I've been using Kanjigold for a number of years and it has really helped me learn/memorize kanji, and I developed a method back when I was learning the first few grades of Kanji in the program and one thing I noticed that over the years and lack of studying is that those kanji stuck very well. So I want to do a little experiment. I want to give out the method and see if anyone else finds it helpful, and I'll be doing all of RTK1 with this method and see how they stick.
You can get KanjiGold here. (It's free) http://web.uvic.ca/kanji-gold/
*This is a work in progress.*
Here's the steps I have.
1. Load up the RTK1 dictionary in Kanji Gold, if you're just starting out set it at 0 with a count number of 100.
2. The learning phase: Go through and answer the questions until 1 of 2 things happen. 1. You finish them all without incurring a yellow repeat kanji until the end of the list. (kanjis repeat if you get enough wrong, mine's set at 7 before they repeat.) 2. If you incurr repeat kanji before finishing the 100, start the list over from the beginning. Repeat until you do 1 instead of 2.
3. Test Phase: Load up the 100 kanji you are studying right now, but set it up so they are randomized. Do the same thing as the last step, so you only move on if you make it to the end of the list with no repeats, if you get a repeat, reload the deck, randomize and try again.
4. Move on to the next 100 kanji and repeat the steps above.
5. Once you're all done the 2042 kanji, (last list being only 42 kanji to give you a break) you can choose to redo the method with an even more hardcore method of 200 kanji per list. If you complete it on 200 and want to continue, do 400, then 800, then 1600, then all 2042 in one go. Or you can choose 300, or 500, or 125 or whatever you feel comfortable with, as long as it's more than 100.
Some explanations.
1. The reason for randomization is to keep you from memorizing the keywords, and not just the kanji. People will literally memorize the order the words come in which masks the fact they don't know the kanji, but just the keyword, so if you can't do it on random, but can do it in regular order, you have a list memorization problem.
2. Restarting from the beginning if you 'lose' helps in several ways. One, it makes you concentrate harder as if you screw up, there is a consequence, and this consequence forces you to go through the ENTIRE list again, even if you screwed up on kanji no. 97. Two, repeating the list gets it stuck in your head, helping you memorize it. If you've seen the kanji 35 times because that's how many times you've screwed up, you're gonna memorize it straight out of rote memorization. Three, it stops you from learning too many kanji at one time as you're introduced the kanji one at a time, and if you screw up 7 kanji, you have to learn those kanji in order to progress.
3. Accidents count as wrong answers. So if you click the wrong one, it's still wrong.
4. Doing the 200-2042 lists help negate the problem that kanjigold has as it only gives you keywords from the list you're currently using, so bigger lists, more keywords, more challenge.
5. This method gives you a definite right or wrong answer to avoid the possibility that you think you thought it was right, but it wasn't actually right, but you may have changed your mind without realizing it.
6. Punishment and fear are great motivators. ;D
I suggest doing this along side SRS, for either extra effort or to help keep the kanji fresh in between lists or if you're done the program. If you find you're stuck with RTK and not getting the results you want from a SRS, give this a shot, it can't hurt.
Also, if you can do all 2042 on random without getting 7 wrong, (and without tearing your hair out.) then major props go out to you. You are officially hardcore.
Please let me know what you think of the method, including thoughts, criticism, personal outcomes, or suggestions. Thank you.
You can get KanjiGold here. (It's free) http://web.uvic.ca/kanji-gold/
*This is a work in progress.*
Here's the steps I have.
1. Load up the RTK1 dictionary in Kanji Gold, if you're just starting out set it at 0 with a count number of 100.
2. The learning phase: Go through and answer the questions until 1 of 2 things happen. 1. You finish them all without incurring a yellow repeat kanji until the end of the list. (kanjis repeat if you get enough wrong, mine's set at 7 before they repeat.) 2. If you incurr repeat kanji before finishing the 100, start the list over from the beginning. Repeat until you do 1 instead of 2.
3. Test Phase: Load up the 100 kanji you are studying right now, but set it up so they are randomized. Do the same thing as the last step, so you only move on if you make it to the end of the list with no repeats, if you get a repeat, reload the deck, randomize and try again.
4. Move on to the next 100 kanji and repeat the steps above.
5. Once you're all done the 2042 kanji, (last list being only 42 kanji to give you a break) you can choose to redo the method with an even more hardcore method of 200 kanji per list. If you complete it on 200 and want to continue, do 400, then 800, then 1600, then all 2042 in one go. Or you can choose 300, or 500, or 125 or whatever you feel comfortable with, as long as it's more than 100.
Some explanations.
1. The reason for randomization is to keep you from memorizing the keywords, and not just the kanji. People will literally memorize the order the words come in which masks the fact they don't know the kanji, but just the keyword, so if you can't do it on random, but can do it in regular order, you have a list memorization problem.
2. Restarting from the beginning if you 'lose' helps in several ways. One, it makes you concentrate harder as if you screw up, there is a consequence, and this consequence forces you to go through the ENTIRE list again, even if you screwed up on kanji no. 97. Two, repeating the list gets it stuck in your head, helping you memorize it. If you've seen the kanji 35 times because that's how many times you've screwed up, you're gonna memorize it straight out of rote memorization. Three, it stops you from learning too many kanji at one time as you're introduced the kanji one at a time, and if you screw up 7 kanji, you have to learn those kanji in order to progress.
3. Accidents count as wrong answers. So if you click the wrong one, it's still wrong.
4. Doing the 200-2042 lists help negate the problem that kanjigold has as it only gives you keywords from the list you're currently using, so bigger lists, more keywords, more challenge.
5. This method gives you a definite right or wrong answer to avoid the possibility that you think you thought it was right, but it wasn't actually right, but you may have changed your mind without realizing it.
6. Punishment and fear are great motivators. ;D
I suggest doing this along side SRS, for either extra effort or to help keep the kanji fresh in between lists or if you're done the program. If you find you're stuck with RTK and not getting the results you want from a SRS, give this a shot, it can't hurt.
Also, if you can do all 2042 on random without getting 7 wrong, (and without tearing your hair out.) then major props go out to you. You are officially hardcore.
Please let me know what you think of the method, including thoughts, criticism, personal outcomes, or suggestions. Thank you.
Edited: 2010-11-08, 1:18 pm
