KMDES Wrote:People may simplify steps, but the majority of people can't double translate in their head fast enough. There's no point to reinforce English in the process when you can completely skip that step. That's by far the most effecient way. Plus you get errors when stuff can't be changed over from one language to another.
Add to the fact translating in your head is an active task, and processing the meaning of a sentence is an active task, and since the brain can't effectively handle two active tasks at the same time the quality will degrade. (Examples: Pat your head while writing your name while spinning your right leg counter clockwise. Or just driving while using a cell phone.)
Here's an example.
How about reading Japanese subtitles while listening to Japanese? Wait, that's completely doable.
The point is, eventually the English will have to come off. But at the beginning, it may be one of the easiest ways to understand a language especially depending on the context, and is good for initially building that core vocabulary (like say, 明日） and even some more obscure vocabulary with direct translations, like 炭素.
J-J in the beginning is just way too difficult. I'm sure I'm not the only one who got all excited after reading AJATT, finished RTK, and tried to J-J all my sentences. It was just too difficult and I would go in circles in the goo.ne.jp dictionary trying to define every kanji compound I didn't know.
With that said, graduating to that SRS deck of The Girl who Leapt Through Time is fine, maybe not after RTK, but certainly after some basic grammar review.
Quote:As for subs, of course I agree, when it comes to entertainment value, that Engish subs are gonna win out. Understanding what's going on will allow you to enjoy the story, but it hardly helps when studying. It can be argued that it could be demotivational, for example 'Man, I can't believe I went back to English subs. Even after all that studying, I still can't make it without subs. I might as wll give up.' Since we're basically discussing ways how to study Japanese as opposed to best way to enjoy a media I wold sugegst no E subs, but if you just want the enjoyment and you have a lower skill level, then E subs would be the way to go.
At lower levels, I found that watching media with absolutely no E subs was more worthless than watching with E subs, which is what I was aiming at. Once you can pick up on it then yeah, do away with them.
But if you want to use media at a very early level, and pick up some exposure, E subs are a necessary evil.
Finding a balance between gung-ho hardcore SRS/vocab/grammar studying and more relaxing, general entertainment/fun is entirely necessary, and as your skill increases, you may find that things and methods may change. For me, the tedium of SRS is rewarded when I go to natural material; but when I get confused in natural material, I turn to the SRS to find greater enjoyment, in a weird learning / enjoyment feedback loop.
This all goes back to the OP, who burned out because it was just straight hardcore studying with little time to really enjoy and reinforce what's learned in the real world. In the beginning, that might mean E subbed media and English-based learning. Later, it may not. Some people just love the hardcore studying and don't burn out. I just think you have to be mindful of your own skill level, your goals, and what motivates you instead of always trying to chase maximum learning per time spent.
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