congrats cozyduck! You are going much faster than me. I think when I'm done it will have taken me about six months. That doesn't take into account the months I did nothing :/. I started with 10/day and now I try to do 20/day. I hope you find some motivation!
2011-12-12, 4:01 am
At last: the 75% mark!
I had to stop adding new Kanjis due to allocating a lot of times to my grammar studies in preparation for the N4 exam, which I'm sure that I'll pass with at least 90% score (regardless of the calculation method
).
In order to keep up with my schedule for having the N3 exam next year, I had to push myself too hard this month adding 55 kanjis/day, while working on a very important composition that I have to submit during this week to a conference!
However, I can already feel the benefits of the kanjis I've learned since I'm studying using the books allocated to Chinese students during my free Japanese courses in the university. The teacher keeps on telling me that she can't believe the progress I'm making. I've recently over-heard my friends saying that the International Students Affairs Department is thinking of consulting me about applying my studying methods in the university!
I had to stop adding new Kanjis due to allocating a lot of times to my grammar studies in preparation for the N4 exam, which I'm sure that I'll pass with at least 90% score (regardless of the calculation method
).In order to keep up with my schedule for having the N3 exam next year, I had to push myself too hard this month adding 55 kanjis/day, while working on a very important composition that I have to submit during this week to a conference!
However, I can already feel the benefits of the kanjis I've learned since I'm studying using the books allocated to Chinese students during my free Japanese courses in the university. The teacher keeps on telling me that she can't believe the progress I'm making. I've recently over-heard my friends saying that the International Students Affairs Department is thinking of consulting me about applying my studying methods in the university!
2011-12-19, 3:38 pm
I have to say, there was a really rough part somewhere around the 3/4th mark with lot of similar primitives or unreasonably complex ones to be used in just few following kanjis. But now it has gotten quite a bit easier imo (at 1700 now).
Which is good because I think I want to finish by Thursday. The only way to avoid exhaustion is to force your way through before it gets to you! I just need to ignore the amount of anki reviews this is going to cause...
Which is good because I think I want to finish by Thursday. The only way to avoid exhaustion is to force your way through before it gets to you! I just need to ignore the amount of anki reviews this is going to cause...
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2011-12-19, 5:33 pm
Also recently crossed the 3/4 mark. Currently at 1657.
It took me 5 months to get less than 300 characters at the start of the year before I discovered this site. Now with free time over the holidays I've really picked up the pace the last couple of days and am hoping to blast through the last 1/5 over the next five days, finishing before Christmas. :-)
It took me 5 months to get less than 300 characters at the start of the year before I discovered this site. Now with free time over the holidays I've really picked up the pace the last couple of days and am hoping to blast through the last 1/5 over the next five days, finishing before Christmas. :-)
2011-12-19, 5:39 pm
Good luck on with your pre-christmas kanji binges everyone! 
Edited: 2011-12-19, 5:39 pm
2011-12-31, 1:07 pm
cozyduck Wrote:I'm here too, after 3 and a half months, but I'm slowing down more and more. I'm really finding it hard to motivate myself lately. Regardless, I'll see it through no matter what.And I'm done, took me 6 months in the end, which is rather disappointing considering I was making such good progress for a while, but regardless, done is done. Good luck to everyone else on the final stretch.
Edited: 2011-12-31, 1:08 pm
2012-01-21, 2:29 pm
Bringing this thread back to the top, I just finished up frame 1550.
When I started RtK, I made a goal to finish by the end of January. Since that deadline is approaching fast, I've been banging out around 50 kanji per day. It's a good bit of work, but with little going on in my life right now, and school being relatively easy (since it's the first few weeks), I have a lot of time on my hands.
It feels pretty good to only have around 500 kanji left. For the first time since starting RtK, I feel like finishing this book is actually attainable. It has also provided a lot motivation to dig deep into the next phase of my Japanese learning. Once I finish up on RtK, I'm plunging head first into the wonderful world of grammar and vocab!
