So I am using running start to complete a college Japanese course druing my junior year in High-school. I will start Japanese III, the highest level within the closest 4 colleges, next month. The teacher interviewed me and told me consitantly that her class was brutally difficult. I asked her about the textbook used and she told me she was using "げんき" and we will start on lesson 8. I am guessing when I say this but I think we will just contiunue through the first book and end there since 12 lessons divided by 3 class levels is 4 lessons.

I have been self-studying "げんき" way before I started RTK. It isn't that difficult. I mastered all the kanji and grammar from the first book but I could use some work on the vocabulary.

1) I want to start Anki since I JUST finished RTK this week. I would like to import a げんき list but I don't know how to do this.{Edit: I figured out how to download げんき but how can I synch the online Anki with the offline Anki? }

2) Does anyone have any advice for making the best of this class? I heard that the Language Lab will have English students as well as Japanese students. (75% sure)

皆さん、ありがとうございます！

I wouldn't worry too much! I can't imagine a course using げんき to be 'brutally difficulty' unless the teacher was using a looooot of their own supplemental materials and assignments. げんき is designed for casual learners in courses going at a steady pace. It's a beginner textbook after all, though I think it's pretty fun for people to work through! A lot of the sentences and cartoon pictures in there made me laugh way too much when I was looking through it There's not too much vocabulary per lesson, so you should be fine just making a flash card for every word.

Concerning げんき I do have a few qualms about it, mostly with their vocabulary. I think their structure for introducing grammar is fine, but the vocabulary makes no sense! I remember one chapter had something like, 宇宙人, ハイヒール, and some other completely random words. That also made me laugh a lot I think they were going for random humor almost though...Some of the voices on the げんき audio clips springs to mind

But I think their silly fun is better than dry textbooks for most students.

Um... How can the third level in a Japanese class still be on chapter 8 in Genki? On my university, both Genki books are finished in Japanese 101 and 102.

From what I understand about American Japanese courses, typically Genki 1 and 2 are about 4 years of high school studies, or four semester at a college.

Aijin Wrote:From what I understand about American Japanese courses, typically Genki 1 and 2 are about 4 years of high school studies, or four semester at a college.

Same here for us with Nakama, Sorry Tobberoth your uni is too hardcore

At my university we completely both Genki books in a total of 3 semesters. Actually it's more like 2 semesters, since the first semester is more of a general introduction and we don't get very far in Genki1. It's about one lesson per week. So, I wouldn't worry about it too much, especially if you have worked through the book before it should be rather easy.

Aijin, Thank you for the motivation. I guess I have plenty of time to learn the 20-50 words I don't know. I'm glad the textbook isn't too dry. (When I self studies I only looked at the grammar pages pretty much )

The class is only a semester so if they had higher levels it would take 3 years to finish Genki! X_X

Well I will make the most of the teacher, thanks for the advice everyone.

gyuujuice Wrote:2) Does anyone have any advice for making the best of this class? I heard that the Language Lab will have English students as well as Japanese students. (75% sure)

Network!
Make friends with people who are learning, with your professors, and with your tutors. It's really inspiring when people work together to learn Japanese. The professor will answer all your questions (as long as it's not a "translate this for me"-kinda deal).

I can imagine it could be hard if your teacher gives you a ton of work that may not be related to Genki, and if he/she grades strictly. So yeah, watch out for that. =)

Oh, three semesters is definitely do-able. Two semesters like Tobbertooth said is more than possible as well, but the problem is, the majority of people who take beginner language classes are doing it either due to A) a mild interest in the language/culture or B) due to general ed requirements. When it's A) they're not going to be spending nearly enough time studying nor have the passion to keep up with the fast pace and all the additional work. If it's B) then they simply don't care and aren't going to do it anyway.

This is why there's usually a very stark contrast between beginner/lower intermediate classes, and the advanced ones. In advanced classes the teachers cater towards those who are majoring in it, or have a deep love and motivation for the language. That way they can go much faster than at the lower levels, and introduce a lot more material.

Break-neck speeds are perfectly fine for programs that're designed for students that are very serious about the language. But if it's just a normal university class then there's no point, because only a small percentage of the students are going to be THAT interested.

Good points Aijin.

I did a serious program which did Genki 1 in one semester, Genki 2 in the second, and an Introduction to Intermediate Japanese in the third--but it was while studying abroad in Japan, so it made sense to be devoted. It was definitely doable, along with non-language related classes. I tested into doing Genki 2. The people who did the Intermediate Japanese textbook, however, really worked their ass off. There was a fourth level, but nobody tested into it, so I never go to find out what they did at that level.

Nevertheless, I learned more doing Japanese: The Spoken Language very slowly regularly back home than I did doing Genki 2 very quickly--there's a major difference in the quality of textbook here. Edit: Actually, to be fair, my reading improved with Genki 2, but my speaking didn't improve much at all.

Whatever you do, just don't be "that guy". The one who has a head start on everybody in the class (which it seems you do) and wants to make sure everybody knows it. Hold your cards close to your chest, at least for a little while. Stay humble and be helpful when you can. It'll be hard enough being a high schooler in a college class.

My university goes through one Genki book per semester. Some people say it's a really fast pace, as I know some universities who do one book per year.
I thought it was a pretty simple pace. Had to keep up with everything, but it really wasn't too much of a problem. Especially if you end up being "one of us" on the forums, who are all crazy about learning.

mullr Wrote:Whatever you do, just don't be "that guy".
...It'll be hard enough being a high schooler in a college class.

Definitely don't be "that guy." If you do find yourself at higher levels than other people, don't flaunt it, it's quite annoying. Especially if you're younger than them.
We had one high schooler in our 3rd year Japanese class. She did fine...but everyone liked her, and she had a good personality...

