I was up to level 18 on Wanikani before taking a break when it became more stressful than fun. I am at level 9 on DuoLingo now and learning some basic grammar. I also have the Genki 1 book. I want to make the most of my trip: read signs and menus, ask for basic directions, shop etc. So should I get back into Wanikani to learn as many kanji as I can? Or focus on DuoLingo to just drill some basic phrases and grammar constructions? Or should I just watch a lot of Japanese language YouTube for ‘immersion’? Or is there some other method? What do you guys say?
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Practice on things you’re going to do directly. You want to read menus? Google image search メニュー to see what that will look like in practice, get a word list that’s menu specific, learn some basic phrases for ordering food or asking about food, learn kanji that are related to food, etc.
Thats the what, not the how. The method you use for learning the above is really up to you. Like anki? Sure. Prefer videos? I’m sure there’s some youtubers who do roleplay/skits around these sort of scenarios.
Erin’s challenge might be good for you as a lot of the skits are very daily life focused. Here’s about asking directions:
https://www.erin.jpf.go.jp/en/lesson/13/
Study the heck out of Genki 1, but also pick up a phrase book (Lonely Planet is fine) and maybe hire a tutor to get used to using the language.
Is also focus on survival phrases.
Signs and menus will largely be in kanji. You’re best off learning some basic phrases. Realistically 6 months to learn Japanese form basically 0 isn’t going to get you far.
Tourist phrase book.
I still don’t think six months is enough time. As many sightseeing foreigners do, it would be easy to access various kinds of domestic Japanese resources with good English guidance, within easy reach by train.
For now, you could concentrate on learning the most commonly used (spoken and read) phrases on a regular sightseeing tour, and make a list and note them down.
Information boards at train stations (sometimes there are none) often only provide English information for major facilities, and on many street corners, there is no English on the posted signs. So a smartphone map application would be a lifeline.
In the meantime, you might want to study the video on how to use and behave in Japanese convenience stores, and buy a stored fare & e-money card called Suica for convenient use. If you want it heated, say “*Attamete Kudasai*; Please warm it up.”. And “*Ohashi/Spu-nn Kudasai*; (disposable) Chopsticks/a spoon please” and “*Fukuro Ni Irete Kudasai*; Please put them in a bag” must now be said out clealy (with indoor voice). If you don’t need something, just keep quiet.