When I started RtK, I made a goal to finish by the end of January. Since that deadline is approaching fast, I've been banging out around 50 kanji per day. It's a good bit of work, but with little going on in my life right now, and school being relatively easy (since it's the first few weeks), I have a lot of time on my hands.
It feels pretty good to only have around 500 kanji left. For the first time since starting RtK, I feel like finishing this book is actually attainable. It has also provided a lot motivation to dig deep into the next phase of my Japanese learning. Once I finish up on RtK, I'm plunging head first into the wonderful world of grammar and vocab!
2012-02-08, 3:09 pm
Congrats everyone! I'm finally here too. I started about 3 1/2 or 4 months ago but had a long break along the way due to work and then a holiday trip. Now I'm trying to really pick up the pace and finish...
2012-02-09, 3:06 am
Just over 2 months and I am past the end of lesson 39, which also happens to be frame 1650, which is exactly 3/4 of the 6th Edition RtK book.
Inevitably, going through the first 1000 Kanji was a lot faster than going through the second half, my progress is only slow and steady.
Although I only have 1/4 of the book to go, I cannot claim to say that I know the first 3/4 because I don't. And the main reason for that is that my reviews in Anki have been neglected to the point where I am even forgetting sub-1000 Kanji. Anki requires a computer and when it comes to studying, I'm more of an old-fashioned pen, paper and book sort of person. Also, the computer has too many distractions and I don't like starting at a screen. So reviews are my weak point.
Nevertheless, I'll try to finish the book before the end of the month (in other words, the 3 months study time Heisig suggested) so that I can at least first gain a recognition and become familiar with all 2200 Kanji. Once the recognition/familiarization of the last 550 Kanji is done, memorization of all 2200 Kanji should follow (with consistent reviewing) and after the 4th month (the 4th month devoted to reviewing and where I do not distract myself with new Kanji) my Kanji comprehension should improve by leaps and bounds, compared to my pre-RtK days.
Then, I will consider doing RtK Vol. 3.
Inevitably, going through the first 1000 Kanji was a lot faster than going through the second half, my progress is only slow and steady.
Although I only have 1/4 of the book to go, I cannot claim to say that I know the first 3/4 because I don't. And the main reason for that is that my reviews in Anki have been neglected to the point where I am even forgetting sub-1000 Kanji. Anki requires a computer and when it comes to studying, I'm more of an old-fashioned pen, paper and book sort of person. Also, the computer has too many distractions and I don't like starting at a screen. So reviews are my weak point.
Nevertheless, I'll try to finish the book before the end of the month (in other words, the 3 months study time Heisig suggested) so that I can at least first gain a recognition and become familiar with all 2200 Kanji. Once the recognition/familiarization of the last 550 Kanji is done, memorization of all 2200 Kanji should follow (with consistent reviewing) and after the 4th month (the 4th month devoted to reviewing and where I do not distract myself with new Kanji) my Kanji comprehension should improve by leaps and bounds, compared to my pre-RtK days.
Then, I will consider doing RtK Vol. 3.
2012-03-06, 3:12 pm
I'm at 1962/2042 now, so well past 3/4, though the Final Countdown thread is 3 years old now...
Believe it when people say that 3/4 is really halfway. The long slog of doing 100-150 reviews every day, plus new cards, really does grind down after a while. I've only been adding 10 cards/day, though, so it'll be 7 months by the time I'm done in a week, which is far longer than most people on this site. I would agree that doing 20-25/day, to finish in 3 months or so, is probably better, but between a full-time job and other stuff, I just don't have the time for it.
For new cards, some parts are definitely harder than others. For me, it was always easier when there was a long list of kanji all using the same new primitive/radical - the "person", "heart", and "thread" chapters were easy. The chapter on plants, not so much. After a while, though, SRS makes it all good, but it does take some time.
When you get to 1880-1904 (5th ed.) - the lesson on exceptions to the rules - take what Heisig says to heart, and review those new kanji a few times the first day. Whenever I failed a card that had an SRS interval of 10 days or fewer, I'd write out a physical index card, and I'd study them once a day (different time than SRS). I'd scratch out the card a few days later when I felt that I had that kanji down solid, so I never had more than 50 index cards at any time, and usually more like 20-30. For the exceptions lesson, I pre-emptively made index cards for all of them, and studied them while on the treadmill at the gym.
