Daily Thread: simple questions, comments that don’t need their own posts, and first time posters go here (February 19, 2024)

8 comments

1. Was wondering if there was some sort of reader graded against Genki and/or Quartet. I study other ways, too, and consume plenty of other content/input nowadays, so I do not need recommendations on that, I am just wondering if there is some sort of extended reading using Genki and Quartet grammar points and vocabulary. Kinda like the readings in the back of the Genki books that were “bonus reading practice,” but just like, more of that. I guess I just enjoy that targeted manner of really hammering lessons home. If not, I guess I could maybe work on something like that myself with a cumulative, sorted list of grammar and vocab, or I’ll just keep scrounging around the usual places. Thanks!

2. I am currently N5 and pretty soon, I’m going to get new shelves put up for my books and manga, but I’m a little worried about if I should get Japanese or English volumes for my manga.

   I still haven’t learnt basic kanji yet, but should I buy Japanese volumes to practice with and save me the hassle later?

3. Memrise was one of my favorite apps for community Japanese courses, but it’s dying a slow death. Are there any apps similar to it that I should look at?

4. When using the verbs with the grammar point より〜方がいい, does the verb have to be in dictionary form? (Example: 歩くより走る方が早いです。)
   Thank you in advance!

5. Hi,

   I am just learning about the  ば … ほど  grammar construct. I was wondering, can we use てあげる / てくれる / てもらう  in this construct as usual, or is it more common to not use them?

   For example, if i want to say “The more my teacher teaches me, the better i become at Japanese”

   I believe I can say this:

   先生  が  教えれば  教える  ほど、私  の  日本語  が  上手  に  なる

   But can i also say this (below)?

   先生  が  教えてくれれば  (教えて)くれる  ほど、私  の  日本語  が  上手  に  なる

   Thank you

6. Can I use the word 最悪 (さいあく) when talking to friends after a “bruh” kinda moment happens? For example, if a friend drank the last few beers in my fridge without asking, would it be alright to use that as a response?

7. can I have some thoughts on these two comments, during class yesterday.

   The first,
   [about one student, the teacher says:] you probably can clear N4 during next exam. but N3 is probably gonna need some time and learning.

   Then,
   [to the same student, same teacher says:] your kanji writing (for N5 N4) is weak. let’s work on that. to be good with the other elements, like reading and comprehension, listening and speaking, while being bad with writing even with a computer/smartphone, might not be good in long run.

   example of weak kanji: mixing up the radicals on the left side. unable to recall words like 曇、電気、話. another thing: unable to read 白菜 (はくさい）

   do you find these two comments conflicting? I do. one comment would lead the student down to cram and practice N3 (hence spending time). the other would lead the same student to practice writing (cannibalizing time). conflicting, no? or is the student expected to do both?

   the goal here, to be clear: would be to clear N3. we are considering short term (1 year duration) goals. why clear N3? salary increment.

8. What is まい as seen in もう子供じゃあるまいし、あいつが何をしようとあいつの勝手だろう。