Well, I think there's a difference between simply showing off and speaking at your full level to make the most of your time there. Teachers definitely can tell when someone is trying to boast and try to assert their domination of Japanese-badassness, rather than simply trying to speak as well as they can and get as much practice as they can.

I mean, if you're way ahead of everyone and aren't learning much in that time, you shouldn't further dumb yourself down and waste the time. Speak with the teacher as well as you can. If you give a response in class, do it as well as you can even if it means your classmates don't understand. The objective is to further your knowledge and skills after all!

I am taking the last (Elementary Japanese IV) course at Harvard Extension School now. They offer more courses in Japanese at Harvard (Intermediate Japanese, etc...) but you have to be a student. Over at regular Harvard they teach material contained in Extension School Elem. Japanese I-IV in three courses (Elem. Jap. 1+2, Intermediate Japanese 1). This material is Nakama I + Nakama II.

Course I goes the slowest, II and III go at the same speed, but there are more kanji to learn in course III. Course IV goes a little faster. I covers Nakama 1-4, II covers 5-10, III covers 11-12 and 1-3 of Nakama II, and IV covers 4-9 of Nakama II. The last chapter is skipped.

It was a mistake for me to take Elementary Japanese I because the course was too easy for me.

I am 29. A 16-year-old high school student in my class is definitely more 上手 than me and I think we have been studying for the same amount of time. Her story is that her older sister is interested in Japanese and will only speak to her in Japanese at home.

Oh, and online deck syncing? There is a tutorial at the Anki website ichi2.net for online functions.

(間違えの日本語がすみませんね。)
Everyone, Thank you so much for your wonderfully detailed advice!
皆さん、凄く詳しい勧めをありがとうございます！

I will try to do the things I am worse at, like listening, so that I can improve and not hurt anyone. You can't really affend anyone by listening. ^__^'

弱点を磨くのために聞いたり、練習したりします。聞くのは怒らせることが出来ませんね。

Even if the material is something I have studied I can use it to reach new areas in conversation. For example: The teacher introduces college majors in Japanese. I could ask how are assignments graded in Japanese.

教科書はもう勉強したのに、弱点を磨けますね。(to lazy to write the rest 大笑！)

Since I don't get the best practice by conversing with myself (Yes I talk to myself like a crazy person for practice ) I can try to enhance my comprehension by conversing with the various people available.

大抵練習のために独りぼっちで話すので、理解を増加するのために色々の人と話してみますね。

"you shouldn't further dumb yourself down and waste the time. Speak with the teacher as well as you can. If you give a response in class, do it as well as you can even if it means your classmates don't understand."

OK, so I'll try to speak my best with the teacher and native speakers. When I talk to my classmates I'll speak more simply but not at all in a patronizing tone.

分かりました！先生や日本人と話す場合は一生懸命に話してみて、となりの学生と話す場合はもっと簡単に話してみます。

I'm sure I will do great thanks to you guy's help!　Thank you again! (because once doesn't do justice to all your awesome posts!)

御かげ様で僕は絶対に頑張ります！ もう一同、ありがとうございます！

gyuujuice Wrote:もう一同、

もう一度

*handpalm*
I should of proofread all of them.

Genki is terrible, and there is nothing hardcore about it. Honestly, you could probably due the entire 2 textbooks in about a month in self study.

Just know that when you are done with Genki, you will not be fluent in speaking nor reading (if you only use Genki that is.)

Both textbooks in a month? :\ hiragana, katakana, 300 or so kanji, 100 grammar concepts, and more than 1,000 words? In 31 days?

No.

gyuujuice Wrote:*handpalm*

*facepalm*

strugglebunny Wrote:Just know that when you are done with Genki, you will not be fluent in speaking nor reading (if you only use Genki that is.)

The subtitle of Genki is "An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese". Why would anyone expect to be fluent in speaking or reading after finishing it?

Aijin Wrote:Both textbooks in a month? :\ hiragana, katakana, 300 or so kanji, 100 grammar concepts, and more than 1,000 words? In 31 days?

No.

If you've completed RTK... Yes

I went through Tae Kim and the core 2000 in a month. So, it's "doable."

Like always, mastery is a totally different story.

yudantaiteki Wrote:

strugglebunny Wrote:Just know that when you are done with Genki, you will not be fluent in speaking nor reading (if you only use Genki that is.)

The subtitle of Genki is "An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese". Why would anyone expect to be fluent in speaking or reading after finishing it?

Because no one really knows what fluency is.

Aijin Wrote:Both textbooks in a month? :\ hiragana, katakana, 300 or so kanji, 100 grammar concepts, and more than 1,000 words? In 31 days?

No.

As kazelee said, if you've already done RtK (and therefore don't have to worry about learning the 300 kanji in the books) then it would be pretty doable for a devoted self-studier.

Hiragana+katakana can be dealt with in a day using Remembering the Kana and the 100 grammar points and 1000+ vocab wouldn't be a huge problem. It will all take time to sink in, of course, but the initial "learning" of the material within that timeframe should be doable. People on this forum have done much more, in less time.

At my community college, there were 4 Japanese courses. Each semester was half of a Genki textbook.

In the catalog, it said:
"Upon completing this Associate degree program, you will have all the tools you need to sufficiently study Japanese on your own."

I don't think the goal of the program is to get you to be fluent, but merely to open the door for you.

If you studied all day every day, or had a previous background in the language in addition to the mass studying. But truly learning all that material in a month is not going to happen :\ anyone can speed through things if they spend enough time and devotion on it, but rushing through things at such unnecessary speeds will only maim you in the long run in my opinion. Better to truly understand and grasp something over two years than blow through it in a month and barely have any control over it.