How PandaChan Studies

I study and set up my notes/notebooks differently than Mikotochan so I figured a post on how I study would be an interesting insight.

Now, I am a full time student studying Chemical engineering and I work in a lab. My time is precious to me because between studying for my weekly quizzes and tests, working, studying for my other two classes, taking care of my adorable welsh corgi, and fun times with my hubby; so my actual Japanese studying is done in a fast and dirty way.

Let’s break it down to an overview of what I do:

• I study between 7-30 Kanji a day. It depends on how I’m feeling and if I had to skip a day.
• I skim over the books that I do own in Japanese. Squealing when I recognize kanji is normal.
• I listen as much as possible. I’ll go in-depth what I actually listen to later.

How I study the Kanji

• First, I took this method from Mikotochan’s advice..
• I used the Heisig‘s method for remembering Kanji. Pretty much there’s components (primitives or radicals). You take the kanji and make a story to help you remember it.
• For example: 唱 (Chant)
• The radicals are Mouth and Day (twice).
• A good story with this would be a MOUTH CHANTS for two DAYS.
• I like to bold the actual word and capitalize my radicals. This helps me focus on the connection between the components and the meaning.
• I also use Anki as my flashcard system. I chose anki because I can share between my computers, phone, and Kindle. Not to mention ankiweb.
• I put the Kanji on the ‘front’ of the card and the English story on the ‘back’, which Mikotochan showed me as the Lazy Kanji Method.

After I finish RTK 1, I’ll be continuing on in that direction.

Books/games/websites:

• I currently own about 10 Japanese books (all bought from a used book store). I enjoy the feeling of books or my Kindle in my hands so I still purchase them and break them down. I know there’s an abundant amount of Japanese on the internet.
• I read some Japanese blogs, yahoo.jp, and sometimes I just take my kanji and post it into the Google search! It’s really random and fun that way. Just be sure to be careful and have ad-blocks/anti virus in place. Sometimes I get sketchy places.
• Although there is a wonderful assortment of Japanese flash games online, I currently own 2 DS games. I play this not as often as I can because it’s hard to navigate and focus on the Japanese. I tend to just ignore the Japanese and just play the game for now!

Listening/audio immersion:

• I used to listen to podcasts on an hourly basis. However, my interest in this dwindled because my phone kept dying on me, haha.
• I use Last.fm to listen to the J-pop tag radio. I guess now would be a great time to mention that I love a lot of different types of music; however J-pop is the easiest for me to find. In fact, I have favorite bands: Perfume and サカナクション.
• Thirdly, I watch Dramas and Anime. I turn the subtitles off for Crunchyroll when I can (I have a paid subscription), or just listen to it in the background. I have learned some phrases just from passively listening but it’s very limited.

Speaking/written/grammar

• I am very much fail here!!!! I am very shy when it comes to foreign languages and I feel uncomfortable trying to speak in it. I was this way with French and excelled in my written part. I just need to become brave and find some sweet Japanese friends (already on the way) who will not be judgmental.
• I try to shadow but I find myself mumbling over the words and then I cannot hear. I try to mental mimic the words and move my mouth to how I think the sounds are made. However, when it comes to singing, I sing right along. This is why I love listening to music so much. In fact, several times during this article I have just started dancing and ‘busting a move’ to my music.
• As grammar and written go hand and hand, I feel I should just trump this card at once. I actually have not studied a single book about grammar! This feels perverse to me and wrong as in the past, I’ve always learned the grammar of a language and then everything else (I say that like I’m actually fluent in French, ha!). I will wait until after I finish RTK1 before attempting any of this.

My goals:

• To finish up my RTK 1.
• powerhouse through my kana so I can start to read.
• Try to have more audio immersion a day.
• Begin to speak with Mikoto and my Japanese friend when I can.
• eventually be able to go to a Perfume concert. They’re epically awesome (teehee)!!!

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