After hitting level 10 I really want start reading and have tried to on NHK やさしい to little success. I’ve picked up Genki one well before starting here and haven’t liked it too much as many of the words have no kanji and as I’m on my own the classroom style of it doesn’t suit me too well. What are some recommendations that transfer from level ~10 really well to focus more on grammar?
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I started with Genki I and II, but I was participating in a class and those worked well in a classroom format.
I used various textbooks on my way to N2, but recently I took a look again at Bunpro. I decided to restart my account so I can reinforce N4-N3 grammar points I’m a bit shaky on, and continue through N2.
I’m really liking it! The explanations are thorough with links occasionally if you want to explore something deeper. It’s well organized and seems better suited to solo study. It is also so useful to have an organized system for reviewing learned grammar points. The repetition is invaluable. You can also link your Wanikani account so furigana dissapears as you learn kanji.
I’m sure some folks with more experience may have more to say about Bunpro! But maybe take a look if you’re interested?
I’ve always found the most important thing is to pick a resource and engage with it.
Resources I used (and enjoyed!) in order ~
- Genki 1 and 2 (in a classroom setting)
- Quartet 1 (solo study, didn’t really do the exercises, mostly referenced grammar points)
- Kanzen master grammar N4, N3, and N2
- Bunpro!
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Any well regarded textbook is fine and the best one will be whichever you personally vibe with well enough to not quit it. Considering you didn’t like Genki for the classroom style, does it need to be a textbook at all? A lot of self learners get good results out of grammar from Cure Dolly on Youtube, or the written Tae Kim’s guide, or a bunch of other free online resources.
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At first, Genki was too intimidating and downright boring to me, so I started with the Irodori website (which has the Marugoto textbooks as a direct link imo). Then I went to Japanese from Zero 1 which is slow and easy to understand for beginners. He has free youtube videos too. After this, if you feel comfortable you can go back to Genki 1 or continue with JFZ 2. After that you can choose to continue with that series up to 5, go to Genki II or even pick up Shinkanzen Master with a good grammar dictionary as a supplement (which is what I did from N4).
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What is the best car? What is the best tool?
Obviously, and I am the baseline for opinions, the Mazda 6 is the best car. The best tool is the plasma cutter.
The best textbook for what? I don’t think there a best book, there is only a best for you textbook. I recommend the Japanese From Zero books, but others might recommend Genki and the others.
So yea, try some books out and see which one works best for you.
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I started with Japanese from Zero 1-3. I still haven’t done 4&5 yet. After that I used Genki 1, repeated JFZ 1-3, and tried Genki 2. I gave up on Genki 2, because there are too many group exercises. I’m now learning with Bunpro and have bought Tobira Beginning Japanese 1&2 and Tobira Intermediate Japanese. I Hope the exercises of Tobira are better for self study. I also have Quartet but I’m not ready for it yet.
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Is your objective grammar or reading ?
Because while knowing some pattern will help in reading ability as a whole you may find that grammar is not that impactful to your comprehension before vocab and kanji.
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I Had the opposites experience. When I read my First book, I wasn’t able to Tell If something was vocabulary or a Grammar. I looked Up every Word, but wasn’t able to understand the Sentence. And I wasn’t even Sure If I found the right vocabulary.
Kanji helps finding the right vocabulary in the dictionary, but you don’t need to know them yet If you read books where all Kanji have Furigana.
That’s why I came to the conclusion to concentrate on vocabulary and Grammar.
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Easier to use in classroom or session is Genki and Minna No Nihongo, but the most important aspect is to diligently use the examples and practice to understand and strengthen the grammar points. If you have a teacher, especially one on one, use the points in your conversation to explain things. If no teacher, imagine you are talking to someone using those grammar points.
The above helped me tremendously compared to just doing Bunpro SRS review.
Bunpro SRS and it’s reviews can help too if it is accompanied by the practice, create more examples, and use them in conversation.
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