I should also add, don't be afraid to forget.

kazelee Wrote:I should also add, don't be afraid to forget.

Just don't let it happen.

it took me till about #600 or so before i just let go and stopped being so anal about trying to remember every single one on the first try. With that, you can go much faster...for me the most my head can handle is about 70-80 a day(the key is a good story..which is damn easy to do cause of this site). My retention of them the next day goes to crap but after about 2-3 times reviewing them they stick in there pretty good. I think the most important thing is to put your faith into Heisig's story creation theory and dont worry about forgetting because the SRS will not let that happen over the long haul.

#1641(4 months and a week)

Just ordered RtK3 yesterday lol!

I just finished 577. I'm having a hard time making a story for all of the kanji. Like I am able to make one for each kanji, but then I find a better story that someone else has written. I would say that since the stories stopped coming from heisig (#507?) I've been using about 50% of my own stories and 50% others. Is this a bad thing? I mean I know that if you can create this whole image for your story that it makes it that much more impactive (is that a word?) on you brain. But what if you read someone else's story and have that good of an image? Should i just keep on the way I am?

Jon_B Wrote:I just finished 577. I'm having a hard time making a story for all of the kanji. Like I am able to make one for each kanji, but then I find a better story that someone else has written. I would say that since the stories stopped coming from heisig (#507?) I've been using about 50% of my own stories and 50% others. Is this a bad thing? I mean I know that if you can create this whole image for your story that it makes it that much more impactive (is that a word?) on you brain. But what if you read someone else's story and have that good of an image? Should i just keep on the way I am?

The only thing that counts is what works. For RTK, nothing else matters. Some people are really good at making the stories, so they probably end up using mostly their own stories. Some of us suck at it, so we mostly use other people's stories. I'll bet that 90% of my stories came from someone else, but I don't see that as a bad thing because it allowed me to move through the book way faster than I could have, otherwise.

Saizen is right, too - it's ok to get it wrong a few times in the course of learning it. Of course, you should try to get your stories to the point where things stick on the first try, but that won't always happen.

(I'm excited. After finishing a couple weeks ago, my reviews have finally dropped to about 100 a day from the peak of 240 or so. I'm looking forward to them dropping even more.)

alyks Wrote:

kazelee Wrote:I should also add, don't be afraid to forget.

Just don't let it happen.

Don't be afraid to forget, and remember that perfection is absolutely not a reasonable goal. If you aren't failing often, you aren't trying.

On the first review I often get around 50-60%. I don't think I'm doing something right, although, I have to admit, the ones I do get come almost instantly. I don't understand what's wrong with the rest >:C

And considering it takes me a few hours to do just 20... I think I am doing it wrong ):

Walden Wrote:On the first review I often get around 50-60%. I don't think I'm doing something right, although, I have to admit, the ones I do get come almost instantly. I don't understand what's wrong with the rest >:C

And considering it takes me a few hours to do just 20... I think I am doing it wrong ):

It shouldn't be taking you that long just to do 20, but failing a lot is ok as long as you keep going and don't give up.

Okay, please explain to us exactly what you do.

So on the topic of encouragement -- I was on sharedtalk chatting with a native Japanese woman.

During the course of the conversation I mentioned that I was also studying spanish.
The conversation then progressed to the Japanese educational system, and learning languages. Sometime around then she then said "スペイン語もぺらぺら話せる？" [Do you also speak spanish fluently?]

That comment, coming from a native speaker -- that's the encouragement that just keeps me going and going with Japanese.

Hello all. Just 369, but your stories and triumphs are encouraging me to forge ahead.

Canji, I think I'm going at about the same pace that you are.
I DID get that joke about stopping at 370!

kazelee Wrote:Okay, please explain to us exactly what you do.

It's obviously not the easiest to explain but I'll try.

I spend 5-7 minuites reading heisig's stories and writing it out per kanji, trying to think of the image he suggests, or if I can't work with it, a story from this site. I only try to do 20 a day as it's so slow and time consuming for me, so after I hit the 20 a day. I add them onto this site and review them either straight away or within the hour, to find out I've forgot half of them.

And at the moment I am only at 120.

If you can help, thanks!

