I started studying Japanese seriously by learning the kanji through RTK, and have been trying to learn some vocab before delving into actually reading (and listening) to media. My logic was that knowing some vocab (+ grammar that I would study subsequently) was necessary for comprehensible input for immersion to work. Kanjis were reasonably easy to get through, but I have been using Anki for vocab, and I find that I just can’t retain words.
Is this a bad approach? I tried to do more structured course but I just wasn’t able to keep going at it at the time.
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Are you learning kanji in isolation? At least in my experience learning kanji with a vocab counterpart not only makes it easier to remember but I also learn a new word. If you’re not already far through RTK you could check out [https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/759825185](https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/759825185). The words aren’t in any sort of frequency list but you at least get some vocab while learning the 常用漢å—.
Also what sort of deck are you using for vocab? There are a ton of factors that can change your retention rate.
Learning words is a whole new thing. I had the same problem but it will go away with a bit more grinding. You made it all the way through several hundred kanji… what’s a few weeks of more grinding, am I right? 😀 Remembering vocab that sounds nothing like your native language is very difficult, but you should see your comprehension rating going up slowly in a matter of weeks
just keep grinding it out, theres really not a better way to expose yourself to a breadth of vocabulary and build a wide foundation than just a SRS flashcard system. Then when you start to immerse yourself at the right level, you’ll not have to look up as many words per sentence.
If you’re looking for a slightly more structured approach, you can use an app like Renshuu that have vocabulary lists by level. If you approach beginner level vocabulary like JPLT N5/N4 lists, you’ll mostly be running into easy concepts and words instead of massive 2k/6k lists.
Consistency, frequency, and patience will be key in learning vocabulary.
Take the audio of the words and sentences you’re learning and listen to it as shadowing all through the day. You can learn 25, 50 words a day with this. Since you learned it earlier that day with translation, you understand it and it counts as comprehensible input.
As you already have basic with Kanji, meanings of new words are easy, the hard part is readings. Hearing the words and its sentences repeatedly all day help to engrave readings into your brain.
Your approach sounds great. However, what anki deck are you using? If you make it your self, that normally is better than having a Core deck. I personally think having a deck that looks nice makes me study better than if it was the basic note type.
If your main goal is to work through reading/listening to media, it might be more useful to get an Anki-deck based on a piece of media that on the easier side like [The Magic Tree House](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QZfCOz03pj64HvvyjbSusHY4NT3JwggF/view?usp=sharing) ^((I made this deck for a reading group in in charge of)) Core decks are good, but a specific deck based on something you are planning to read it better if you have that option. Wanikanibookclub has some vocab sheets that you could use to turn into an anki deck. Since you did RTK, Girls Last Tour might be a great first read for you. You could even combind WANIKANI’s vocab list with a subs deck for audio. Here’s [my deck](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p__r6cupHD4ExZtB6HYptHrmmpOxwCE0/view?usp=sharing) for that if your curious about how Subs and combined with a vocab based deck ^((Note: This deck doesn’t contain all words found in Girls Last Tour))
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Something I do with anki, is use custom study’s to go through the deck a couple of times when I’m using Anki to learn new vocabulary. **I dont’ use anki like most people.** I normally learn about 50-70ish new words a week rather than 5-10 words a day. In other words, I normally sit down and study new words in sets of 10, but only like on Sunday, and then I spend the rest of the week reviewing. Perhaps this might work better for you if what you’re currently doing doesn’t work.
You’re thinking too much. Comprehensible input isn’t about meeting a certain level of pre-reqs before you start focusing on input. Don’t delay input.
Learning vocab in context is much more effective for me, than anki. If you need repetition, re-watch episodes and clips. Because you get all sorts of context from the content, more-so than from anki.
You get the show, body language, setting, the entire plot leading up to the vocab, the scene(s) with the vocab, and the affect the conversation had on the plot. Not to mention the actor who said it, etc. These are all things that will help with memorization.
There is so much context to help memorization if you just start inputting.
tl;dr => start looking for comprehensible input yesterday; don’t worry about pre-loading to prepare for comprehensible input.