Hello everyone! I’ve been a WK user off and on for almost six years, but in an effort to make my study habits more consistent, I’m going to start a study log here! I’ve been taking it slow and I’ve restarted… three times, I think? I think my highest level has been 26, but after restarting back in October, I’m currently at 12. Basically, I study hard for a while, and then get overwhelmed be reviews piling up, and restart to wipe the slate clean. But no more! I’m going to do it for real this time.
Current stats:
Genki I Chapter 1
Wanikani Level 12
Background:
I’ve always been interested in learning languages, probably since I was around eight or nine years old. I never got really proficient though until I started taking Spanish in school. In high school, I was friend with a lot of people who were into anime, and because I like learning about languages, I decided to give Japanese a try. I didn’t start taking it seriously until a couple years later when I found out about WaniKani through a youtube channel I follow.
Ultimate Goal:
I know it’s a lofty goal, but I’d like to one day be able to pass at least the N2, but hopefully N1. I’m majoring in English right now for my bachelors program, but I’m thinking about pursuing Comparative Literature one day for grad school. That usually requires high level proficiency in a second language, and intent to learn a third throughout your program (third would probably be Chinese, although again, that’s a long ways away).
Current study plan:
- Keep reviews at 0 each day (in the past week, I’ve gone from 1300 down to 200, so once I get to zero, I don’t want it piling up again)
- Do 15 lessons a day
- If I have extra time to study, complete some Genki
I’m going to try to update this log at least once a week, but hopefully more depending on progress!
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Welcome! Do you know Tokini Andy’s video series on youtube? He goes through the grammar for each Genki chapter, it’s very helpful.
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No, I hadn’t heard of him, but thank you for the recommendation! He seems like a good resource.
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Day 1, done!
I’m back down to zero reviews after five months of a backlog, and I’ve done my 15 lessons for the day.
Coincidentally, I also hit level 13 today. It still feels weird to say it, but I’m not going to fast-track my new lessons like I usually would. An eventual level up is better than building up a backlog again.
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Update, 06/08/24:
This week didn’t exactly go to plan as I was working a completely different schedule at work, but I did manage to keep my reviews at zero still. I think I missed about half my lessons. I’m taking a staycation this week though, so I’m planning on getting back on track. I think I’m also going to put my review counts from here on out.
Apprentice: 72
Guru: 436
Master: 202
Enlightened: 467
Burned: 859
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Update 06/12/2024
Past few days have gone really well! Keeping my reviews at zero and still doing 15 lessons a day. I’ve finally finished all of the vocab for level 12, and I’ve started on some of the radicals for 13. Should finish the rest of the radicals and some of the kanji tomorrow.
Apprentice: 100
Guru: 404
Master: 268
Enlightened: 449
Burned: 875
1 Like
Update 06/17/2024
Things are still going really well with my new study plan! I finished my lessons today for Level 13’s kanji and I’m getting some vocab lessons that I remember really well from before I reset. I probably didn’t need to go all the way to level 1 back in October, but I was just too overwhelmed. Here’s to not letting that happen again!
Apprentice: 80
Guru: 444
Master: 323
Enlightened: 449
Burned: 875
1 Like
Update 06/21/2024
Studying hasn’t gone as well the past couple days – I’ve managed to keep my reviews at zero, but missed two days of lessons because I wasn’t feeling well. Got back to it today, and have finally gotten to the point where I’m getting burns again! I’ve definitely forgotten some of them, but I probably got about half of them moved up to burn, which is better than I had hoped.
Apprentice: 80
Guru: 416
Master: 385
Enlightened: 419
Burned: 901
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Update 06/23/2024
Made it to level 14 today! It’ll be quite a while until I start the radicals and kanji because I still have to wrap up 13’s vocab, but I’m glad to see some progress.
Apprentice: 76
Guru: 381
Master: 443
Enlightened: 394
Burned: 922
1 Like
Update 06/28/2024
Things are still going well! Managed to do all of my reviews and my 15 lessons every day this week. I kind of struggled with reviews today because I was pretty tired, but I think things are still generally headed in the right direction.
Apprentice: 78
Guru: 426
Master: 335
Enlightened: 530
Burned: 922
Update 07/07/2024
It’s been a little bit since I’ve logged in this journal, but WK has been going very well! I’ve kept my reviews at 0 every single day since my last update, and I’ve done my 15 lessons a day (and I know I have because I’ve started tracking my stats on a spreadsheet in the hope that I get a cool graph out of it at the end).
Today, I managed to make it to Level 15! Surprisingly, it only took me 14 days to level up; I thought it was going to be closer to a month. This feels a lot more doable than it did before.
As far as content goes, I’ve had some very familiar vocab that I’ve been able to remember both the meaning and reading for at first glance, but I’m also facing some new vocab now because of all the content updates since I was last at level 14/15. I know it’ll get more challenging the farther I go, but for now, it’s just the right amount of challenging to keep me going.
Apprentice: 112
Guru: 386
Master: 450
Enlightened: 556
Burned: 922
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Update 07/14/2024
This week has been pretty good again. I forgot to do my lessons yesterday, but otherwise, everything is good – still keeping my reviews at zero, and I should level up again in about two days if everything goes well.
Apprentice: 67
Guru: 440
Master: 456
Enlightened: 631
Burned: 922
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Update 07/16/2024
Made it to Level 16 today!
Apprentice: 75
Guru: 434
Master: 482
Enlightened: 633
Burned: 922
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Update 07/30/2024
Level up day! I’m at level 17 now.
Haven’t been as diligent with my lessons as I should be the past couple days, but I am still keeping my reviews at zero.
Apprentice: 76
Guru: 384
Master: 464
Enlightened: 850
Burned: 922
2 Likes
Update 08/08/2024
Studies still going well! I got some of my first burns since I started the study log this week. Looking at my forecasted reviews, it’ll be about another month and a half until I get any burns again, but it feels nice to see measurable progress.
Apprentice: 107
Guru: 364
Master: 452
Enlightened: 941
Burned: 937
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Well done! keep up the good work =)
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Update 08/14/2024
It’s level up day! Made it to Level 18 today. Spent about 15 days on it, which has been about the standard since I’ve started this slow-and-steady study plan.
Also, another thing I’ve noticed since I started this plan is that my apprentice count is staying much much lower this time around. It’s been ranging from 80-110, which feels really manageable.
Apprentice: 83
Guru: 377
Master: 481
Enlightened: 983
Burned: 937
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Update 08/25/2024
This week went well! I’m still on 18, but things are going steady. I think I missed a day this week, so for the first time since starting this new study plan, I’ve actually gotten down to 0/0.
Apprentice: 114
Guru: 358
Master: 448
Enlightened: 1131
Burned: 937
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