Learning Japanese

This is my attempt at a Study Guide for the JLPT, by which I mean my general plan as to how I’m going to prepare for the JLPT2 in December 2009. At the very least, I hope you can find some of the links on this page useful.

Steve’s JLPT Update

As of April 2009- I’ve been plugging away at the Heisig Kanji method, and am now at 1200 kanji. I’ve got about 900 left to go- at a predicted rate of 100 a week this means another 2 and a half months of study. I’ll probably do less than this, but I definitely want to finish by the end of July.

JLPT 2

The main difference between the JLPT2 and JLPT3 is the huge amount of vocabulary and kanji you have to master. Its a far bigger step up than from JLPT 4 to 3, and so the priority is getting through this material first. The most effective way you can do this is by using Spaced-Repitition Software, or SRS. The one I use, and thus recommend, is Anki. Check it out here.

Another important way to prepare is to ask questions. Even if you’re not studying on your own, often asking questions on forums gets you a speedy response if you just want to confirm something. Check out:

- Reviewing The Kanji- as well as being a Heisig support site, the forums on this site have lots of advice about learning Japanese in general

- Japanese Pod 101 – not so useful for the JLPT, but good for general improvement. Also has forums.

- Nihongo Pera Pera – a good look at the tests from someone who has taken and passed them, and uses SRS software.

Kanji

First up is the kanji you need to master. As a grounding for all future Japanese studies, I’m currently completing the Heisig method of learning Kanji. You can read about it at Reviewing The Kanji, linked above. Once I’ve finished that, I need to learn the specific pronunciation and meaning of various Kanji. Check Out:

• Read The Kanji Website – good test site that focuses on kanji in vocabulary
• iKanji ipod touch Application – looks like it might be a very useful app for learning Kanji (when its released)
• Use KanjiBox on Facebook – another good way to test when you’re bored!

These three things basically do the same thing- test you on reading of kanji within a compound word. I’d pick one and use it every so often to check your progress. After Heisig, its really not necessary to learn individual Kanji onyomi and kunyomi readings (in my opinion). Instead, pick up the readings from learning kanji compounds. For example, learn 突然 as とつぜん、and learn 突く as つく and 然し as しかし , but don’t learn the individual various readings of 突 and 然.

Vocabulary

While I thought I could get by with learning huge JLPT2 vocab lists from the internet, you can’t beat a good book for vocabulary, and that book is

実力アップ!日本語能力試験2級漢字単語ドリル UNICOM 2kyuu Vocabulary Definitions and Sample Sentences

It divides vocab into a way thats easy to remember within the context of the kanji they contain. I will enter this data into Anki and SRS-it to learn.

The vocabulary shortfall can be made up by studying some other lists, reading “JLPT2″ material, and generally mopping up words in the run-up to the test.

Grammar

If there’s any area where a textbook is almost essential, its with grammar. I’ll use at least 3, and maybe 4. These are…

UNICOM JLPT3 Grammar Book - for revision of the stuff I’ve probably confused, forgotten or partially forgotten and partially confused.

UNICOM JLPT2 Grammar Book- looks ok, but will probably use it in conjunction with…

KANZEN Master Series JLPT2 Grammar Book

どの時どう使う- looks like a very valuable reference book. As I haven’t actually bought this I might have to get it shipped over from Japan before I leave Korea.

Also check out this Japanese Grammar site - looks like a really useful resource.

Ipod Touch and Nintendo DS

Recommendations? The best free app for the Ipod Touch is “Kotoba!”, a Japanese dictionary avaiable for free from the Itunes store. The other app I’m obviously looking out for is the aforementioned iKanji Touch…hopefully available soon.

Nintendo DS-I’ve tried three programs, かきとりくん, 大人の漢字練習 and MyJapaneseCoach. Of these 大人の漢字練習 is the most interesting and challenging. It depends what your after, but as I prefer something that has quizzes to a program that tries to teach you the fundamentals, this one is better for dipping in and out of.

Reading and Listening

Finally comes reading and listening…these are less specific than the vocab and grammar, but nonetheless important. To be honest I haven’t decided what to use to practice these yet, as they are a seconary concern to learning the required kanji , vocabulary and grammar. I’ll update this when I get there!

Having said that, the best podcasts avaiable for studying Japanese are over at Japanese Pod 101 – check them out for free, you don’t really need to sign up, although if you do (for something like $8) you can download ALL of the old pdf files.

That’s it for now- if you have any questions, advice or whatnot email me.