Hello fellow reviewers, this is my first post on the WaniKani Community.
I just finished a review session of +70 items with 100% correct answers and I felt the urge to share with you a thought that has been bothering me for quite some time :
āAm I really learning all these characters and vocabulary words, or is it just an illusion?ā
Iāve tried to study kanjis with various methods (RTK, Kodansha, Writing kanjis on paperā¦), and I am amazed by how easy (and even addictive) it is to study on WaniKani. Since Iāve first created my account (in early december), I havenāt skipped one day of study and I am already at level 6.
The thing is, I tend to believe that you can only ālearnā something after having practiced this thing over and over. However, I donāt feel like I am āpracticingā on WaniKani. I was thinking about starting to read NHK easy news at around level 20, but I might decide to do otherwise depending on your reactions to this conversation.
To make it short, here is my question for those who are more experienced than me : āHow crucial is it to start practicing my reading skills with NHK easy news (or other easy reading materials) before I reach level 20?ā
(By the way, I am also using Bunpro on the side to develop my understanding of japanese grammar)
NHK easy news is quite high-level already if you start from scratch. I would recommend to start graded readers as soon as you can if you want reading practice.
If you want to read somewhat smoothly, yeah, around level 20 is probably where that starts to happen. But thereās nothing stopping you from digging in sooner, if you are willing to look up A LOT of stuff.
If you only did WK and never read any Japanese material, you would eventually forget nearly everything, I think. Even burned items will slip from your memory if you donāt encounter them enough, either through SRS or in the wild. WK is a great launchpad for being able to read kanji. It canāt read for you. You need to do that on your own. But it will give you enough of a foundation that you donāt need to look up every kanji you see (depending on your level and choice of reading material).
I have started reading NHK Easy around level 10. I used the rikaikun browser extention to translate text I coundnāt understand. This is a dictionary that generates popups for the reading and meaning of words when you move the mouse over them. You can look up for things fast this way.
For grammar I used the Bunpro search engine to lookup unknown grammar points. When Bunpro failed me I searched them on Google.
This is to say you donāt need to wait to read NHK Easy. Just have the proper tool and turn it into a learning platform.
You are learning to read them, and it is a powerful feeling! There is still more work to do to fully develop your other skills (grammar, understanding the vocab in context, etc), but youāve taken a big step. I strongly recommend to beginners that you get a traditional textbook like Genki and a private tutor, if you can swing it. It helps develop the other muscles quite well.
WK is easy rn because youāre still in the early levels, it def gets harder eventually! Not only you gotta keep up with more stuff, but the kanjis get more complicated and harder to differentiate at times.
As for reading, I say start reading stuff right away. Even if you donāt know much grammar/kanjis, just being able to have a faster reading speed is crucial to be able to read later on. Iād recommend starting with an easy manga, that way the pictures can still give you some context even if you donāt understand any words and youāll be less frustrated. If you canāt get physical copies, there are legitimate ways to get ebook versions of mangas like with Bookwalker or Amazonās Kindle (you can even get free samples iirc).
NHK web easy is a good resource, but itās def more for intermediate level. Itās labeled Easy because itās mainly for Japanese kids, who already know most vocab due to being native speakers, but need to have stories simplified for them, etc. I myself started reading and understanding stories on there during my 3rd semester of Japanese class at university.
Aside from the aforementioned graded readers, also consider checking out the Absolute Beginner Book Club. Itās a great way to learn grammar as you go, because you can leverage the experience of the community by asking questions along the way.
I started reading NHK Easy around Level 7 becauseā¦why notā¦ and while it may not be the most efficient, if you want to then go for it
And itāll increase your reading speed and get you used to the patterns even though you may not understand a lot.
Mind, Iām only a beginner too so take my words with a grain of salt
Donāt scare the young padawans! Thatās just you being crazy!
If you do like me, alternate between going faster and slower at the āfast levelsā you shouldnāt have more than 200 reviews daily, though I do have a bigger load this day. But, you definitely donāt have to get completely buried in reviews unless you like it that way! ^^;
As for reading. I started reading stuff long before I started my WK journey. Iāve also listened to Audio Dramas, podcasts, watched some Japanese anime, tv and movies, read some news, played games in Japaneseā¦and so on. All before WK.
I donāt think there is a too soon for any of these thing - if you have the patience for it.
Thatās really the only thing stopping you, because youāll have to look up a lot of words.
Also, depending on how well your grasp is of grammar is, that could be a road block. But I started reading with just some very basic grammar comprehension also.
At the very least, give reading a try.
And if you feel itās too challenging, just try something else. But, getting into reading and consuming Japanese media is a great way to support what youāre learning through WK. These things go hand in hand.
For myself, I liked KW and KS initially but Iām slowly easing into reading graded reading stuff and NHK Easy News and Iām leaving KameSame, and KW, behindā¦ Itās just too much of SRS and reading will be more helpful for recall of learned Kanji because itāll be in context. Plus, Iāll pick up new vocab, too;)
Also, with KW, it is getting annoying to be guessing which Kanji, or vocab, it wants when they are sometimes all called the same in English. You know which words Iām talking about
At least, KS gives you an indication if it wants the other Kanji, or vocab, and asks for it right away, getting it out of the way.
Thatās just you being crazy! 
