An Elaboration On My Decision To Fuck RTK 2

As a method for learning to right and recognize the kanji RTK 1 is brilliant. However the prospect of learning more than 2200 Chinese readings when I can barely put together a sentence seems stupid. I just don't have that kind of will power. I need a more tangible grasp on the language before I proceed any further. I plan to use the JLPT as my frame for what to study. Much of the vocabulary and grammar of L5 and L4 I'm already familiar with though Rosetta Stone, however that familiarity is fleeting and disjointed, as much of Rosetta Stone is. However there is one key tip I pick up from Rosetta Stone that I plan to employ as I continue learning, and that's image association without native language translations. Simply put, that mean write the word りんご beside a picture of an apple without the word apple in sight: image association. This is a bit more complicated with abstract words, but sentences with a corresponding image solve that problem. For example, いつも and the sentence 母はいつも忙しい, beside a picture of a busy mother illustrates this concept. I employing a Keynote slideshow to keep track of the pages with random images from google searches.

I need a structure schedule for this new study method:

月曜日

Music (1 song, from katakana version of lyrics type kanji version, furiganize, check twice by ear, create .pdf and image copies)

火曜日

Kanji Readings (Start with 10, 2 example words per reading with sentences) (copy/paste to anki)

Music (listen)

水曜日

JPLT Vocab. (make list for L5 now, later narrow study)

(LATER CONSIDER PASTING SCREEN CAPS OF KEYNOTE SLIDES IN ANKI AS IMAGES)

Music (listen)

木曜日

Grammar Point(10 points, write example sentence, copy to blog, type created sentence) (ANKI copy/paste)

Music (transcribe by hand)

金曜日

Kanji Readings (Review)

Music (translate)

土曜日

Grammar Point (Review)

JPLT Vocab. (Review / make list for L5 now, later narrow study)

日曜日

FUCK IT!

My vocabulary is shit. I can barely write sentences. And the more I think about it, the more I realize that RTK 2 as a way to learn Japanese is insane. Its not going to work for me. I spend today making 175 vocal slides because I was procrastinating studying RTK 2. The compounds in RTK 2 are way over my head, especially considering how much basic vocabulary I still need to learn. It amazes me, the rare kanji forms of words are not a problem meaning wise because of RTK 1, but the hiragana stops me in my tracks.

Starting at JPLT 5 there are 600 and so vocabulary terms, most of which I already know. I am going to perform and unconventional image based learning method of my own devising. I will elaborate more later. I'm also returning to Rosetta Stone to write sentences. I will continue to review RTK 1 at a minimum of say 700 frames per week.

If this works, by the time I complete JPLT 3, I should be ready to return to RTK 2 for a brush up, however I don't really see myself practically using it at this point in time.

Study Method 2 for RTK 2

I find it incredibly difficult to crawl my way out of bed in the morning and study brand new material. I end up laying there, dreading it. Also, I seem to have little problem remembering the meanings of new compounds, however I can't get the sounds to stick in my brain. Its like throwing darts at a board and having 80% of them bounce back off. Its ridiculous. But I may have a solution, talking to myself. No I haven't completely lost it. But I do have a Mac with a nifty program called Garageband with which I can record myself describing the compounds, giving the readings and the definitions.

In light of these new developments, I have, surprise, surprise, a new study method:

Night before - type frames in iWorks Numbers

Morning - jog / stretch

paste flashcards in flashcardexchange.com - 15 min max

record reading in garageband, export to itunes, sync ipod - 10 min max

Afternoon

listen 1 -6 min

listen 2 - pausing and writing compounds -12 min

run flashcards 1 time random - 8 min

Evening

anki - 12 min max

type tomorrows set - time?

I'm trying to create the most efficient study method, taking the least amount of time, but affording the most absorption of information, while leaving little to no room for distraction or boredom. I haven't been doing well for the past few days. Does he intend to discourage the faint of heart with that first chapter, because its evil. Honestly, one of the compounds doesn't even exist in any of the Japanese dictionaries I checked, but its supposedly a common Chinese compound. WTF? Anyway. Here's to my second try at this.

Study Method 1 for RTK2

I officially began RTK 2 yesterday ... hold the applauds. I plan to attempting getting through RTK as quickly as I can while still absorbing the information. Rather than sub-coming to those time sucking review sessions of RTK 1, I'm going to rely on Anki as my review tool. Note: This is Study Method 1 for RTK2, emphasis on the number '1' there, as this so called study method will be subject to many future edits.

I'm going to keep this as simple as possible while I'm starting out. Rather than disregarding Heisig's groupings as I did with RTK 1, I will use them to my advantage.

0. 3-4 days/week Review ~200 RTK 1 on FlashcardExchage.com.

1. Night before, read over tomorrow's frames.

2. (Morning 7am-11am)Type the day worth of frames into the Numbers chart, confirming definitions as needed. Paste in to Flashcardexchange.com deck.

3. (Afternoon 12pm-4pm) Study the flashcardexchange.com deck once. Wait, anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour to review the incorrect ones. Using GarageBand, create sound file of readings and save for future use.

4.(Evening 7pm-10pm) Use Anki to study the new and review the previous frames.

Flashcard Exchange | Remembering the Kanji 2 | Deck

The following are links to the flashcards I created for RTK 2. Anyone is free to use them and steal my stories.

Side one: exemplary compound

Side two: pronunciation of compound, meaning of compound, and signal primitive

Side three: 漢字 and ~音読み. (While studying, press the 'h' key to reveal side three)

Under the navigation menu, choose 'study other side first' option to study side two first.

The Kana and Their Kanji

Pure Groups

One-Time Chinese Readings

Characters with No Chinese Readings

Semi-Pure Groups

Readings From Everyday Words

Mixed Groups

Readings from Useful Compounds

A Potpourri of Readings

Supplementary Readings