What should I know before I start studying with the Genki books?

5 comments

1. It’s self explanatory. The front of the book tells you how to use the book and its sections. You don’t need to know anything before you begin, the first two chapters cover hiragana and katakana. There’s a mobile app called Oto Navi that lets you download the audio for the chapters.

   You should buy the answer keys and workbook. However, there is a great online resource here https://sethclydesdale.github.io/genki-study-resources/lessons-3rd/ which has most of the exercises available and checks the answers automatically for you. So you may be able to save money and skip the workbook and answer key if you want.

   Look up Tokini Andy on Youtube, he has great videos for each chapter.

2. Yes. Take it as a starting point. Don’t expect it to explain everything thoroughly (e.g. the difference between は and が).

   Do note that the book prioritizes the desu/masu form (aka teineigo) and only introduces the dictionary form later.

   Don’t expect it to teach you much in the way of kanji either. You have the characters and the meanings, etc. but it doesn’t much in the way of tricks to help memorize them.

3. If you are learning on your own I think concrete goals are very important. For example learning all the joyo kanji or learning 5k vocab. That way you know you are making progress towards a goal even on your own.

4. before genki chapter 1: learn hiragana

   before genki chapter 2: learn katakana

   that’s all………..

5. I finished genki 1 and almost done with genki 2. Only advise would be to learn vocabulary beforehand (you might use anki for that). Otherwise you might waste a significant amount time going back to the vocab page over and over again.
   I greatly enjoyed these books I hope you will too!
   Ps: as other suggested, have a look at the channel of tokinihandy on YouTube. He explains so well and sometimes makes things a lot easier to understand (he covers both genki).