EratiK Wrote:I guess it's not that bad. You'll have plenty of time to review, consolidate one's knowledge is important too.

Thanks for the encouragement, I guess I need to look at the bright side. It's just that I saw quite a few people on this forum saying that you need to finish RTK as quickly as possible, preferably within 3 months, though I do not remember seeing any arguments in support of that claim.

That's rubbish, do it in the speed you feel comfortable with, and in a way that helps you retain as many Kanji as possible. No need to rush through something for the sake of rushing.

For me that speed is around 5 months.

And - you should definitively finish it or all the work you've done so far was for nothing.

Just do it - you can do it! If I can you can too.

vonPeterhof Wrote:Thanks for the encouragement, I guess I need to look at the bright side. It's just that I saw quite a few people on this forum saying that you need to finish RTK as quickly as possible, preferably within 3 months, though I do not remember seeing any arguments in support of that claim.

The argument is that RTK is not real Japanese, and therefore you'll get tired of RTK if you spend too long studying it because you want to jump into real Japanese ASAP. The implication is that real Japanese is where the fun is. Therefore, you should finish RTK as quickly as possible in order to avoid becoming demotivated.

Clearly, the goal of the suggestion to complete RTK in 3 months is to avoid demotivation. If it's too much pressure to complete it that quickly, then you should finish it at a more comfortable pace. Really, the suggestion should be "complete RTK at the fastest pace that is comfortable for you". Some forum users stress the 3 month limit because they've given up on RTK (sometimes multiple times) because they became so tired of it. If you don't mind spending extra time on RTK, then taking longer to finish it is no problem.

vileru Wrote:The argument is that RTK is not real Japanese, and therefore you'll get tired of RTK if you spend too long studying it because you want to jump into real Japanese ASAP. The implication is that real Japanese is where the fun is. Therefore, you should finish RTK as quickly as possible in order to avoid becoming demotivated.

Clearly, the goal of the suggestion to complete RTK in 3 months is to avoid demotivation. If it's too much pressure to complete it that quickly, then you should finish it at a more comfortable pace. Really, the suggestion should be "complete RTK at the fastest pace that is comfortable for you". Some forum users stress the 3 month limit because they've given up on RTK (sometimes multiple times) because they became so tired of it. If you don't mind spending extra time on RTK, then taking longer to finish it is no problem.

I also remember someone using the "RTK is not real Japanese" argument to justify studying something else, like Tae Kim's guide, while doing the RTK, which sounds like a better idea than rushing. I read Tae Kim when I have the time, but I do not think I really need to do anything to keep myself motivated. As my 15-page essay story shows, studying Japanese is probably the only thing that I have any motivation for .

This is my fourth time through the book, since I've had it since Novmeber 2005. Ive failed each time ive gone through it. Im at frame 1026 now, and I want to finish the book by the middle of next month. I want to put a end to this 5 year struggle.

Its just been way to long and too many failures.

sage47 Wrote:This is my fourth time through the book, since I've had it since Novmeber 2005. Ive failed each time ive gone through it. Im at frame 1026 now, and I want to finish the book by the middle of next month. I want to put a end to this 5 year struggle.

Its just been way to long and too many failures.

i hope you make it through to the end this time . Congratulations on making it this far. As someone who has finished RTK I can tell you that learning Japanese becomes a whole lot easier.

sage47 Wrote:This is my fourth time through the book, since I've had it since Novmeber 2005. Ive failed each time ive gone through it. Im at frame 1026 now, and I want to finish the book by the middle of next month. I want to put a end to this 5 year struggle.

Its just been way to long and too many failures.

If the failure is due to a lack of motivation, perhaps you'll want to try a shorter list of most-used kanji (RTK-lite). Since I don't think that's something for you, maybe you'll want to start with the kore deck sorted on RTK kanji. See the contribfugounashi page on ichi2.com/anki. That way you start with vocab whilst still 'remembering' the kanji.

Started twice. Failed twice. This time passed the halfway point. Must crush this. Aiming for 50 a day. Will finish before going home for Christmas.

