasionally”

WaniKani Clubs/Groups/Events

Where Else to Find Me :love_letter:

Thanks, everyone, for stopping by! I look forward to keeping this space updated with my studies! :blush::sunflower:

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Welcome to the study log crew.

What did you like about this novel? My family’s history made me squeamish about approaching this one.

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Hello there :slightly_smiling_face: (just so you know I think you’ve made a little typing mistake in your post, ようそう instead of ようこそ)

That’s something I totally relate with

For the articles and websites, there is an incredible extension on Chrome that can really help you to read more easily : rikaikun.

I hope that keeping up this thread will motivate you in your learning journey :rocket:

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Thank you!! Happy to be here.

I thought the novel was a really refreshing and insightful look into class and gender dynamics in contemporary Japan. Before reading it, I had only been exposed to Japanese authors like Haruki Murakami and Kenzaburo Oe, so to read a story from an explicitly feminist viewpoint was exciting for me! And subsequently opened the door for me to learn about other now-favorites like Banana Yoshimoto and Sayaka Murata. I guess a lot of my passion for the book is about the experience I had during/after reading it and less about the content itself :sweat_smile: Either way, I’ve always thought I’d love to experience the book again in its native language :blush:

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Dagnabbit, I did! Haha, off to a strong start over here. My excuse is that I am on a work computer and was copy and pasting my text from a random Japanese keyboard website :rofl: #lameexcuse

Glad to know it’s not just me! People really come into these chatrooms with such confidence and I am just like…how do you muster the courage to say anything?! I really want to improve my speaking and I know there’s no other way about it, so I am really trying to focus on this.

Thank you so much for the encouragement!

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Of… Madagascar?

Ah, America. Still the only country in the world to just assume the rest of the world knows you’re in America. Though unfortunately it works, because you’re the only country to do it.

Nice. Where’d you go?

When you get around to it, you can follow along with the book club threads. They’ve finished reading it, sure, but the questions and answers that people wrote are still there, and the threads are still there for posting your own questions.

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Status Update: December 6, 2024

Yesterday, I did ~250 WaniKani reviews. I started a new level shortly before leaving for a 2.5 week trip in mid-November and put WK on vacation mode. Since I got back, I haven’t been able to work through all of my reviews in a single day, usually leaving 100/350 at EOD – which means that it’s back up to 3-400 by the end of the next day. On top of that, I’m struggling to master the kanji this level. As you get into the higher levels, there are many more kanji that look similar (e.g. 授 and 緩 and 援) and many transitive/intransitive verb vocab words, which can sometimes all feel like a big mush in my brain.

Outside of WK, I spent some time listening to different HelloTalk voice rooms and even participated for a bit in the evening (a glass of wine helped me overcome my usual shyness…). It was really rewarding!

Today, I have 300 WK reviews staring me in the face that I plan to start on after I write this update. Then, I’ll do 30 minutes on HelloTalk.

I also plan on beginning a re-read of Tae Kim’s Guide to Japanese Grammar. I have read it once, but I realized a big issue with my current plateau is that I have tried to jam a lot of info into my brain but have not taken the time to go back and review that information. KemushiChan on YouTube made a video earlier this year about Japanese study habits, and she said one thing that made a lightbulb go off in my brain: re-read the notebooks you spend so much time artfully creating! For me, a love of stickers and washi tape and gel pens, nothing could resonate more. I create so many study materials for myself, only to never revisit them!

But I digress – given that grammar is a weak spot for me, I aim to re-read Tae Kim a few more times. I will aim for pages 1-41 today (which seems like a lot, but there’s a lot of intro and basics on the writing systems that I am already comfortable with – only 29-41 is actual grammar).

頑張ります!

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Hello hello it’s a chilly and gloomy day, but I’m sitting under a heated blanket, I just binged 4 episodes of Love is a Poison while finishing knitting a scarf, and now I’m ready to talk about Japanese!

