Hello!
I work full time, but I can get in about 3-4 hours of studying a day. I'm also going to school full time and have Honors Linguistics, Statistics and Honors Japanese 2. I skipped Japanese 1 after studying Tae Kim's and getting through about 400 words on Core2k6k, which took me about a month.
Right now I'm doing 30 Kanji/day in RTK1, 15 vocab words/day with Core2k6k on top of the Genki 1 studies.
I'm also training to qualify for the Boston Marathon right now, which takes up about 5 hours a week.

Daily JPN studies:
15 words (I write out all the sentences, and the kanji if I know them) takes me about 1 hour - this includes reviewing Core2k6k.
30 kanji in RTK1 takes me about 1.5-2 hours including reviews (I probably write them too many times, daydream while doodling kanji over and over again)

I spend a lot of time with my girlfriend (Fri. night, Sat., Sun.), who is a Japanese teacher. I often say sentences in JPN that are my level. I think I'm too much of a perfectionist though. I wish I was more willing to say things incorrectly - often I know enough to get my point across but don't remember which particle, or which order to put the words - so I don't say it.

I'm falling behind in Core2k6k, and anytime I have a test to study for I have trouble keeping up with 30 kanji/day. I have a timeline that I want to complete RTK1 and then KO2001 in, so I'm not willing to reduce this amount. I want to do 30/day RTK1 and then when I complete it, move onto 30/day KO2001. My idea was to do 15/day Core2k6k so that when I go to KO2001, I'm already familiar with the majority of the words - then it's just a matter of connecting kanji with readings.

I'm considering putting off Core2k6k in favor of a Genki 1 deck so that I can make my personal studies align with in-class studies. My progress has been tapering off since I started the Japanese 2 class, although, I think my output is improving at a faster rate than if I hadn't been in the class.

I also might have my girlfriend tutor me and get me through all of Tae Kim's so that I have that framework/foundation to fill in with vocab/kanji grinding.

Typical day (T/TH):
6AM wake up
6-730AM make coffee, study Core2k6k
8AM-4PM work, review and study RTK1 30/day - finish homework and study for tests
4PM-5PM change clothes, go to class
5-6 Statistics
6-7 Study for Japanese class before it begins (Genki 1)
7-930 Japanese 2
10-1130 finish any Core2k6k/RTK1 leftover, study for tests

That's the ideal time management, I suppose. I don't always get up at 6AM - but I wish I did. I run on Monday, Wednesday (I have a 1 hour window before 6PM class), Friday (1 hour window before GF comes over).
Perhaps I'm just having trouble adjusting to all of this, but the schedule is exhausting. I'm considering that if I eat a lot healthier (more greens, vitamins, less empty cals) I might have more energy for it all.

Maybe this is just me feeling sorry for myself. Anyway, back to RTK1. If anyone has time management suggestions, please let me know. Thanks!

[Zgarbas]

Damn that's a crazy schedule.

I think you're good . Only possible recommendation would be to get an mp3-player or something and load it up with podcasts. That way the marathon training and going places becomes extra learning time.

That level of sleep is bound to exhaust you as well, too. Especially if it's every day.

[s0apgun]

I'd say lessen your focus on RTK. Do less cards a day or do RTK lite, its not as important as you think.

Don't get your girlfriend involved. It'll likely put a strain on your relationship.
When she's with you, the last thing she wants to be reminded of is work.

Also, she might start avoiding you because you might turn your meeting into a
japanese lesson. You might think it's funny, but I've seen it happen before.

Also, do you exercise? If not, I'd recommend trying a Beachbody workout (especially the "Insanity Workout"). All of the exercise programs are on DVDs. So all you have to do is push play everyday . The extra energy boost from that will help you accomplish more during the day.

If you can't do a full workout, just keep doing Day 1. Turn off the video and then try again the next day. Keep doing it until you've finished a full workout. When you finish a full workout, then really start the whole program and follow the calendar.

In the beginning, i could only make it to 5 minutes before stopping. I kept at it and now I can do 20 minutes. A full workout is 40 minutes. But at least I'm well on my way. It's takes no brain activity all. Just push play and follow what you see.