@Mogoo: Three's a charm!
For me it was the same - started twice, failed twice. Third time (completely relying on RevTK) did the trick - made it through all 2042 kanji! You'll get there too!! Go for it!

Half way through!!! Actually, I've added few kanji even from beyond the half point, but I haven't considered myself "really there" until I've learned the half-way-through frame. =)
I think I still can't believe it..after all this time..I'm finally here..
Actually I'm of these people who started again - last time I've stopped around 600, concentrated on vocabulary and grammar (mostly "spoken Japanese"). Now that I'm confident I can hold my own in any Japanese conversation, it's time to tackle the remainder of these kanji and get my writing skills up!

It is official! Today i hit and passed the Half way mark! The 1043rd story is written, all cards are added, and awaiting to be reviewed, tomorrow.

It feels like it has only been yesterday, that i started my journey to learn the 漢字. It also seems like it has been yesterday, that i reached the 500th frame. I thought it felt great to reach 500 frames, and it was! But this was nothing compared to how good i feel right now! *click me*

It is incredible how far i have come ... I started with all this October the 22nd, reached the first 500 on November the 15th, and today i'm already half way through. Time has really been flying by since the beginning, incredible ... I will not rest now, since the next pass mark, 3/4 of the way done! is waiting for me. adoette, where art thou?


Congratulations to those who have reached the half way recently, and good luck to those who have yet to reach it! You can do it, don't give up, or else ...! Thanks to the community members in general, ファブリス for this website, and the story writers in particular. You really make it worthwile to learn the kanji.

みんなさんありがとうございました！
流れ星

おめでとう、流れ星さん。

Nagareboshi Wrote:adoette, where art thou?

I am here my darling!

16 to go until I hit the end of the 'people' chapter. I'll hit it before tonight is over, and post here myself.

Grats darling!

keep going guys! You'll be done in very soon. You've gotten have the battle done. Which requires the most work in any task.

Whoosht!

Behold, I have crossed my plateau! Victory is mine!

I just tested myself on the last of lesson 27, and I figure I'll kill little lesson 28 in a few minutes.

All downhill from here! (though I fully anticipate some rocky sections of the slope, there's only one direction to go)

Again, Whoosht!

adoette Wrote:Whoosht!

Behold, I have crossed my plateau! Victory is mine!

I just tested myself on the last of lesson 27, and I figure I'll kill little lesson 28 in a few minutes.

All downhill from here! (though I fully anticipate some rocky sections of the slope, there's only one direction to go)

Again, Whoosht!

I knew you were not far behind me! Congratulations on reaching half way. Now it is 3/4 or bust for both of us!

Here is some motivation, from the 101 Idioms book i got as a present from St. Nikki.

「転がる石に苔むさず」

It translates to "A stone that rolls gathers no moss" or "Perserverance pays off, patience is a virtue."

The great part is, i not only can read it, i can also actually write the kanji, myself now! It really pays off doing RTK. We will meet in the 3/4 soon. We can do it!

It took a little longer than I had hoped for but here I am.

Unseen cards: 1020 (50,0%)

I can't wait to bring that sucker down to three digits.

oktane Wrote:It took a little longer than I had hoped for but here I am.

Unseen cards: 1020 (50,0%)

I can't wait to bring that sucker down to three digits.

おめでとう! Keep on going for the best part is yet to come. :-)

Hmm, just realized I am just over halfway through on attempt #2

I finished once before, but I stopped reviewing too quick and was out of touch with Japanese for 2 years!

I started again roughly a month ago, and the retention rates I am having this time are mindblowing, it just goes to show how powerful this system really is at the end of the day!

Grats Dustin!

Managed to learn a hundred today ( usually 20-25) and got to 1030! Yay =O

I'm taking the opportunity to ask a quick question...does the 4+ reviews box correspond to the "mature" cards in anki people seem to be talking about?

My second go...backlogged reviews all slain...new cards (some of which are familiar from last time anyway) are being learned properly, kanji are being remembered...it's all going well. Only ten new per day now but even that will be over in 3 months.

Slow and steady wins the race!

I'm Halfway! Love it!

Half-way too

I finally reached half way today after starting on the 10th of December. I would have done it a lot faster but I didn't add any new cards in January.