The last few days I’ve been continuing with my usual routine (daily WK lessons/reviews; Renshuu grammar review) and starting Tae Kim a-new. I’m 50 pages in so everything is still review at this point, but I’m trying to use the opportunity to make my foundation even stronger.

I also wanted to reflect on a few grammar/vocab points that I can’t stop messing up!! Consider the below my current WALL OF SHAME. I keep missing these on WK/Renshuu quizzes and need to reflect more and drill these points so I finally get them.

Grammar Points

Vocab/Expressions

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Status Update: December 22, 2024

Gooood morning! What? How has it already been 12 days since my last update? The holiday season is in full swing and the end of the year is rapidly approaching, so life has been busy busy busy.

I’ve continued to do my WK reviews every day, though I’m only doing my lessons every other day or so to try and keep the place a bit slower. Renshuu grammar + vocab near-daily. I’ve hardly done any speaking practice, and the listening I did this week wasn’t very focused, either.

I am also really torn on whether to get the WK lifetime subscription during the sale?! I am more than halfway through…Actually, the pace of completing 1 level/month at $9.00/month would be $200 for the remaining 22 levels. Since I am going to spend the money anyway, maybe I get the lifetime sub and then I’ll still have access to WK (though I’m not sure what my longer term game plan is for kanji review? Maybe I’d just move over to KameSame…)

Anyway, that’s enough internal monologue for one day!

As for this week’s leeches, I bring you…

THE PAIN OF 傷

損なう - To harm

働きすぎてあんたが健康を損なうんじゃないかって、心配してるのよ。
I’m worried that you may ruin your health by working too hard.

傷つく - To get hurt

おばちゃんって呼ばれる年齢かなあ。傷つくなあ。
Aren’t I too young to be called a middle-aged woman? I’m hurt.

傷む - To be damaged; to spoil/go bad

このアボカド、昨日買ったところなのにもう傷んでるよ。
I bought this avocado yesterday and it’s already gone bad.

傷つける - To hurt someone; to scratch/damage

私たちも知らないうちに人を傷つけているかもしれません。
We may also be hurting people without knowing it.

傷める - To damage something

強い日差しに当たってはだを傷めてしまった。
The strong sunshine damaged my skin.

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Happy New Year! 明けましておめでとうございます！:bamboo:

I hope everyone had a fun-filled New Year’s Eve, and that their 2025 gets off to a magical start!

I know many people probably relate when I say that it’s been hard to squeeze in study time amidst the holidays, family obligations, and work! I currently have ~375 WaniKani reviews staring me in the face and, frankly, I think I had too much champagne last night to really tackle those in a productive manner :sweat_smile:

In terms of my goals for this year, I think that completing the next 10 levels of WaniKani is realistic, since I go at a pace of about 1 month/level. I would also like to continue to try to be more outgoing with regards to my speaking practice. There is a women’s English/Japanese conversation club that meets once a week in an area not too far from me and I would love to be a part of that (or at least go once to determine whether or not it’s a fit for my level).

Oh! Actually my primary goal is to take the N3 JLPT in July. I have been saying I am going to take this test for the last year or more, and I just keep missing the registration deadline. Having that on my calendar will be a great motivator to fill in the gaps of my knowledge that I will need to pass.

Anyway, I am going to sign off for now and get on with my New Year’s day affairs (which includes my annual tradition of dining at the Cheesecake Factory :joy:). Again, I hope everyone has a wonderful start to 2025! Looking forward to studying and learning with all of you this year.

:sparkles:

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Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well.

I haven’t written in a few weeks and I just wanted to share why.

Update. TW: pet loss/grief/death

My cat died.

My beautiful sweet angel baby peanut best friend and protector of my heart, Torby, is gone.

Just over two weeks ago, she was diagnosed with lymphoma. This was a huge shock, but my partner and I were determined to fight it to the fullest extent. I went into hardcore Mom Mode and began researching, joining all of the support groups, learning everything I could about how I could give her a fighting chance. My heart soared every time I read a story about another baby going into remission. I was ready to get a second job, sell bone marrow – whatever the fuck it would take to pay her bills.

