Japanese Learning

Update

ta132 — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:17:47 +0000

Wow, it’s been forever since I updated this blog. Anyhow I’ll tell you what I will be doing and what to expect. First off, I plan to make a site soon+new blog. This will be completely different than what I’m doing now. (Less text, more visual and more to the point). I plan to a blog for introducing me and my Japanese learning/other things. While the site will be a mixture of visual-appealing,providing a service/product and a main theme for the site will be there as well. I will make a new twitter account,facebook account and later on(not now a youtube account). I won’t dicuss what exactly I will provide as I’m testing it out at the moment.

As for my Japanese progress, it’s strange and slow. I’ll first start off with the “slow” I’ve reached that point where I can play a game,read a novel,read a manga,read sites,etc will full understanding of the kanji/readings/usage/grammar without much difficulty. There are still words that come up/kanji that I don’t know but thanks to anki that wall has been crushed beyond repair(that’s a good thing). So my learning isn’t as much as it used to be. Then again, that’s not a bad thing right? I still keep learning till this day but if you want me to put a direct date on when I will reach my “fluency:. I estimate 2-3 years. That will likely bring me 4-5 years of learning(all skills).\

Now for the strange part, I can do a lot of stuff in Japanese that I couldn’t in the beginning. That’s why I am feeling a bit strange but it’s for a good reason. I know what it will take to reach even further and get my output skills to where I want them in a few years. Overall, I’m happy that I’ve reached this level. It seems to easy now, kinda scary at the same time. Most people just think I’m crazy for learning it but succeeding? That’s another blow in the face to most people. Then again, success never tasted so good to me, until now.

What are my Current Goals (Japanese and Other)

ta132 — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:42:51 +0000

I’m brainstorming business ideas(online business) and researching in-depth at the moment. Will this relate to Japanese and learning? I’m still thinking about that question. What will most likely happen is, I’ll provide another section in my blog to include Japanese but it might not be mention at the main website. My goal is to have it running by the end of this year. The past posts that I mention(including transcription,translation,japanese methods,progress updates and the rest, will be included as well). I plan to make it visual(so I will invest in a digital camera with 1080p HD video and HD quality pictures). I’m planning on creating a high-traffic blog+site but like anything, it will take time to get this fully up and running.

What is my current goal for Japanese? It’s hard to answer, I’ve been getting more confident in my skills but there is still a large gap in front of me(speaking+writing). Then again, writing will probably take the longest to achieve(written fluency). In terms of written fluency, my goal is to have it advanced(fluent) in 2 years, as for speaking, my goal is by next year. My next blog(which will be linked to my business). I will be sure to include visual+audio of ways to improve on Japanese and introduce how I got this far.

If any has any suggestions(or still reads this blog, because I haven’t updated it in a while). Please email me or reply back.

Complete Update

ta132 — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 02:18:18 +0000

Sorry I haven’t updated this blog in sometime but I plan to create a full professional blog and potential start an online business a well. I’m also working with someone (partnership) that will be released by the next month (it will provide an essential service for language learners). Which will also be an online business (this one looks like it will be really good). I’m also creating my own business and may or may not be related to it. Overall I’m planning on focusing purely on that site and it will also feature my Jp learning as well. It’s 25months so far but I feel fluency is just the tip of the iceberg and there are so many things to learn to reach beyond fluency (native-level or near native-level which is pretty much the same thing). Plus once my site get’s down and is running, I will complete shift everything there and start fresh. New design,new logo,new format, new blog(might be my own domain name,etc). So expect it to be worth the wait.

If your wondering how far or what are my current level of Jp. I’m experimenting on techniques to improve physical writing and get my speaking completely on par with my reading/listening skills by the end of next year(just a little over the 3 year mark by then). I expect to get even farther into jp territory. I might start learning chinese slowly on the side but haven’t decided on anything yet.

Update so far Part 3

ta132 — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 01:56:05 +0000

I finally have a laptop, so now I’m going into high gear with my plans. I’m already planning out a group that I’m working on with something else and we hope to have everything running by end of this year. Plus I will still create my intending youtube,twitter,website/blog and also promote my group that I’m planning out. Sorry for not updating this blog like I said I would, but I’ve been busy latey. I promise with my new site, to answer questions by a Q/A section or email. I will personally create a skype account for anyone wishing to contact me as well. But for now, expect a neat website that I’m working on. Like I said in my previous posts it will relate to language learning and how to really master it.