Good luck, and see you at the end!
Believe it when people say that 3/4 is really halfway. The long slog of doing 100-150 reviews every day, plus new cards, really does grind down after a while. I've only been adding 10 cards/day, though, so it'll be 7 months by the time I'm done in a week, which is far longer than most people on this site. I would agree that doing 20-25/day, to finish in 3 months or so, is probably better, but between a full-time job and other stuff, I just don't have the time for it.
For new cards, some parts are definitely harder than others. For me, it was always easier when there was a long list of kanji all using the same new primitive/radical - the "person", "heart", and "thread" chapters were easy. The chapter on plants, not so much. After a while, though, SRS makes it all good, but it does take some time.
When you get to 1880-1904 (5th ed.) - the lesson on exceptions to the rules - take what Heisig says to heart, and review those new kanji a few times the first day. Whenever I failed a card that had an SRS interval of 10 days or fewer, I'd write out a physical index card, and I'd study them once a day (different time than SRS). I'd scratch out the card a few days later when I felt that I had that kanji down solid, so I never had more than 50 index cards at any time, and usually more like 20-30. For the exceptions lesson, I pre-emptively made index cards for all of them, and studied them while on the treadmill at the gym.
Good luck, and see you at the end!
2012-03-08, 3:22 am
I'm on frame 1550 now... the second half of the book is definitely much slower. Going to try and finish up next week over my spring break!
2012-04-09, 4:50 am
Just crossed the 3/4 mark. It goes much slower, but i plan to end it within this/next week, thanks to some free days. Woke up, learn/review, sleep.. that's my schedule for the day now It really feels good to not waste time.
It really feels good to not waste time.
2012-04-09, 6:10 am
meeatcookies Wrote:Just crossed the 3/4 mark. It goes much slower, but i plan to end it within this/next week, thanks to some free days. Woke up, learn/review, sleep.. that's my schedule for the day nowCzołem,
Wiem, że angielski nie jest tu językiem pierwszoplanowym ale jednak...
"Woke up, learn/review, sleep" lepiej pisać
"Wake up, learn/review, sleep"
i w
"It really feels good to not waste time", użyłbym
"It really feels good to waste no time" lub
"It really feels good not to waste any time", chyba że moje wyczucie mnie zawodzi
Zdrówka
2012-04-09, 8:11 am
Witam Rodaka
Nawet nie zauwazylem, ze napisalem woke up, zamiast wake up. W kazdym razie, dzieki za uwagi. Jedyne miejsce, w ktorym uzywam angielskiego, to wlasnie fora;p
Nawet nie zauwazylem, ze napisalem woke up, zamiast wake up. W kazdym razie, dzieki za uwagi. Jedyne miejsce, w ktorym uzywam angielskiego, to wlasnie fora;p
2012-04-09, 8:54 am
I just read every single word of that as "Na zdrowie" and now I want some Zubrowka. Thanks guys.
2012-05-05, 6:40 am
YAY finally past the 3/4 mark and definitely going to keep going and finish with time to spare for my goal which is my birthday. started March 26 2012, goal June 21. Think i'll go at a rate of 50 a day cause I'm at that point where i just want to get it over with before exams start. And i already took a week off of adding new cards cause of how busy school became.
2012-05-12, 5:34 pm
And I'm in! Just finished lesson 39. 40 looks fun already, but with 200 reviews forecast tomorrow already, I think that's suicide. Not to mention my exams this month... ._.
2012-05-18, 5:15 am
Also at 3/4 now. I'm noticing I'm slowing down as I'm now getting to Kanji that I didn't learn on my first attempt (to 1300 or such), still, if I concentrate and keep a steady and patient pace, I should be finished around June 16th or such...
