Self-Studying Japanese: One Month In
It's been exactly one month since I embarked on a solo voyage to learn Japanese, steering clear of traditional classrooms and teachers. Instead, I've been using tools like Duolingo, Anki, and a podcast from Masa Sensei. Here’s a snapshot of my journey so far and some personal reflections.
The Initial Struggle with Hiragana
The first hurdle was hiragana. While I managed to memorize the characters in just over a week, it took the entire month to start recognizing words with ease. Katakana remains on my to-do list, waiting for the day I feel truly comfortable with hiragana.
Shifting Gears in Learning
Initially, I dove into learning words and basic sentences through Duolingo. However, I soon found the pace somewhat sluggish and the explanations on sentence structure lacking.
This prompted a pivot to a more structured approach using Anki for drilling basic vocab and a shift to Masa Sensei’s podcast for a deeper dive into sentence structures and particles.
The Anki and Podcast Combo
Each podcast episode builds from simple to more complex sentences, providing the clarity I was missing. Post-episode, I input sentences into Anki, which flashes the English sentence, prompting me to recite the Japanese translation aloud. This method has been instrumental in helping me internalize sentence structures and understand particle usage.
Vocabulary Before Immersion
I’m holding off on full immersion until I feel more confident in my vocabulary base. The plan? To complete the Genki deck, amass a 1000-word vocabulary, and get through 50 episodes of Masa Sensei’s podcast, ensuring I grasp various sentence forms and particles.
Steady Motivation Through Manageable Chunks
On the motivation front, I’ve been surprisingly upbeat. Limiting my study sessions to 30-60 minutes daily allows me to focus intensely without burnout. Longer sessions with Masa Sensei’s podcast sprinkle my weeks with new learning opportunities, ensuring each week brings tangible progress.
Although my pace might seem slow compared to traditional classes, it feels sustainable. It's about building a daily habit that can withstand the test of time over sporadic bursts of enthusiasm that fizzle out.
A Recap of My Progress
So far, aside from mastering hiragana, I've learned how to count, tell time, and name dates. I’ve acquired basic verbs like "eat," "sleep," "go," "come," "return," "study," and "work," alongside essential nouns such as "school," "hospital," and "house." Crafting simple sentences like “Tomorrow I will go to the hospital” or “Yesterday nobody went to school” feels rewarding.
Looking Ahead
As I continue this journey, the thrill of forming coherent sentences in Japanese and the joy of understanding a little more each day fuels my passion. It's not just about learning a language; it's about crafting a part of who I am and who I aspire to become.
Here’s to more explorations, more learnings, and a lot more Japanese!
