@RawrPk I remember most of the names on this thread, I have a better memory for usernames than I do Japanese! 
This may be a ramble. I am at work, so I can't really review this xD
I tried intensive reading with graded readers, manga, and childrens books -- all of which made me want to poke my eyes out! I found that the format of "Breaking into Japanese Literature" just makes the process easier. If I don't know a word I look down; if the sentence meaning puzzles me I look right. The dictionary is excellent and includes short phrases e.g. for 胡坐をかいていた the meaning given is "to sit cross legged" rather than the individual words (noun: sitting cross legged, and revision, reform, etc.)
I slowly read a few pages, which is a slow process. Then I will read the same pages after a short coffee/tea break. It's the second reading that keeps me going, I'll find that I read the pages faster and with solid comprehension. I will still 'forget' a couple of harder words -- just accept that it will happen.
Once I have completed a story or chapter. I'll go back and read it again and I tend to find that I can read rather fluently (essentially extensive reading). This is what makes it all worthwhile. When you can read out-loud with minimal pauses, you'll feel like a pro-audiobook reader
It's an awesome feeling. いい気持ち！ I'll go back much later and reread the same material, as it only takes a few minites after all that effort. Don't worry about forgetting the odd word -- you'll grasp those in the next story/book/chapter.
I understand your pain with reading a non bilingual book. I hated trying to read: Kino's Journey, Doraemon, or Yotsubato without the easy dictionary. I would suggest you do the following:
* Grab a nice mechanical pencil with a rubber
* Quickly go through the material and write the meaning of unknown words/grammar somewhere on the page e.g. footnotes, or above the word.
* Reread the material intensively once you have all the notes.
Essentially you are making your own custom bilingual text... that's why I recommend using Breaking into Japanese Literature first. Each time you read a book you should need to make less notes in the next (unless it's a new genre with lots of specific words). Since BiJL gives you solid notes it's a great first stepping stone.
Quote: As for intensive reading what was your process? I've tried (and failed) intensive reading in the past by burnout so I was just wondering how you did so without wanting to poke your eyes burn out. Right now I'm extensive reading a manga called 「しろくまカフェ」 (it has been mentioned a lot in this thread) and I'm about halfway. I know there are word I don't know but haven't really bothered to look up and some I have figured out (I think?) with context. My plan is to intensive read after Vol 1 or would sooner rather than later be better?
This may be a ramble. I am at work, so I can't really review this xD
I tried intensive reading with graded readers, manga, and childrens books -- all of which made me want to poke my eyes out! I found that the format of "Breaking into Japanese Literature" just makes the process easier. If I don't know a word I look down; if the sentence meaning puzzles me I look right. The dictionary is excellent and includes short phrases e.g. for 胡坐をかいていた the meaning given is "to sit cross legged" rather than the individual words (noun: sitting cross legged, and revision, reform, etc.)
I slowly read a few pages, which is a slow process. Then I will read the same pages after a short coffee/tea break. It's the second reading that keeps me going, I'll find that I read the pages faster and with solid comprehension. I will still 'forget' a couple of harder words -- just accept that it will happen.
Once I have completed a story or chapter. I'll go back and read it again and I tend to find that I can read rather fluently (essentially extensive reading). This is what makes it all worthwhile. When you can read out-loud with minimal pauses, you'll feel like a pro-audiobook reader
It's an awesome feeling. いい気持ち！ I'll go back much later and reread the same material, as it only takes a few minites after all that effort. Don't worry about forgetting the odd word -- you'll grasp those in the next story/book/chapter.I understand your pain with reading a non bilingual book. I hated trying to read: Kino's Journey, Doraemon, or Yotsubato without the easy dictionary. I would suggest you do the following:
* Grab a nice mechanical pencil with a rubber
* Quickly go through the material and write the meaning of unknown words/grammar somewhere on the page e.g. footnotes, or above the word.
* Reread the material intensively once you have all the notes.
Essentially you are making your own custom bilingual text... that's why I recommend using Breaking into Japanese Literature first. Each time you read a book you should need to make less notes in the next (unless it's a new genre with lots of specific words). Since BiJL gives you solid notes it's a great first stepping stone.
Edited: 2016-04-04, 10:13 am