Yesterday I finished my final uni exam, and with it all my course work, so from today onwards I’m looking to focus fully on Japanese! I am moving to Japan in August, and I want to put as much hours in as I can before then.
My regular schedule (before today), was around 1-2 hours fairly light studying. Now I am done with uni, I feel I can commit at least 4 hours, if not more.
My schedule previously was…
About 20 minutes in Duolingo in the morning (slowly phasing that out I think)
About 30 minutes of Anki flashcards (mostly listening comphresion/grammar practice)
About 20-30 minutes of WaniKani
I usually watch about an hour of Japanese media before bed also.
My Hiragana/Katakana is decent at a beginner level I feel, I can form words and sentences (slowly), and my listening comprehension is getting better also, thanks to Anki. I’m about level 6 on WaniKani, so it is slow going but thankfully I am enjoying it!
My main two areas where I feel I struggle is a) grammar/particles and b) reading comprehension. Grammar is something I still struggle with massively, and although I understand the concept of all the basic particles, I still struggle fitting the correct ones into sentences/fully understanding why one particle fits in what place. Like I mentioned, although I feel good about my reading, I certainly need a more immersive, but beginner experience, in the same manner I am getting with my listening practice.
Do you folk have any advice on programs, apps or tools that focus on these areas that would benefit me? I mostly study on PC, although I am not opposed to phone apps/books. Thanks!
3 comments
Sounds like you would benefit from graded readers. Some examples here:
https://tadoku.org/japanese/en/free-books-en/
For grammar apps, Bunpro is the usual recommendation. Bunpo also exists (it’s not the same thing). You can also use a good old book like Genki.
Duolingo is not very good at teaching grammar, so don’t hesitate to vary sources.
Try reading some graded readers as well : [https://tadoku.org/japanese/en/graded-readers-en/](https://tadoku.org/japanese/en/graded-readers-en/)
The quality of free graded readers vary, but you can find nice ones.
As someone who’s been living in Japan for nearly four years and am fluent, the best advice I have for you is this – you want to practice conversation and listening.
No grammar rules or particles will save you in real conversation. Watch a lot of YouTubers, NHK even and get used to native speed and the way they talk. Especially Duolingo and textbooks teach rather useless Japanese (no one talks the way those apps show).
I recommend following speaks_jp on Instagram as it’s the best account I ran into that teaches real Japanese. Also maybe get a Japanese language partner on apps like Langmate or Italki.
Good luck!