As the title suggests, I’m having trouble remembering the vocab from textbook chapters. My current level is all over the place as I’m self taught without textbooks. But now I’m giving them a go. I’m starting from the beginning (kinda) and working my way through all the stuff again just to refresh my memory. I already know most of the words and phrases used but when new vocab comes up I’m having trouble remembering it.
I’m new to textbooks so I don’t really know the proper way to do this. Do you guys (or gals) just keep writing these new words over and over until you remember them or maybe keep repeating the chapter until you do know them? What’re your methods?
4 comments
I memorised the vocabulary before starting a chapter. If you don’t care about how to write words, that saves a lot of effort.
Writing a list or paper flashcards is helpful for learning vocab. But you can’t change the order of the list or classify hard words. Paper flash card piles start to get really big and unwieldy for later review.
Some computer SRS is great for longer-term review of memorized words, but I don’t like it much for learning new vocab. YMMV.
Like kanji, remembering is easier when it’s sentences/context, rather than a single word or kanji by itself.
Also, you should be using the new vocab immediately in order to help memorize it. You should be reading it, writing it, hearing it, and speaking it, again, in context of the language.
E.g. 今日 – today. 今日は何をしますか？ – What will you do today?
In this example, you should already know 何, は particle, を particle, and か. Just add する verb, which becomes します, and you have the sentence. It’s a simple sentence, but it’s far easier to actually use, than just trying to remember some random word.
I think people use SRS programs such as Anki
I had the same issue with textbook vocab at first – I couldn’t remember them all just from the chapters, but I procrastinated making flashcards. Eventually I found the [Anki decks for Genki](https://sethclydesdale.github.io/genki-study-resources/lessons-3rd/), and that solved it. I go through my Anki reviews slightly ahead of the chapter, and I know the words well enough to use them once I’m doing the exercises.
Even if you’re not using Genki, there are probably pre-made decks for your textbook. Worst case scenario, you could make your own.
Edit: since you mentioned already knowing a lot of words, don’t be afraid to delete any cards you don’t need out of a premade deck. There’s no need to keep reviewing 猫 or whatever for the umpteenth time.