I'm still pretty new to the method, about 200 or so characters into book one. I'm moving through it fairly fast and generally doing ok at going from keywords to writing the character. The problem is, I seem to find it slow going to get the keyword if I see a character.

I'm living in a Chinese speaking country so get a lot of opportunity to see characters. Frequently I'll be able to recognize that I've learned a character, split it up into the elements but not for the life of me recall the keyword. Very frustrating.

The book recommends only practicing from keyword to character stating the reverse will work itself out.

Is this a problem other people have/had? Does it just clear over time? Is it a sign I'm not making the stories vivid enough?

Any suggestions gratefully received!

Thanks! ^^

Hi, Ulsansam. I've finished both the RTH books and I'm pretty familiar with your problem. I'd say it does clear up over time, especially as you learn the pronunciation of the characters.

Since you're living in a Chinese speaking country, I'd say to go ahead and learn the pronunciation of the character and just write it under the character as an extra hint. You eventually want the keywords to fall away anyway, so I wouldn't consider it cheating. Here's an example:

Front:
good
ㄏㄠˇ (or hao3 if you use pinyin)

Back:
好
"card number" (just so I can look it up later if I have to)

Now, I didn't do this as I added the character at first (though you can if you want, I see no harm), I only did it as I learned the pronunciation of the character through reading books and such. Then when I review the card and recognize it, I add the pronunciation. Especially since you already see it around you everyday, just go ahead and learn the pronunciation. Then you get an extra review whenever you see it again!

I don't know that it's necessarily a bad sign that this happens, it just happens on some characters and not others. Usually if you have a specific image for a word, such as "pole" (in book two), I think of "pole vaulting" and bring that image to mind in my story and won't mix it up with the very similar keyword, "stick" or something. Don't worry too much about it, just keep moving through the book as quick as you can knowing that you'll really solidify things when you start reading. Part of the learning is really just drawing the characters over and over through exposure in your SRS. You'll learn them.

Just to add one more personal note on how I went about it: I never failed a card unless I drew it wrong or mixed up the positions of the primitives. I still pass it even if I have to use a story, I just used the weakest "passing" button. My experience is basically to go pretty easy on yourself when you're going through the book. It's more important to cover more characters in less time than it is to really master a smaller amount, especially considering you're in an environment where you'll being seeing the characters you're learning all the time, which is cool. I had to learn them all in the U.S., so you've got an advantage in some ways.

Oh, and sorry this was so long. You're doing great! Keep it up and then get reading some fun books/漫畫 (man4hua4).

Hi doranws,

Thanks for your reply ~ just wanted I want to hear!

^^