I started learning Nihongo in college when my university offered a minor degree in Japanese Studies that was mostly just Japanese language classes. In these classes, we studied mostly Genki and in my final class a bit of Tobira. Just by taking Nihongo classes, I managed to pass the N4 JLPT, but I never got around to studying for and taking the N3 exam because I had already graduated, had to get a job, and basically life got in the way. Plus, I kind of doubted my ability to pass the N3 especially since it would have to be through self-study, and not a class.
That was about 6 or 7 years ago, so my Nihongo basically stagnated since I stopped studying. I tried to keep it fresh by sometimes writing my journals in ウルトラ優しい日本語ww but it wasn’t really growing my proficiency, it was just some form of self-consolation that I still retained some of what I learned.
This year, I really want to set N3 as a goal, and I finally have the time to study for it because life is a little less in the way. Is it a good idea to just start all over again from Genki I & II? Are there any other resources that might work for a not-quite noob like me? I would say my current proficiency level is that if I had to take the N4 right now, I’d have an okay chance of passing it, but not in a million years could I pass N3 without a lot of studying.
Any advice is appreciated 🙂
4 comments
look through the table of contents and see how familiar it looks and decide based on that
alternate idea: use the online workbook for a bit and see what you think https://sethclydesdale.github.io/genki-study-resources/lessons-3rd/
Try UsagiSpoon or TheMoeWay in general
[https://learnjapanese.moe/routine/](https://learnjapanese.moe/routine/)
[https://learnjapanese.moe](https://learnjapanese.moe)
One advantage of Genki is that you could blow through your old textbooks and notes quite quickly and this will be review of what you have already studied. You could set a goal based on pages/chapters/hours per day/week, etc.
Using a different beginner approach would provide new angles on grammar points and new sentences so that could broaden your skills.
Personally, I would prefer to do a quick (but thorough) review of beginner material to rebuild a foundation. Then move ASAP to the early intermediate and N3 materials.
Figure out a plan that you like best and works with your learning style, goals, and schedule. Then execute.
Is a JLPT certificate something that will directly make your life better? If that’s the goal you’re going for, then a well-respected textbook sounds like a smart choice. But motivating yourself without a teacher cracking the whip sounds like it’s not much fun.
Personally when I need consolation, I spend time with content at a level I have *thoroughly* mastered. If the brain gremlins show up and are like “you don’t actually understand Japanese” – I can be like “bruh, there are entire genres of anime and manga that I can enjoy without breaking a sweat.”
And then I do exactly that, and it’s great. I don’t want to *stay* at that level and just rest on my laurels. I’d stay that understanding a novel is more rewarding, and now that I’m starting to understand social media language *that* is exciting and gets me fired up. (But it’s hard work, and sometimes I put in that work only to discover that people are apparently being toxic at each other. SNS is a real bowl of cherries.)
Your motivations might have some similarities with mine. They might be different. And they’ll likely change over time. So I think it’s important to be aware of them and work towards them. Please don’t think that textbooks are the only way to get yourself launched – they aren’t, and for many people they’re just not that good for self-study.
Personally I’m a big fan of [Refold](https://refold.la/) advice (I don’t use their paid products, so no endorsement there) and would like to give a big honorable mention to [The Moe Way](https://learnjapanese.moe/). The Refold community is very slightly less weeby (it cross-pollinates with other languages; Refold ES in particular is a wellspring of good ideas) and has concrete advice for speaking and writing.
TMW has a *fantastic* first-month guide if you like anime and need step-by-step hand-holding.