Almost there. I've been experiencing a little Halo related turbulence.

1980　ファイト　オー

3 to 5 minutes a kanji is a good speed. Don't write out the story, it's unnecessary. Visualize the story happening clearly. Use your imagination to think of the story, not the other way around.

In the beginning it will take longer for each Kanji cause you haven't quite built up the skills yet, so don't worry about taking it slow right now.

kazelee Wrote:Almost there. I've been experiencing a little Halo related turbulence.

1980　ファイト　オー

Wow, you're so close, you can finish tomorrow if you wanted to.

I know I've been distracted from Kanji too lately, what with finishing up summer stuff and the start of school this week for me. Subterranean Animism also distracts me at random times. But most of all, just the significant change in the amount of time I can spend on hobbies will take getting used to.

Currently on frame 1086...

Walden Wrote:

kazelee Wrote:Okay, please explain to us exactly what you do.

It's obviously not the easiest to explain but I'll try.

I spend 5-7 minuites reading heisig's stories and writing it out per kanji, trying to think of the image he suggests, or if I can't work with it, a story from this site. I only try to do 20 a day as it's so slow and time consuming for me, so after I hit the 20 a day. I add them onto this site and review them either straight away or within the hour, to find out I've forgot half of them.

And at the moment I am only at 120.

If you can help, thanks!

I just wanted to add that your are still a beginner and with more experience your review rates will get better. Do not compare yourself too much with other people though. I gave that up long ago as my review rates are around 70% (most people claim to be around 80-90) and I dont think I am doing something terribly wrong.

So keep it up! The biggest step you have already taken by finding Heisigs book and this site.

If I'm having problems remembering some kanji I use the program KanjiGymLight which is really useful for quick flashcard type drilling and it has built in drawing on the screen so you don't have to waste paper. You can select drill by chapter/s or by kanji number.

sfekas Wrote:I would say that since the stories stopped coming from heisig (#507?) I've been using about 50% of my own stories and 50% others. Is this a bad thing?

In my opinion? Yes. The whole point of not providing stories anymore is for you to imagine your own ones and learn how to create stories that stick with you - because using the Heisig books you can only get so far. If ~3000 Kanjis is all you need, you could pretty much use only the stories provided by this community. If for whatever reason you intend to go beyond the 3000 mark (learning Chinese, impressing friends,...), being able to easily make up your own stories will probably help a lot!
My advice is, make your own stories as far as possible - and take your time in doing so. If you encounter a character which proves difficult, check out what other people have thought of and try to find out, what impresses you about these stories. Maybe go back and find out the same about the stories Heisig provided. For example, I discovered, over-the-top stories work best for me, so most of the stories I currently imagine involve unconventional imagery and characters - and it works just fine! Those crazy stories will probably stick forever.

I'm starting to get really annoyed, I spent around 2 hours learning my daily 20, after I'm done I add them to this site. I had 22 expired kanji, fair enough, I reviewed all 42 then and there, and I failed 23. I am actually forgetting faster than learning. I seriously don't know whats wrong.

Walden Wrote:I'm starting to get really annoyed, I spent around 2 hours learning my daily 20, after I'm done I add them to this site. I had 22 expired kanji, fair enough, I reviewed all 42 then and there, and I failed 23. I am actually forgetting faster than learning. I seriously don't know whats wrong.

I'd say don't worry about it. Near the beginning, I failed a lot of cards too. I believe it's because when you are starting out, you are constantly bombarded with new primitives and completely new kanji, and it's harder to start laying those foundations. Once you get further, many of the primitives start sticking because you've seen so many kanji that have them included. Don't get frustrated and keep up with the repetitions, you will start remembering soon enough.

hagaren199 Wrote:

kazelee Wrote:Almost there. I've been experiencing a little Halo related turbulence.

1980　ファイト　オー

Wow, you're so close, you can finish tomorrow if you wanted to.

HEHEHEHE

This will be the first, only, and last time I type these words willingly

やったー！！！！！！

How far are you now, kazie?

Finally hit the fourth digit. Feels great

I just did todays reviews, failed over 50%, I really don't want to stop, but they just won't sink in, I'm at 140, so should I just carry on or start over hoping they stick?