Progress on Self-Learning Japanese: 4 Months In

It’s been about four months since I embarked on the journey of learning Japanese on my own. How has it been going so far? Let me share my thoughts and progress (while taking a break from blogging about Thailand).

Honest Reflections

First, a confession—I haven’t been as consistent as I hoped.

In November, I went overseas for eight days and took a break from my daily Anki flashcards. When I got back, the reviews had piled up to a few hundred cards.

My daily routine had been disrupted, and I found it difficult to overcome the inertia to get back into routine (a mix of laziness and procrastination). It took me an additional one to two weeks to clear the backlog.

Essentially, my progress during the second half of November came to a standstill. It was a humbling reminder of how much consistency matters in learning.

Progress: Vocabulary

Looking back, I did make decent progress, especially with vocabulary. My Genki Anki deck is over 90% complete, which means I’ve built a solid foundation of basic words to work from. Having this vocabulary under my belt feels like a small but meaningful milestone.

Progress: Grammar and Sentence Structures

Grammar has been another area of improvement. When I first started, I was confused by basics like “ga” (が) and “wa” (は). Thankfully, consistent exposure to sentences and regular practice have helped me get the hang of it.

Here’s some of the grammar what I’ve covered so far:

• ‘い’ & ‘な’ adjectives
• Comparisons
• 'Because'
• “Te” Forms (て) and their usages (e.g. continuous tense, resultant states)

The “て” form was particularly tricky because different verb groups conjugate differently. But by revising few minutes every day, I gradually got the hang of it.

Right now, I’m tackling “nai” forms (ない), and I’m curious to see how much progress I’ve made in another month.

A Visit to Japan

In November, I went on a family trip to Tokyo. At that point, I’d only been learning Japanese for three months—no teacher, no speaking practice and no output experience—so I wasn’t exactly ready to converse fluently with locals.

That said, I did try! I managed basic phrases like:

• Ordering food: お茶をよっつください (Ocha o yottsu kudasai - Four teas, please).
• Asking for directions: 駅からお寺まで歩いて行けますか? (Eki kara otera made aruite ikimasu ka? - Can I walk from the station to the temple?).

I was pleasantly surprised when some friendly locals continued talking to me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t understand most of what they said. Still, the experience was rewarding and gave me a taste of how fun it’ll be to communicate more fluently in the future.

Motivation and Moving Forward

After the break in routine, I’ve managed to regain my momentum. I’m back to my daily Anki decks, podcasts, and study sessions.

The Tokyo trip, despite my limitations, gave me a small confidence boost. While I’m still far from holding a real conversation, the progress feels encouraging.

Here’s to learning more characters, tackling new grammar points, and immersing myself further in Japanese!