Kick it into high gear?

4 comments

1. >improve as fast as possible

   clearly what you’re doing isnt working. find a different way. there is no “fast” or shortcuts to language learning

2. I have no idea what your level is or what your plans for your trip are like, so this is based only on my own experience!

   I went to Japan for the first time in about ten years, and self-studied before the trip for about two years. I don’t do anki, but I had done WK to level 45ish and audiobooks and I could read pretty well. I did no speaking practice, but I had studied Japanese in college (ten years before) so it’s not like I had never spoken Japanese.

   I learned (or maybe re-learned) quickly on my trip that input comprehension is way more important than speaking. Reading was super helpful, but listening skills were the most important by far.

   With my terrible grammar and very rusty speaking skills I could get almost anything across that I needed to, whether to shop clerks or hotel staff or my host family. But if I couldn’t understand what they said back to me, or what question they asked me, things deteriorated quickly. And the same with having casual conversations at bars – people were very forgiving of my terrible grammar and vocabulary, but if I didn’t seem to understand them they got anxious or frustrated and tried to use a translator or stopped engaging with me.

   So my recommendation is to train your listening skills as much as you possibly can. I used audiobooks because that way I could focus only on listening and also there was no temptation to turn on subtitles like with TV. You could also use an iTalki tutor, I’ve never done that but I imagine it would be even more helpful for simulating typical conversations.

   Again though, it really depends on your goals for the trip and what your current level is.

3. The answer depends on a lot. When is that trip exactly (next week? Get a tourist phrase book. Next year? You could reach N1). How much time are you able and willing to put in. Are you learning specifically for the trip (so just focusing on talking), or are you just taking this opportunity to improve in a rounded way (including reading). Are you willing to spend money on tutors (for the talking). Are you like nearly done with Wani Kani, or still in the early stages.

4. There is like 2 gears in language learning. I think you’re already using gear 2, not much you can do. Gear 3, if it exists, will only give you marginally better results.