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Once you have the basics down, I like anki or memrise better for picking up vocab. You can do decks based on JLPT levels or do Core 2k/6k. Here's the memrise co

• Sir_Cmpwn 9y ago
  Nice resources. I should probably elaborate on my actual study methods: - Vocabulary study with Anki - Kanji study (RTK order) with a script that shows vocab on my desktop - Grammar study via Tae Kim - Listening practice with regular consumption of Japanese music & television - Reading/writing practice by engaging in Japanese discussions on Mastodon, IRC, 2channel - Reading practice with Japanese manga and novels - Regular meetups with friends (native speakers) IRL - Translating anime and manga from Japanese to English Soon I'd like to start blogging in Japanese, too, but that's a lot of work. Can also recommend jisho.org as the best Japanese/English dictionary on the web, and djt's bunpou guide as a deep grammar reference resource.
  • jwong_ 9y ago
    Can you share how you're showing the vocab on the desktop? That would be a neat study tool.
    • stevep98 9y ago
      Try the rikaikun chrome extension?
    • Sir_Cmpwn 9y ago
      https://git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/dotfiles/tree/lib/python3/kotd https://git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/dotfiles/tree/lib/python3/kotd Warning: this is a mess
      • jwong_ 9y ago
        Thanks! What do you use to display this on your desktop?
        • Sir_Cmpwn 9y ago
          This binary puts a porcelain command on the Python library: https://git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/dotfiles/tree/bin/kotd https://git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/dotfiles/tree/bin/kotd This command is run by my status bar, which prints each line sent to stdout on my desktop: https://git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/dotfiles/tree/bin/custom_statusbar https://git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/dotfiles/tree/bin/custom_statusb... Which is powered by sway: http://swaywm.org http://swaywm.org
    • JetSpiegel 9y ago
      I liked Tagaini when I was learning Japanese a couple years ago. https://www.tagaini.net/ https://www.tagaini.net/
      • jwong_ 9y ago
        Nice, I like this. Cross platform too
  • mikekchar 9y ago
    For me, I think this list is almost optimal. I'll only add a couple of things. I recommend karaoke as a way to learn pronunciation, tones and pacing for language. Songs aren't in any way indicative of actual language, but it gets you listening for rhythm and tones (even though it's different than natural speech). It also allows you to internalise common contractions, especially with fast songs. Another great way to learn to speak fluently (mechanics, not content) is to shadow other speakers. I recommend going to someplace like http://news.tbs.co.jp/ http://news.tbs.co.jp/ (news site). Most of the stories are written and they have the video above. The commentator reads exactly the same thing that is written. Create an understanding of the text, watch the video a couple of times, then try to read along with the commentator. News is super hard, but if you google you should be able to find some readings of children's books, etc as well (I eventually found some when I was looking years ago, so I suspect there is more now). Finally, I don't recommend RTK order for Kanji. I learned to recognise and write the jouyou kanji with RTK. Then I learned vocabulary. Yes, being able to recognise all the kanji was useful... but it's an obtuse way to do it. Worse, by the time I was learning more complex vocabulary I had completely forgotten the kanji (because it takes years and years to learn a language). Unless you have some strategy for keeping your kanji recognition current, I think it's a waste of time. The RTK approach is awesome, but the order is pants. I recommend doing chapter 1 of RTK and then throwing the book away. Then learn vocabulary, memorising the kanji as you go. Make up stories using the radicals and feel free to revise stories as you go. Once you see kanji regularly, you won't need the stories anyway -- so optimising order to make your stories consistent is a wasted effort. My 2 cents. Other people I know did RTK the RTK way and had no problems -- however, I think all of the people I know either did shodo as a hobby or were really active in studying for the kanji kentei. So they had a way of keeping that knowledge current.
    • Sir_Cmpwn 9y ago
      >Finally, I don't recommend RTK order for Kanji. [snip] I learn most new kanji naturally as I study with Anki and look up unknown kanji I encounter in the wild. I only idly pay attention to the RTK-order kanji on my desktop status bar. The purpose is basically to have some vocab stuff to glance at throughout the day, it doesn't really settle in but it keeps my eyes used to reading Japanese. I can second your suggestion to do the first chapter of RTK, though. I would recommend learning maybe the first 100 RTK kanji just to establish a baseline understanding of how kanji work and familiarize yourself with important radicals.
• therealdrag0 9y ago
  For raw vocabulary, my favorite app is CleverDeck (https://cleverdeck.com https://cleverdeck.com). I really like their simple UX and well curated content.