Update

ta132 — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:08:08 +0000

I’m still waiting on getting a laptop and all. Hopefully by this month, it’s been hard without one. Anyhow without delay:

I will add a portion in my new blog/website/other accounts(facebook,youtube,twitter) about current/accomplished tasks. This will include projects,progress,translations,transcriptions,learning vocab,sentences,speaking,writing and many more. It’s a way of listing my accomplishments and showing others just how serious I am about this(Japanese). I will list srs projects as well(certain number of vocab/sentences I’m at and my immediate goals vs long-term goals). Any example: add common sentences/vocab from articles(news,etc). And srs them all. And get my srs card stats to 1000 cards then 5000 cards and 10,000 cards.(My main goal is 20,000-30,000 cards per deck. Anything other than that will my Ultimate goal(which will take time of course).

Categorizes for the website/blog will include and Q/A section. I’ll try to answer it in other sections as well but I’ll do my best to answer them(p.s. I might not answer ever question, as I’ll list what are the common questions that people ask me). But aside from that, I will usual answer. (You can also ask me in that section, any projects/interesting that you may want to see). I’ll take them into consideration.

Main reasons for each account:

Twitter: motivational posts,interesting links/websites will be posted there, small tweets will be used to answer any questions, links to youtube,facebook and blog/website will be included in there too.

Blog/Website: will include projects(transcription,speaking,writing,listening,translations,interpretations,srs projects that include writing,reading,listening and speaking). Vocab/sentence anki packs( that will include them both per deck). I’ll see if I can work an excel file support there as well. As well as side projects(i.e. all male/female Japanese names in wikipedia(yes all of them, I’ve been working on that deck for sometime, it’s sidelined at the moment due to not having an active computer). It will include a lot of names(I may have deleted a few because they have the same reading/kanji for names). But it will include pretty much a lot of Jp names(full male/female ones. Put together).

Facebook: include motivational posts, interesting articles. Will include discussions,interesting facts/side notes. Linking towards the other accounts.

Youtube: general discussion,video projects(transcription/translation),speaking.

Those are my main ideas at the moment. Still brainstorming planning on names/etc. But it will be interesting name/logo I’ll make.

More Info

ta132 — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:20:36 +0000

Ok, I just recently got new work. So I will be getting a laptop in a few weeks. Once that happens, I can update you more on the blog and my plans. Since I’m planning a lot, I will take time to complete this. But I do estimate in a few months to get everything going.

So Far…

ta132 — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:36:42 +0000

Professional Blog will include the following categories and projects:

1. Transcription Projects ( In this section I will list what I’m interesting in doing and currently doing. If anyone wants to help out, they are welcome to do so). It will also include tips,strategies and guides on how to improve these skills in your own. This may include major projects and a side group that I will make for this purpose. As I said in past posts, I’m still working out names. But I promise they will be interesting and fun.

2. Reading Projects (In this section I will list mini-guides(1-2 pages and release them in pdf file and any vocab/sentences in an excel file and an Anki deck (including both the necessary vocab and sentences). The Anki decks will go about the usual formats: the Question part will have the kanji expression or vocab expression and answer will include readings and translation(vocab only). Here I will take suggestions(this section) and what you’d like me to do(certain manga or interesting/random vocabulary,movies,songs,etc)

3. Listening Projects (This section will me merged with Reading Projects section to Reading and Listening Projects) and will include audio where ever possible. I will also make separate guides for making listening more comprehensibly to beginners.

4. Resources (This section will include websites,programs,software (some from kanji koohli forum). I will ask for permission to host it and I will give credit of course. I’m creating this blog in order to help others learn and to promote my jp skills.

5. Suggestions (Here I will actively answer questions that I found interesting. If I don’t reply back, it’s probably because the answer is already on the site.)

6. Progress Report Projects(Here I will actively post every 5 months, where my Japanese level is and what I will be doing to actively increase it. It will also include tips,strategies,motivation)

7. Japanese Only Section(Meaning, it will only include posts all in Jp,conversations all in Jp and so on)

8. Kanji (Here I will explain what it takes to master this sucker to a high level of comprehension, reading and understanding)

9, Speaking and Writing(Here I will post what my progress so far for speaking and what I believe it really takes to get good at it)

10. About me( Here I will post why I choose to learn this language, a little about myself and what I think it will take to get far in Jp).

