Remembering the Kanji by James Heisig

[SHAD0W]

Originally Posted by Tangram

I agree with this. And it really applies when the kanji is used for other words, which are fairly common

Thankyou

Do you also use the basic kanji method?

[Tangram]

Originally Posted by SHAD0W

Thankyou

Do you also use the basic kanji method?

My method is pretty much my own. I play The Kanji Game in my spare time to come to recognize kanji before I learn them (which helps me a lot when I do actually learn them). When I'm ready to learn a new set of characters, I use a kanji chart by grade to determine an order. I look up the stroke order and practice drawing it, and then I use four or five reliable sources to look up readings, meanings, and uses in context.

I admit that it's a method that probably wouldn't work for most people, as there aren't any tricks. But it has yet to fail me.

[Lucas89]

I have to say i would highly recommend it in my opinion.

You just have to remember that it won't and never claims to teach you how to read Japanese.
From what i gather from reading the book is that it is only meant to help you memorize how to write and recognize characters through use of stories and keywords.

I can only talk about the first book and my experience since i am not really interested in the 2nd and 3rd books.

I can currently only recall how to write roughly 500 separate kanji from memory, but so far i have noticed it's much easier for me to learn the kanji compounds for words where i recognize the kanji and can peice together keywords that already make sense to me than those i don't.
It's not a bad thing that you don't learn the readings right away either, infact so far i've found it easier to learn this way (Yes i have attempted to learn the readings and kanji all in one go and it did not work for me - There were just simply too many readings for me to memorize at once and things like on and yumi or w/e its called readings confuse me)

For example 夢 was given the keyword "Dream" so when i saw it i already had a picture in my head of what it could mean, and so when i found out the reading to be ゆめ it was all i had to remember since i had already learned how to write it.

maybe a better example would be 外国人/外人
The keywords were:
外 - Outside
国 - Country
人 - Person

Now just because you don't know the readings it doesn't mean that you can't still get a good idea of what it could mean.
Once you have found out the reading all you have to remember is that a 外国人/外人 is an "Outside country Person/Outside Person" more simply put, a Foreigner... Simple

Anyway, i would say if you are not in a class then atleast give it a go and see how you get on.
If however you are in a class then it's probably best to just stick with whatever they give you.

[SHAD0W]

Originally Posted by Tangram

I admit that it's a method that probably wouldn't work for most people, as there aren't any tricks. But it has yet to fail me.

ooo i know some of those from that chart

Thats pretty much the basic kanji method but your making it more difficult for yourself.. which i suppose is good because it will stay better.

How long have you studied japanese? Im somewhere around entering my second year..

Are you reading the chart the modern way or traditonal way?

[Lucas89]

If your asking me then i've been studying (If you can call lazing around watching tv and playing games studying) for slightly over 2 months now.

Edit: Post edited by shadow, not talkin' to me xD

[SHAD0W]

Originally Posted by Lucas89

Edit: Post edited by shadow, not talkin' to me xD

One of the first things you did when you joined JF was tell me how long you have studied japanese

you wanted to help in my thread remember?

[Tangram]

Originally Posted by SHAD0W

ooo i know some of those from that chart

Thats pretty much the basic kanji method but your making it more difficult for yourself.. which i suppose is good because it will stay better.

How long have you studied japanese? Im somewhere around entering my second year..

Are you reading the chart the modern way or traditonal way?

I know the first twelve from that chart.

It's basically my all around study method. I came up with it back in high school with I did Academic Decathlon. It takes dedication and willpower, and you also kind of have to like studying. XD I wouldn't recommend it for anyone that has a different way that works for them.

Not long at all. About...three months. I've been told I started kanji too early, but my focus is mainly on reading, so it was kind of essential. And kanji are my favorite things to study.

Traditional, I imagine. If you mean top to bottom, right to left? That seems to be the way it's set up, and the first-grade equivalent of it was clearly set up that way.

(PS, perhaps we should take this to PM? So as to avoid further usurping this thread?)

[SHAD0W]

We may if you feel its nessessary but, i think its relevant to aid studies of others.

I assumed thats the way you used the chart. You can tell your studying hard because I'm in my second year of a more casual form of study and you supass me in every way!

oh btw, according to AJATT, its never too early to learn kanji.

congrats dude.

[Tangram]

Originally Posted by SHAD0W

We may if you feel its nessessary but, i think its relevant to aid studies of others.

I assumed thats the way you used the chart. You can tell your studying hard because I'm in my second year of a more casual form of study and you supass me in every way!

oh btw, according to AJATT, its never too early to learn kanji.

congrats dude.

Alrighty, then.

Possibly every way except for the most important - grammar. Argh, grammar kicks my butt. I can decode sentences, but I can barely form the most basic of sentences. I haven't yet found a source that teaches it the way I want to learn it.

You know, I've never really checked out AJATT. I've heard so many mixed reviews about it. Though, from glancing at it, it seems like I ought to take a better look into it. I don't want to have the language down in 18 months, but it does kind of sound like my learning style.

[SHAD0W]

his idea won't work for everybody but he does make alot of sense. and yes it does sound like you the only downsides to his site are that its like navigating through spaghetti. Also, he rambles forever before he gets into the point of each post.

I wish i had the time to prepare such things..