Hi all,
I went to Japan early last year, and I knew a little Japanese, but not a lot. I’ve been studying… let’s say very casually for a few years.
I’m thinking of going back at the end of the year, and I want to improve as much as I can while working full time. I’d say I’m currently somewhere between N5 and N4, but I’ve never done a test.
My current study is:
Vocab/Kanji:
Wanikani- at about level 30. I do about 5 new cards a day and review about 20 cards about 5 times throughout the day.
Grammar:
Bunpro – I’ve only just started this but I’m a little way into the N4 grammar. I do 3 new grammar… things each day.
Listening:
The Japanese With Shun and Sakura Tips podcast. Also sometimes Comprehensible Japanese. I’m also playing the Yakuza video game series. Usually at least something every day.
Reading:
Satori Reader, but it’s difficult/slow for me at my level . Only really do this on work days.
Speaking:
italki lessons for one hour each fortnight.
If I keep this up until the end of the year, do you think I’ll be good enough to hold basic conversations? What should I change?
2 comments
>Listening:The Japanese With Shun and Sakura Tips podcast. Also sometimes Comprehensible Japanese. I’m also playing the Yakuza video game series. Usually at least something every day.
I love podcasts, and when I was starting out would listen to Japanese podcasts during my morning run and my commute to/from work. Of all the podcasts, Japanese with Shun was the one I liked the least. He tries to speak slowly, but it breaks the flow and rhythm and just sounds unnatural. I dropped it pretty quickly.
The podcasts that did work best for me were Nihongo con Teppei, Noriko’s, 4989 American Life and Let’s learn Japanese with Small Talk, and the Hikibiki podcast. Those last 2 are really good to hear how two people talk to each other, and all the 相槌 that goes on continuously.
I also listened to a lot of condensed anime/drama audio for shows I had already watched.
sounds like you have a good routine for yourself. the only thing id suggest would be ‘practice how you play,’ so, if you want to have casual conversations, then practice conversation. language exchange apps like HelloTalk are good for that.