She immediately started chemo and a daily steroid regimen and seemed to be feeling good. We enjoyed so many snuggles and sweet times together and we were both feeling positive.

Then, last Saturday, she seemed a little bit tired – but still snuggly as ever. It snowed and we spent all day watching movies together. I was worried, but she had another chemo treatment scheduled for Monday and I was ready to report everything then and run whatever tests were needed. When I woke up on Sunday, things had completely shifted. She was so tired she could barely move.

Still in pajamas, I rushed her to the ER at 8am. The vet only had to look at her for a moment before she confirmed my worst fear: Torby was ready to go back to heaven. I got to hold her and tell her how brave and beautiful she is while her spirit left her body. It wasn’t the parting I had planned – and was so surreal and painful, if I’m being honest. But I was there with her and I was the last voice she heard, the last touch she felt.

The last week has been the hardest of my life. My heart feels like it has been ripped from my body. The grief has taken such a toll on my body. I ache, but nothing relieves the pain. I am so tired, but no amount of sleep gives me energy. I have been eating like shit, drinking too much, etc.

But I am also finding so much joy and love in her memory. It seems counterintuitive, but looking at pictures and videos of her fill me with so much happiness because it is clear how loved and admired she was (is!) and how much she loves me. I am surrounded by friends and family who understand the pain and are helping me through it. While it feels far away, I know someday that the joy will eclipse the sorrow.

I love you forever, Torby :yellow_heart:

Well, I didn’t expect to get into all of that or get so vulnerable, but here we are! I know this really isn’t the kind of thing people post on here, but I also know that many people one here have beautiful relationships with their pets and would understand.

Anyway, I will post a study-related update soon, but just wanted to check in in the meantime.

Again, I hope you are all doing well and taking care of yourselves :yellow_heart: :sunflower:

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I know this pain and my heart breaks for you :persevere::broken_heart: I’m so sorry for the loss of your baby, rest in peace beautiful Torby :pray:

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Thank you so, so much. While it pains me to hear that you know what this is like, it means a lot to know that I am not alone through in these feelings. I really appreciate it :yellow_heart:

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From my personal experience: I’m in here in Study Logs for those stories as well: knowing what a person goes through and how their circumstances affect their life is making me even more interested in following their journeys.

I know it might sound painful to write it and have to relive those experiences, so I definitely don’t want to encourage people to go out of their way and write things they’re not comfortable with, but the pieces of humanity is what resonates and connects us together.

Rest in peace Torby :heart: :wilted_flower:

And I am doing well and taking care of myself: are you able to do so? Have you been able to bring a cup of hot tea or some hot chocolate to the studies since then?
Good luck on continuing your Japanese adventure and that’s your post, don’t feel embarrassed to post things that make you feel at ease here ^^

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Thank you so much for your reply. That’s a really beautiful way to look at it – we’re all here for similar reasons, but we are also all human with our own individual journeys and lives. It can be hard for me to reconcile those things sometimes, but it’s true and powerful.

Thanks for asking how I’m doing, too. I am functional, which is maybe the most I can ask for at the moment. I am barely getting by at work, but honestly continuing to put effort into my daily studies has been a nice escape (even if my pace is kind of slowed). This week I’ve been better at eating well, stretching, etc. and I can tell those things are helping. I know it will be a long process, so I am trying not to put pressure on myself to be doing/feeling anything in particular. And thank goodness for therapy. :sweat_smile:

I am actually going to a Japanese language exchange meetup this evening and I am simultaneously very nervous and very excited. I will report back!

Thank you everyone who’s reading for their good thoughts for me and my girl :yellow_heart:

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Hello everyone from chilly (but sunny!) Boston. Thank you again to everyone who shared kind thoughts on my last update – even just a heart on the post made me smile and feel seen. I really appreciate it and I am continuing to heal. :mending_heart:

Daily Lessons :pencil2:

Studying Japanese continues to be a happy distraction and I have continued to be consistent with my daily routine of WaniKani lessons/reviews, and Renshuu grammar review. I am dyyying to get to the 天国 levels of WK and will need to buy myself some sort of treat when I do.

