Then read a textbook --> talk to people. I found that SRSing production grammar points to be too unnatural to help me in actual flowing conversation. But that's just my experience.

Thanks for the replies.

I would say my Japanese is at an intermediate level. I passed the N4 last summer and am currently studying for the N2 at my own pace. I do srs a lot of grammar points my only contention is that once you get hundreds and then thousands of cards you tend to forget bits and pieces while speaking. Generally I have no problem reading these cards in my SRS even after months or years, but trying to remember how to use it correctly in a conversation seems to be harder said then done. I know these things will come as I speak more it's just that I think I need to go into these classes with some kind of structure or yardstick to measure improvement. Also, I wouldn't even know what textbook would be useful for me at the moment. I finished Tae Kim a while ago which puts me at the end of the Genki 2 textbook. I currently have JLPT N2 grammar/vocab books but they dont lend themselves well to what I want to accomplish.

どうしようかな？

Well they do sell an intermediate book that comes after the genki series. I personally prefer getting grammar from the 3 Dictionaries of Japanese Grammar also by Japan times. They seem to go more in depth with each grammar point.

The intermediate book has a lot that genki doesn't have and some of the repeat material is more in depth (complex uses) offered. Expecially in the readings and dialogues but it all makes sense somehow. The grammar example sentence become repetitive after a while in the Intermediate japanese book but the dialogues are more interesting than in genki. Same with the reading sections they are more interesting then genki. The strict Kanji usage in The intermediate book shouldn't be a problem if you've been srsing let alone done Heisig. I personally couldn't be bothered to read through all the dialogues and study all the vocab words from the book but I took all the grammar sentences. I will probably read through the dialogues and stuff when I have more time it is a good book.

Also like most people will say All about particles is a nice little book (anki deck available but there are reading mistakes and occasionally a card that is just wrong so buy the book and check the readings while going through it.) AAP is great in that you learn different ways to use particles you already know (easy) and "advanced" ways to use the particles (Not too bad). And then completely new particles you never knew existed (harder). All do able and can easily read through 20 pages a day if you pick and choose your sentences. Finish the book in a week.

That's the extent of my book experience. I've been looking at http://www.1000moji.com/ and reading short stories recently though. With the readability add-on (firefox) you can copy the sentences / stories into a seperate file and yomichan it. Before I was turned off by the site because I couldn't highlight but readability saved the day.

dusmar84 Wrote:Thanks for the replies.

I would say my Japanese is at an intermediate level. I passed the N4 last summer and am currently studying for the N2 at my own pace. I do srs a lot of grammar points my only contention is that once you get hundreds and then thousands of cards you tend to forget bits and pieces while speaking. Generally I have no problem reading these cards in my SRS even after months or years, but trying to remember how to use it correctly in a conversation seems to be harder said then done. I know these things will come as I speak more it's just that I think I need to go into these classes with some kind of structure or yardstick to measure improvement. Also, I wouldn't even know what textbook would be useful for me at the moment. I finished Tae Kim a while ago which puts me at the end of the Genki 2 textbook. I currently have JLPT N2 grammar/vocab books but they dont lend themselves well to what I want to accomplish.

どうしようかな？

The N2 grammar/vocab books will give you the base, but you're right, they won't make you speak well. What they will do is make native material more comprehensible. Studying for the N2 last year took me from advanced beginner to being able to read light novels/follow dramas. It's really only from native material (real conversation being the best kind) that you'll build the kind of intuitive understanding needed to make conversation flow. No amount of memorising rules will get you there.

Honestly though, that part is still something i'm working on too... :/

dusmar84 Wrote:Thanks for the replies.

I would say my Japanese is at an intermediate level. I passed the N4 last summer and am currently studying for the N2 at my own pace. I do srs a lot of grammar points my only contention is that once you get hundreds and then thousands of cards you tend to forget bits and pieces while speaking. Generally I have no problem reading these cards in my SRS even after months or years, but trying to remember how to use it correctly in a conversation seems to be harder said then done. I know these things will come as I speak more it's just that I think I need to go into these classes with some kind of structure or yardstick to measure improvement. Also, I wouldn't even know what textbook would be useful for me at the moment. I finished Tae Kim a while ago which puts me at the end of the Genki 2 textbook. I currently have JLPT N2 grammar/vocab books but they dont lend themselves well to what I want to accomplish.

どうしようかな？

The N2 grammar/vocab books will give you the base, but you're right, they won't make you speak well. What they will do is make native material more comprehensible. Studying for the N2 last year took me from advanced beginner to being able to read light novels/follow dramas. It's really only from native material (real conversation being the best kind) that you'll build the kind of intuitive understanding needed to make conversation flow. No amount of memorising rules will get you there.

Honestly though, that part is still something i'm working on too... :/