Japanese Level Up

I've been reading through a new website in the last week: Japanese Level Up

I'm a self-teacher but I have the basic problem of know what to do and when. At first glance this website appears to be very helpful in providing structure. The awesome thing about it is it turns learning Japanese into a "video game". It helps that I used to play them nonstop.

So from what I gather I'm somewhere between levels 1-5. I know and can understand a few basic words. I've also started RTK (6th edition).

I believe my next step would be to complete RTK, start working my way through Genki I, and start adding Japanese-English sentences to my Anki studies.

Favorite J-Dramas

1. Hano Yori Dango - 2 Seasons and a movie
2. Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
3. Mei-chan no Shitsuji
4. Akai Ito

*Updated as needed

Favorite Websites

Listed below are some of the websites I've been visiting in my journey.

1. Remembering the Kanji (kanji) - I like the forum
2. TextFugu 
3. Japanese Level Up
4. Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese (grammar) - The Japanese Grammar Guide seems to make more sense to me.
5. JDrama Zone (tv)
6. Jisho Dictionary  (dictionary)
7. JDorama (tv)
8. The Yamasa Institute - オンライン日本語学習 - Online Kanji Dictionary (dictionary)
9. Hiragana Blog (reading)

*Updated as needed

Back To The Language

So, I've been studying Japanese for a while now and realized I don't have anything to look back on to see if I've made any progress.

Tada!!!...
Updates:
1. I've started Remembering the Kanji 1 by James W. Heisig. As of today I am on kanji 514 out of 2,200. Not doing to bad if I say so myself. I'd say I'm able to remember between 80-90% while reviewing in Anki.
2.Working my way through Tae Kim's Grammar Guide. I've got a basic understanding of what's being explained, but it's going to take time and practice to get it cemented in my head.
3. Vocab...ugh! But without it, there is no language. I've yet to figure out a way to seriously study vocab while liking it.
4. In regards to #3, I have been watching almost nothing but J-dramas. I think I've fallen in love. :) I've been watching/listening and trying to soak up vocab by osmosis.
5. Do not be alarmed if some of the posts do not make sense. That's just my alter ego trying to speak out. Ignore her!

This, That & That Over There

これ - means "this"
Refers to items in the possession of the speaker. "This is a phone."

それ - means "that"
Refers to items in the possession of the person you're talking to. "That (in your hand) is a phone."

あれ - means "that over there"
Refers to items that are away from both the speaker and the person you're speaking to. "That over there (away from both of us) is a phone."


Reference - Textfugu.com

Name-Ender Honorifics

～さん Standard "name-ender"
～くん　(君）Mostly used on younger men
～ちゃん Mainly for girls or young children
～せんせい（先生）means "teacher"
～せんぱい（先輩）similar to せんせい, only it's for peers who are higher (level, rank, grade)

Anki

134 cards in 18.51 minutes

Kanji

Kanji--Meaning--音 (on)--訓 (kun)

十　ten     　　じゅう　・　とお、と
刀　sword       とう　・　かたな
丁　street    　 ちょう　・　n/a
了　finish    　りょう　・　n/a
又　again    　n/a　・　また

Anki

127 cards in 22.91 minutes

Particle

は pronounced "wa", not "ha"

The best translation for は would probably be "am", "is", "was" & "are" depending on the tense of the sentence.

Grammar

です
じゃありません
でした
じゃありませんでした

ですか
じゃありませんか
でしたか
じゃありませんでしたか

Anki

121 cards in 23.56 minutes.

Kanji

Kanji--Meaning--音 (on)--訓 (kun)

人　person     じん、にん　・　ひと
入　enter       にゅう　・　いる、はいる
八　eight       はち　・　や、やつ
力　power    りょく、りき　・　ちから

Vocab

こうえん (park)
じしょ (dictionary)
ちかてつ (subway)
おてあらい (restroom – polite)
しお (salt)
つくえ (desk)
さとう (sugar)
はこ (box)
しゃしん (picture)
こども (child)

Anki

49 cards in 7.23 minutes


116 cards in 22.55 minutes

Kanji

Kanji--Meaning--音 (on)--訓 (kun)


一     one     いち     ひと.つ, ひと
二     two     に     ふた.つ, ふた
七     seven     しち     なな, なな.つ
九     nine     きゅう, く     ここの. ここの.つ

Anki

113 cards in 17.49 minutes

Kanji

Learned 4 kanji:

one 一
two　二
seven　七
nine　九

Anki

72 cards in 9.14 minutes today

Past Tense

でした