I pretty much fell off the winter reading challenge, though I know I’ll get back in that groove at some point soon (It’s easy for me to tackle WK and Renshuu each day because I can do them while pretending to work…).

Meetup Fail :speech_balloon:

Last week I finally worked up the courage to go to a Japanese language meetup at a local cafe. I was running late from work, couldn’t find parking, and arrived to the cafe so nervous and sweaty. After peering around the room very awkwardly, I didn’t see any groups. I checked the Meetup page and saw…the group had been postponed for that week! Womp womp. Perhaps it’s for the best as I don’t know if I was quite in the headspace. :sweat_smile: I was, however, certainly in the headspace to go to the stationery store across the street and spend $50 on stickers…But I already RSVP’d to this week’s meetup, so now I have to go.

Podcasts I’m Enjoying :headphones:

I typically listen to Japanese podcasts on my commute to/from work. I recently got fully caught up with Japanese With Shun! I began listening in November and just caught up as of this week’s episode. I actually think this show helped my listening skills a lot. When I’m actually focusing (as opposed to passively listening) on the topic, I think my comprehension is at about 90%+, which feels really good. It has, however, emboldened me to check out other podcasts and that makes me realize just how easy Shun’s show is, haha.

But I’ve really been enjoying Saya’s Japanese Podcast. I believe all of her episodes are also available as videos on YouTube, too. Her content is so fantastic. She discusses meaningful social issues like sexism, discrimination, mental health, and more. This has helped me learn vocab and expressions that you wouldn’t typically find in mainstream study materials, but that feel really important to me as a learner and as a person in general. She only has about ~10 episodes out so far, but I’m already a huge fan.

Life!

In Non-Japanese Learning Land, I have been reading (and heartily enjoying) the new Sally Rooney novel, Intermezzo. I also just started listening to the audiobook of Abroad In Japan by Chris Broad – YouTube star of the same name. I’m really only listening to it because I love Sharla’s YouTube Channel (Sharmeleon) who Chris is engaged to. I’m about 10% in and…I’m not sure it’s for me. It’s like a few degrees better than something in the “Cool Japan!” milieu, but not by much.

After skiing for the first time in 2024, I was so hooked but haven’t been back since (because, you know, $$$). I really want to plan a ski day for some time in the next month or so, and there are so many good places around here to choose from. In a big sheeple move, I am also getting back to the gym at the start of the new year. I went yesterday and I am, how you say, weak as fuck. :muscle:

That is all from me in today’s installment! I hope you have a good week!! :kissing_smiling_eyes:

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ooh what stickers did you get? I will have to check out Saya’s podcast. It sounds interesting

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Lots of scrapbook-y type stickers (backgrounds/borders) and a couple rolls of washi tape as well!

Stickers!!!!
Stickers!!!!1920×1440 240 KB

My partner’s birthday is coming up and I am making him a scrapbook featuring our kitty. Making it is bringing me so much joy! Sharing some sample pages below.

Sample page 1
Sample page 11920×2075 409 KB

Sample page 2
Sample page 21920×2124 384 KB

Let me know what you think of Saya’s podcast after you’ve had a chance to listen! :blush:

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Great haul, the scrapbook is beautiful. Such a thoughful gift and scrap therapy for you too. I will add the posdcast to my list

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I noticed with skiing that there’s a decent few package holiday sites on the internet that do pretty good deals on the whole trip, I gave up on combining accommodation and skipasses and city passes separately ever since I discovered a German site called Snowtrex, there might be something similar in the US as well.

The biggest advantage of picking a package holiday is that they have deals with transport companies, local slopes and local hostels to sell everything as a single thing, and sometimes even a deal with a ski rental close by! And especially if you’re doing last minute, you could get a whole trip in a price of what it would’ve costed to just get the skipass separately~

If you end up going though, post pics, snow is awesome! C:

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