The Heisig Study Method

Without a clear study plan, I am going to fail miserably. With Rosetta Stone, the only clear goal I ever gave myself was to use the program everyday. This I have done. However, my progress has not been consistent because I never gave myself a deadline by which to complete the program. In cyberspace, I read many tales of defeat by people have attempted the Heisig method and gave up. I don't want to do the same. So I've chosen to follow a study plan I found by one of the few success stories. Heisig himself was able to learn the 2042 Kanji in one month and optimistically boasts that anyone can do the same. Obviously the is man in a little deluded in his belief, because most people have lives outside of academic pursuits and they don't have memories like a sponge. The successful study plan I will follow was written by a guy name Leo and it follows thus:

His study program took 300 hours total. On a macro-scale (30 weeks, approximately 10 hrs/week)

Week 1-5: Learn 1-500

Week 6: Review 1-500

Week 7-11: Learn 501-1000

Week 12-13: Review 501-1000

Week 14-18: Learn 1001-1500

Week 19-21: Review 1001-1500

Week 22-26: Learn 1501-2042

Week 27-30: Review 1-2024

Durning the learn weeks: Learn 20 Kanji per day, Monday thru Friday, review 100 on Saturday and Sunday.

During review weeks: Review 100 Kanji per day, Monday thru Friday, repeat toughest sets on weekend.

My study program will extend from 1 August 2010 - 1 March 2011. I am still in the process of refining my daily study routine. On study days, first thing in the morning, I will grab that week's sets of flash cards and review them quickly. Next, I grab the book and read through that days 20 new Kanji and their stories out loud as I practice the stroke orders on pen and paper. Then, I make the 20 flash cards for the day and I run through them once. I return to those 20 cards at least four times or more that day. Before I go to bed, I re-review the weeks sets of flash cards. I repeat this routine Monday - Friday on study weeks. On the review weekends, Saturday, I place the week's sets in one large pile, maintaining the order and review them. In a composition notebook, I copy each kanji and it keyword, the primitives it includes and an abbreviated definition. I am aware that I memorize best when I write and this notebook will be a consistent method for keeping track of my progress. Also, should I have to leave home for a period of time, this notebook will be far more convenient for travel over hundreds of flash cards. On Sunday, I mix the cards up for the first time and test myself with them out of order. One of the most important elements of the Heisig method is the order in which he introduces the elements. However, the most reliable way to test knowledge retention is to spend at least one day with the flash cards out of order. Finally, I test myself by turning the flash cards over, and with only a glance at the keywords, I write out the kanji in their correct stroke order. Each incorrectly answered flash card is place in a separate pile and re-reviewed.

The results of my first review week have been encouraging, however I find myself worrying about diminishing returns. I don't want to forget what I've learning between review sessions, however, as my piles of flash cards increase, my ability to review each and every single one will decrease. Despite this, each time I come across a kanji I recognize, I find my motivation for completing this task swelling. My biggest concern is the amount of time I expend each morning creating the cards. I am aware that academically, I am a morning person. I think most clearly and learn best before I allow my mind to become cluttered by the days distractions. Currently, my morning routine is stable, but should my schedule change, things may become problematic. On quite mornings, I make my cards in silence. However, if the house is noisy, I work to the sounds of film soundtracks or classical music radio stations in iTunes.