This is my brainstorming so far and what I have in mind for my blog. I will be posting detailed brainstorming for my YouTube ,Twitter and Facebook accounts. If you guys have any tips, I’m willing to hear it. Or if you just want to help in some way, I;m also open to it.

Brainstorming plans

ta132 — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 18:59:49 +0000

What I’ve come up with is: provide useful and fun learning resources via the srs. So things like anime transcription or movie transcription is possible. Providing 1-2 pages of guides during each post(explaining how to use vocab,sentences by providing real context). Plus releasing an excel file plus an anki deck. So you get: small guide using a few vocab/example sentences from a source and releasing the excel sheet for download,anki deck for download as well as uploading it to the anki servers.

Each blog will include insight into what it really takes to learn and providing easy examples for beginners to learn as well as advanced learners. I’m trying to get a middle ground here(as I can’t do too much at once). But so far: small guides(1-2 pages in pdf), excel sheet,anki deck. As for youtube it will be purely for interesting things(transcription,audio of me speaking jp and possible me speaking with various jp people if possible). I will be using my blog for learning posts and motivation. Twitter will just be for short but interesting things and motivation as well. I have more ideas coming, so bear with me(I’m still planning I will take my time to make this right)

Brainstorming Stage

ta132 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:56:00 +0000

I’ll be releasing my brainstorming pages on my blog. It will basically include any good ideas I have for each account and what will I do. One thing that caught my eye was releasing mini-guides instead of multiple big ones. It’s easier to swallow and it will be much more interesting that way. One good idea is using real-comics in those guides(i.e. a way of learning from fun material and break those down to learn new vocab/sentences in your srs of choice). Or using videos from games and releasing those for helpful learning(games like final fantasy,star ocean,J-rpgs,etc). I’ll be releasing my brainstorm next week. I’m also still trying to find a good name for my blog/youtube/twitter/facebook accounts(that I will create). Just researching names.

Future Plans(Exact plans)

ta132 — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:55:09 +0000

The professional blog will include tips/strategies and guides for mastering listening and reading skills(eventually it will include guides for improving speaking and writing skills). I will gear it towards different stages and levels. That means: novice,beginner,intermediate,proficient,advanced,fluent,native-level fluent and beyond(not sure what beyond is, but it’s probably a high level of native-level proficiency. Someone who can write literature,professional texts,speak about specialized topics like math,science and so forth. The blogs main purpose is to help people get better at speaking,writing,listening and reading. It will eventually branch off into translation,transcription, interpretation and will also explain in-detail about different translation careers. (One thing I forgot to mention is: cultural references,traditions and interesting statistics). Overall, the blog will talk about a lot of things and branch off into a lot of topics. (So it will not be limited to these specifically.I will list more but these are the base things I will do in the blog.)

The Twitter account will be specifically for motivation and posting useful links. I’ll also answer any questions you may have for me personally as well as for language learning. I’ll link it to my blog and answer any questions you may put on twitter or my YouTube account. I got a good idea, since a lot of people ask questions. I will make 1 post a week, answering any questions one may post on it.(If it’s the same type of questions over and over again, I will not answer then. But kindly ask, look around)

The Youtube account will include transcribed scenes and translated scenes(I may provide monolingual definitions to them and translations in English. But I plan to do them exclusively at times). So this will include transcription,translation and will branch of to other things as well.

The Facebook account will link all my accounts together and my blog will do them same as well. But here, I will answer more comments/questions and will link interesting items and sites.

Overall my blog will be my main source. If anyone has any suggestions and what to do with each account or a useful name(preferably Japanese, since I’m still researching and planning this out). I’m still planning this out and need help. So any help you may gave will be helpful. If I get my plan down within a few months and prepare my posts. I should have this up and running by next year. I’ll be sure to make it worth the wait.

I did get some suggestions to include useful key software(I noticed there are useful programs that where listed on the koohli forums. I’ll be sure to ask if I may host it on my blog. And I will actively give them credit for it, if I use it.) But overall, if I can get my planning done, I can get it up sooner.