ADVANCED JAPANESE STUDY METHODS: LESSON 1 (intermediate+ learners)

Drew here to show you some advanced methods to improve your Japanese, and fast!

We can all agree that there is probably nothing more tedious than learning vocabulary. There is so much! and the more we try to cram in the more we feel we push out.

Why is that?! Simple! It's because you are doing double the work for half the results dummy! 1 to 1 direct translation is the easiest way to overwhelm yourself and feel like you aren't making any progress.

This study method is for learners of an intermediate+ level. It should be assumed you already have a good understanding of Japanese grammar, and a decent vocabulary to work with already that you have come to by 1:1 translation.

Tools required for study method:
1 pencil or pen to write with!
1 notebook to write in!
1 highlighter
1 study book/newspaper article/etc
1 nintendo ds with sonomama rakubiki jiten! (the best electronic dictionary out there)

Method:
1) You come across a word you don't know. Immediately write that word in your notebook. Write the hiragana next to the word in brackets (if applicable)
2) Switch you DS to 国語 (kokugo) so that all definitions come out in Japanese only
3) Look up the word using your DS by writing it as best as possible (ds will usually recognize the kanji as long as your stroke order isn't ridiculously off)
4) Write the entire definition (in japanese of course) next to the word.
5) Highlight the words you do not understand or do not know yet.
6) Search up those words individually and repeat steps #3~6
7) Repeat until you are mentally exhausted and cannot do this anymore, then switch your brain's treadmill from "run" to "jog" and go back to the old 1:1 translation method until you are ready to try try this method again!

This will really do wonders for your まとめる力 (matomeru-ryoku - ability to gather/explain yourself) and instead of 1:1 it is more like 1:4 or 1:5 or 1:10!!! So from one word you get to learn the words that link to that word, and essentially create a very connected and expansive vocabulary! instead of simply learning words 1 by 1 via direct translation to English... which wont help your Japanese speaking ability at all!!

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Music:
You and Your Bright Ideas - Do Kashiteru

Category:

Education

Tags:

• japanese study methods
• advanced japanese study
• learn japanese quick
• get to japan
• gettojapan
• drew
• cruxay
• learn japanese tips

[BlackCatBCB]

How do you select the vocabulary that you are going to study? When I used to study the language, I used to have difficulty to find good vocabulary books. Any advice for the new learners?

[GETtoJAPAN]

@BlackCatBCB The vocabulary I select is obviously just things I don't know as I am reading along whatever study material I use. Currently I'm studying for the JLPT so the books I ordered are my study material. Pick something level-specific, and nothing too far out of your knowledge range. You don't want to be overwhelmed and confused. The point of this exercise is to get used to the vocabulary surrounding a certain area, then move on to another area. GL!

[NaviiAvii]

wow, how have I not thought of this before?? haha

nice idea! I'm quite a lazy person, but I think I'll try this out sometime, and hopefully get used to it x)

[GETtoJAPAN]

@NaviiAvii Don't worry, I'm right there with you in the lazy category! haha

[forgottenmemories21]

Okay, the question is: at what point do you stop? Because I like this method but after a while it seems like it would get boring because you'd basically be translating the whole dictionary. I am not sure I know enough Japanese where I'd ever get to the point of "Okay ...I know all the words in this definition so I don't have to look them up"

[GETtoJAPAN]

@forgottenmemories21 Stop whenever you feel like, and start whenever you feel like. If at first it is too difficult, then do a combination of both the 1:1 translation method and this one. It's not easy at first, but it will become simpler over time. Good luck :)

[alphafour]

I used to do this with my denshi jisho but I started to use the DS like you! The denshi is great (albeit expensive) but the 国語 definitions are too long and I ended up getting bogged down in kanji I didn't need to know. the definitions given in the DS software seem to be more concise and so it speeds up the process!

Great video you've earned yourself a subscription!

[otokonohito12]

very helpful! and is that a pool or snooker table? it looks a little wide from the video lol

[ffaabbuull248]

jdic.com - handwritten kanji recognition

[Mr420rush]

this really helped, thanks for sharing :)

[sissy71195]

ありがとうございました！これはとっても有用でした。



[Tsuresu]

While I fully agree that using Japanese definitions is the best way to go about learning vocab, surely it'd make more sense to SRS all this stuff rather than writing it out? Before I got to intermediate I used to use a non-SRS flashcard system for vocab memorisation, but I couldn't imagine doing that for levels higher than intermediate.

[MATTvsJapan]

mhhh for some reason this sounds familiar *cough*ajatt*caught*