1. Studying Japanese

2. Setting your #studygoals
Give yourself a main target, e.g.
Passing JLPT N4, holding a conversation for 20 minutes, reading a manga in Japanese.
Set smaller goals that are easily achievable and set realistic time limits;
learn 20 verbs, learn 10 kanji, read an NHK easy news article without a dictionary, write a thank you note to someone who has helped you out

3. Why bother with JLPT? It lets you measure your progress
It’s a goal to work toward
It’s easy to find study material for
Passing gives you a sense of achievement

4. What do the levels mean?

5. What do they actually mean?
JLPT N5
100 classroom hours
100 kanji
vocabulary items
Achievable within 3 months
JLPT N4
300 classroom hours
300 kanji
vocabulary items
Achievable within 6 months to a year

6. Making your study more time efficient
Structure your study in advance
Review things that you already learned
Actively produce the language
Look for alternative explanations
Be consistent

7. What is spaced repetition software?
Spaced repetition software shows you flashcards with timed intervals to help you build long term memories
Simply, you’ll see things you don’t know very well more often, and things you do know less often

8. Wanikani
Subscription based website intended to help you learn 2027 kanji and 6287 vocabulary items
The content is structured into 60 levels which unlock as you complete the relevant material
It uses a mnemonic system with kanji radicals to help you remember kanji and distinguish between them
It introduces vocabulary items to help you remember kanji
Many common words in Japanese are written in Hiragana only

9. What does it look like?

10. Lessons

11. This tab is hidden unless you click on it or get it wrong a certain number of times

12. Anki Flashcard application You can create your own cards
Shared database of user created decks
Cards are highly modifiable
Free on PC and android
(paid app for iphone)

13. What does it look like?

14. Bunpro
This is a new (and free!) site designed by wanikani users to study grammar using SRS
The grammar is structured into JLPT levels
The explanations on the site are very brief
It has 10+ example sentences for each grammar item
It contains references and links to other resources with more detailed explanations

15. What does it look like?

18. You can link this site to your wanikani account, and it will remove the furigana for any kanji you’ve studied

19. ISSUES WITH SRS It’s incredibly easy to overstretch yourself
Some SRS systems (like Anki) can’t be paused
Missing even a days reviews can become an impossible task to overcome
Most SRS systems don’t teach you nuance
It’s not a communicative activity

20. Dealing with setbacks and burnout
Get some perspective
Review how you’ve been studying 　　　　(environment is important)
Set yourself up for success
Make your study more fun
Try native material
Actually get out there and communicate
Take time for yourself