#japanese phrase list

My new learning system ~

Hiii, here’s how I have been learning Japanese these past couple of weeks!

I have been learning my kanji with The Kodansha Kanji Learner’s Course. I learn 2+ kanji a day, along with a corresponding vocabulary word for each one. I think this is nice because I am killing two birds with one stone by learning a reading of the kanji and the vocabulary word at once!

First, I review the previous day’s kanji by writing it down. I will review up to a week’s worth of kanji sometimes.

Then, I write down the new kanji I learn at the back of my notebook. I will include the words and stroke order beside them.

The next day, IN A DIFFERENT NOTEBOOK, I write the previous day’s vocabulary words (which are made up of the kanji) review. The second day notebook is what I use as a “I should probably know this or at least be somewhat familiar with this” kind of thing. Side note: If I learn 2 kanji a day, I should be able to finish the book (and learn a lot of vocabulary!) in under 10 months.

I have also been using WaniKani. I don’t know how to feel about it yet. I have however been taking words I struggle to remember and putting them on sticky notes and placing them on what I call my “focus wall” beside my desk. None of those words should be lying dormant on the wall for more than a week. I add them to a corresponding “focus” flashcard set on the Shirabe Jisho app to give them extra attention

I use the Shirabe Dictionary app for a lot of things, but mostly last minute kanji and vocabulary refreshers. It’s PACKED with value because it offers example sentences, stroke order, built in flash card sets (and an SRS system for them), word lists and kanji lists, etc. You can customize your own sets too if you want. The only thing is, don’t rely on the audio for the vocabulary. It’s not great. Still, I’m shocked that it’s free.

I’ve also been using HelloTalk. I actually quite love the listening they offer on there because it isn’t too difficult for beginners but there are intermediate options as well. They offer vocabulary and grammar explanations with listening that is suited for my level, which I really found most other podcasts to be lacking. Note: Another fun thing is just texting native Japanese speakers on there. It’s rly useful for learning their common phrases, especially because there’s a translation feature. It also kind of has the same features as HiNative, so I find it to be better in my opinion.

I found that I struggle with reading enough example sentences, so I scurried to my genki textbook to look at the fundamentals. I also use Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication. I like it, but the Romaji is quite annoying. Other than that, I find the example sentences to be pretty extensive!

Any other grammar I’m learning comes from a mixture of Cure Dolly (don’t binge her videos after the 4th episode, you will quickly regret it. It adds up too fast. Try to supplement her videos with beginner articles or other videos on the topic, then PRACTICE and EXERCISE making sentences before moving on), various blog articles (Ie. Tofugu) and my textbook (Genki).

So yeah. I also sometimes practice reading with the book Japanese Short Stories for Beginners by LingoMastery. I really like it, especially because it also includes vocabulary to learn with the stories. It’s written pretty formally so it will complement the traditional western learning style textbooks nicely.

Anyway, that’s how I’m studying lately. For me, I find the Kanji and their vocabulary to be daily, listening practice to be almost daily, and WaniKani almost daily. My weakness is reading and speaking. I usually speak when i’m imitating native speakers or the lessons from HelloTalk, but I’m not quite good enough to actually talk to native speakers yet.

Anyway, I’m off to sleep. Hope this helped! お休みなさい！