Flash Cards
A while back, I started to learn how to read Japanese. Since there are a lot of great figurine related websites written in this language, I thought it could be interresting for me to be able to read them without the help of romanji convertors or average translators. Not all of them will follow GoodSmile Cie’s example after all ^^;
So, the first obstacle, and I guess the most difficult, was to memorise all those ideograms that are Kanas and Kanjis.
Example of things that would be interresting to be able to read
I think I managed to print each of the 46 Hiraganas and Katakanas in my little otaku brain, just by frequently reading them and trying to write them. There are not a lot of them, so it is quite easy as long as you have the will to learn them, I guess.
But dealing with Kanjis, mmmmhh… that’s another story.
Using the same method was too boring, and no more funny because of the amont of ideograms. And since I think the best way to memorise those complex symbols is through games, I needed to find an entertaining way to deal with Kanjis. I don’t have a Nintendo DS, which has such learning games, if I remember well. But I heard about another very interresting method : flash cards.
Basically, you end up with a set of cards. But instead of having spades, hearts, diamonds or clubs printed on them, there are Kanjis printed on a side, and how to interpret them on the other side.
It is up to you to decide how to deal with such cards, but a widely used method to efficiently study with flash cards is the Leitner system.
Flashcards are sorted into groups according to how well you know each one. This is how it works: you try to recall the solution written on a flashcard. If you succeed, you send the card to the next group. But if you fail, you send it back to the first group. Each succeeding group has a longer period of time before you are required to revisit the cards. (from Wikipedia – read for more example)
I am starting with a first deck of Kanji flash cards, which contains 284 Kanjis. And I grabbed a deck of Kana flash cards to improve my reading speed and be more familiar with Hiraganas and Katakanas. All from WhiteRabbitPress.
And since I like handling playing cards, that way of studying suits me perfectly! ^^
version Française
Keep up the good work. Actually that’s what my teacher used to do after the each class when I started learning nihongo, she would grab a few flash cards and asked me to read and to translate so I wouldn’t forgot the word. Kinda funny with hiragana and katakana but with kanji was a pain at first, sometimes I thought my brain was gonna stop with so many “crazy symbols”. LOL
What a great idea! I have to commit some more serious time to learning Japanese – kanji is soooo tricky to get to grips with but totally rewarding when it starts to sink in and adhere to memory!!! I guess reading Moetan doesn’t count ^_^;; Ganbatte ne!
if there is a will, there is a way. i’m sure u will master it eventually if u are determined. best of luck.
For the beginning Japanese learner, I suggest checking out alljapaneseallthetime.com
The method he suggests starts with learning the kanji the easy way – based on Heisig’s “Remembering the Kanji” you use an SRS program like Anki (http://ichi2.net/anki/) and the “Reviewing the Kanji” (http://kanji.koohii.com/index.php) site.
It’s far easier and more efficient than flashcards.
That’s great that you’re trying to learn kanji lu-k ^^. I myself am studying Japanese now in college, I learn about 20 kanji every 2 weeks along with grammar and vocabulary. It’s not easy remembering all the kanji, I hear you only need to know the most common, roughly about 2000. If you keep practicing you will remember each and every one ^^. I remember roughly 200 right now :P. It definitely helps when you’re trying to read Japanese websites and manga xD. Good luck.
Good luck with your studies! As a matter of fact, I should probably be working on my studies as well. I can read kana easily enough (moette nani? I think that’s what it said), but kanji takes a lot of work to memorize. I’m currently subscribed to Yokoso’s Kanji-a-Day mailing list which has helped a little, but I’m still looking for other alternatives to actually going to class. I’ll be checking out the links kahm provided in a moment ;P
I know a friend that bought flash cards too. He says that it’s a lot easier to learn quickly through this method. Often times, I’d wish that I knew Japanese so that I could play some JP games and maybe even live in Japan. I guess I’ll never get there unless I actually put in the effort and time to learn it.
ah, nice get with the white rabbit press flashcards. personally i have their level 2 kanji set and it’s really nice. i’m totally behind for the level 2 jlpt though (which i signed up for this year… and is 2 months away orz)
unfortunately anime and manga don’t really align very well with the jlpt vocab lists. ^^;;
がんばってね！ 皆も日本語を勉強しましょうよ！
WOW nicw to hear your learn japanese!!!
I’m learning it in University…
Still, I would love to study it at my free time cause I’ll be heading to the holy land next year again…need to brush up on my jap…
I recommend you japanesepod101.com they offer a free DAILY Japanese lesson podcast :D
I’ve been learning with them since last year casually (listening when I drive only) :)
Flash cards are neat, I’m waiting for iphone version of Japanese flash cards :D
Deathy : indeed! some are too tricky to avoid any mistake T_T
Priss : Moetan is for learning Engrish, isn’t it? haha ^^
gordon : thanks :) will do my best! as it is common to say hehe ^^
kahm : thanks for the advices! will check all this :)
AS : 20 / 2 weeks !? woho that’s really nice I think. Keep the good work!
ETERNAL : that’s what is says indeed :)
radiant : it has been a while since I wanted to start… but took me twice this time to finally start ^^; ahhh willpower…
meronpan : hehe yeap, anime don’t really help for this ^^ Good luck for the test!
Rin : did not had the chance to learn it at university, so I have to do it by myself now :)
ron~ : oh podcast, nice idea! will check that for sure, thanks.
It’s pretty interesting, I should start learning as well. I’m actually more worried about Hiraganas and Katakanas since I’m Chinese >.>
Anyway, best of luck to you, seems like you’re doing great. Kanji really is a pain to learn =/