2012-05-27, 3:44 am
Squintox Wrote:I wish I hadn't read that, because now I'm going to have to do that tooTobberoth Wrote:Anyone else in the same boat as me? After getting 3/4 of the way done (I posted here very recently) I got a huge burst in motivation. Before, I did 20 a day, always. Now, I do 40, sometimes even more. At this speed, I'll be done way ahead of schedule.Same. I used to do 0-50 a day, then at the 1,500 point, I did the other 500 in a week.
2012-06-06, 2:46 pm
Just passed the 3/4th mark today!
Since I took a break for a few days for exams and I still have 2 last exams next week I won't be able to finish by my original expectation of June 16th, but I will surely get it over before July. At least the ones in the 4th edition.
Best thing about getting to 3/4th of the way is that you feel like that's it. You are so close to the finish and every thought about stopping is disregarded as stupid. The hard part is behind us.
Since I took a break for a few days for exams and I still have 2 last exams next week I won't be able to finish by my original expectation of June 16th, but I will surely get it over before July. At least the ones in the 4th edition.
Best thing about getting to 3/4th of the way is that you feel like that's it. You are so close to the finish and every thought about stopping is disregarded as stupid. The hard part is behind us.
2012-06-06, 2:48 pm
nescio Wrote:Just passed the 3/4th mark today!Congrats! Keep up the good work!
Since I took a break for a few days for exams and I still have 2 last exams next week I won't be able to finish by my original expectation of June 16th, but I will surely get it over before July. At least the ones in the 4th edition.
Best thing about getting to 3/4th of the way is that you feel like that's it. You are so close to the finish and every thought about stopping is disregarded as stupid. The hard part is behind us.
2012-06-29, 6:14 pm
Frame 1531 finished, only 1/4 of the way left of this book I honestly didn't fully expect from the start that I'd actually have the ability to finish!
So close to the finish line now!
Been thinking about doing RtK2 after I'm finished, want to get the readings down as well now and would appreciate having a structured approach to the onyomi (the kunyomi has been easier to pick up as I learn vocabulary, but the onyomi doesn't come as easy as they're basically only used in compounds). Would like to know if there's any reason I shouldn't do it since I've seen some criticism towards if here, but I suppose I'll give it a try and see. ^_^
Going strong towards the end of the book!
So close to the finish line now!
Been thinking about doing RtK2 after I'm finished, want to get the readings down as well now and would appreciate having a structured approach to the onyomi (the kunyomi has been easier to pick up as I learn vocabulary, but the onyomi doesn't come as easy as they're basically only used in compounds). Would like to know if there's any reason I shouldn't do it since I've seen some criticism towards if here, but I suppose I'll give it a try and see. ^_^
Going strong towards the end of the book!
Edited: 2012-06-29, 6:17 pm
2012-08-02, 8:43 am
woohoo! Frame 1650 of 6th edition! It's been 57 days since I started a new deck. Really I started back in Feb. but burned out quickly. Wish I would've stuck with it as I would be done by now! I'm debating whether to push through the last 1/4 as quickly as possible or to keep a comfortable pace and just add 30-40 / day until I'm there. I reckon slow and steady wins the race, so will probably just keep my comfortable pace. Thanks for all the inspiration everyone!
Edited: 2012-08-02, 8:44 am
2012-08-20, 7:59 am
Finally made to the 3/4 mark! Been waiting for ages to get here. To be honest, I've actually got here once before, but forgot most of what I learned and have had to start over. This time I did RTK lite just so that I got some results faster (I remembered most of the primitives so I could still do it the Heisig way). The next 500 is gonna be the hardest by a long way, because I don't really remember them at all, but it will be worth it! I'm halfway through core 2000 so far and will finish it once I've finished the kanji. Hopefully both will be finished by the end of September!
maruru Wrote:Would like to know if there's any reason I shouldn't do it since I've seen some criticism towards if here, but I suppose I'll give it a try and see. ^_^I think the general view is that it would be more worth your while to pick up readings from context, so from the core deck or subs2srs or something similar. That being said, there are threads on here for people that have completed RTK2 and found it useful, so I see no reason not to experiment and see if it works for you.
