I finished RTK1 quite some time ago and it has been very helpful in my recent studies. However I don't see any big argument against embedding the Heisig-approach into a classical schoolbook.
One lesson could consist of
-around 40 Heisig keywords (maybe some more for the very first lesson) which should be drilled (and put into an SRS) first
-a lesson text
-vocabulary (using the above learned Heisig keywords)
-grammar + the standard stuff taught in a good textbook
I see only one minor problem: the first lessons would be a little strange because of the limited possibilities for new words. But this problem could be fixed/ made not so bad by
having the first lessons consist of somewhat strange texts like "one cat, two large hats, ..." with some fantasy one could design a text that is not totally bananas; it would be a little strange but still give a nice feeling to the learner: "wow I can read Kanji/Hanzi".
After a couple of hundred Heisigkeywords there should be enough Heisigprimitives around to construct words suited for a "normal" lesson text.
It would be pretty hard work to design such a book, but I feel it could be very successful because it would reward the Heisigstyle learner almost instantly with real life applications.

I think the approaches aren't incompatible, it's just that the BENEFIT of Heisig comes from not have to wade through, say 50 some lessons of vocab, grammar, etc (which really would be about 4 semesters of material in a lot of schools, just for example...) before you learn how to write ALL the characters. So i think the main conflict is really just timing.

The benefit of doing Heisig's writing stuff first has obviously been discussed at length, but it's good to remember that the whole point is to get the hooks that will help you glean more from the kanji all around you, and very quickly. Whereas if you only learn 20-50 a week because you also have to learn a lot of other stuff at the same time, then it takes longer to get to the stage where you benefit...

Three reasons:

1. Most JP teachers don't know about it.
2. JP teachers who know of it think it's too unorthodox.
3. The people who use it, aren't in positions to design classes.

What would be cool, would be a normal JP class in college with a different class devoted exclusively to kanji.

There are many in here that don't agree with the "classic" teaching approach anyway, myself included.

That said, I've not been against someone learning spoken Japanese while at the same time doing RTK. In fact, programs like Pimsleur and Rosetta stone (in kana format) may be a good diversion for the three to six months you get your kanji act together.

After that, go to the sentence method or some other way you want.

However, trying to get RIGHT into reading while doing RTK may not work at all. They have not even internalized (at least gotten to block 5) a Kanji when you're already throwing readings at the student.

Nukemarine Wrote:However, trying to get RIGHT into reading while doing RTK may not work at all. They have not even internalized (at least gotten to block 5) a Kanji when you're already throwing readings at the student.

Can go either way. Will either help solidify the kanji (exposure) or make them core dump (overwhelming). Depends.

Nukemarine Wrote:However, trying to get RIGHT into reading while doing RTK may not work at all. They have not even internalized (at least gotten to block 5) a Kanji when you're already throwing readings at the student.

The point is, the learned Kanji are still fresh in the mind at that point. Since I am learning Chinese and not Japanese there are quiet a few Kanji/Hanzi that I learn in my day to day study now. And I really have the feeling that the way to block 5 (if they are in RTK1/3) or to mature status in anki, comes much easier when putting in example sentences right after learning them Heisigstyle.
You eventually have no choice but to change to this procedure once you hit the post RTK-mark. Why just not start earlier.
Also while I think a textbook would work just fine - say in an university enviroment - it has not to be restricted to that.
For selftaught people I could imagine an internet project, that introduces Heisigstyle keywords accompanied with sentences matching those keywords. People who are really fit with databases could even run a sorting algorithm through a sentences-database to match those sentences with keywords up to number so-and-so.

On a personal level I would like to add: generally I am against most things that have too much of an elitist flair around it. When completing the Heisig-approach this seemingly puts oneself into an elite club. An approach like I proposed above would also eliminate this.