Do the workout IMMEDIATELY after waking up. Literally roll out of bed and exercise. If you get used to it, you'll never lay around in bed and waste valuable time.

Lastly, when you finish RTK, I'd recommend watching japanese drama. These days they have exact japanese subtitles (i.e. it's exactly the words the actors are saying). Since the subtitles are in a separate file, you can copy/paste them or put them into "Subs2srs".

Trust me when I say this: the way native Japanese construct their sentences is totally different from the sentences gaijin think up in their head (even when they know the grammar rules). Instead of forming new sentences in your head, try to imitate native speakers and they'll understand you a lot more.

There's actually a drama called "Rich Man Poor Woman" this season. It's about an IT hotshot that creates a social network (i.e. loosely based on Facebook). Of course, there are more shows.

For currently airing shows, look here:
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Currently_Airing_JDrama

Japanese subtitles are here:
http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/subtitles.php#Japanese

Also, rather than a set schedule, you can be more flexible.
I have this app for my Android phone called ColorNote.

I can make a list of goals on a sticky notes and can cross them out as
I complete them. When the day is over, I reset the list again (i.e. nothing
is crossed out).

Whenever I have spare time(in bed, sitting on the toilet, on the bus to school, etc), I look at the list and ask myself "What do I most want to do right now?" and then I do it.

No need to make a fixed schedule.
So it's really convenient.

With a fixed schedule, things fall apart when you get behind and you give up easily.

chamcham Wrote:Don't get your girlfriend involved. It'll likely put a strain on your relationship.
When she's with you, the last thing she wants to be reminded of is work.

I've been very careful about this throughout our relationship. I have never asked her for help yet, but she always offers it. I spend a lot more time helping her with her English than she does my Japanese. We're crazy about each other, spend all of our free time together, so I don't see it being an issue.

chamcham Wrote:Also, do you exercise? If not, I'd recommend trying a Beachbody workout (especially the "Insanity Workout"). All of the exercise programs are on DVDs. So all you have to do is push play everyday . The extra energy boost from that will help you accomplish more during the day.

I am training for the Boston Marathon. I'm running 7:30 miles for ~15 miles right now. Trying to get down to 7 min miles for 26.2 miles.

chamcham Wrote:Lastly, when you finish RTK, I'd recommend watching japanese drama. These days they have exact japanese subtitles (i.e. it's exactly the words the actors are saying). Since the subtitles are in a separate file, you can copy/paste them or put them into "Subs2srs".

This is what I was planning on doing after I get through KO2001. I'm on #1200 in RTK1, so if I do 30/day KO2001, I'll be done in about 4 months or so. You think I should start earlier? I think I'd be better equipped to deal with native speaking with the increased vocab.

chamcham Wrote:There's actually a drama called "Rich Man Poor Woman" this season. It's about an IT hotshot that creates a social network (i.e. loosely based on Facebook). Of course, there are more shows.

For currently airing shows, look here:
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Currently_Airing_JDrama

Japanese subtitles are here:
http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/subtitles.php#Japanese

Where can I download JDramas? What about anime such as Death Note where the speakers aren't so "animated" - more realistic?
Thank you for your response

Zgarbas Wrote:Damn that's a crazy schedule.

I think you're good . Only possible recommendation would be to get an mp3-player or something and load it up with podcasts. That way the marathon training and going places becomes extra learning time.

Great idea! I have an iPhone and an armband for it - I just need some bluetooth headphones. I can't stand having wires bouncing around when I run.
Do you think I should do JapanesePOD101 podcasts or native speaker podcasts? I don't know if I could digest JP101 while running, but I may be able to pick up things here and there via native podcasts.

s0apgun Wrote:I'd say lessen your focus on RTK. Do less cards a day or do RTK lite, its not as important as you think.

Well, I'm on #1200 in RTK1 - I just want to finish it so I can start on KO2001, which I see as a combination of vocab and kanji - so Core2k6k becomes less important. I'm not sure if I'll keep doing it once I start on KO2001. Maybe 15x Core2k6k and 30x KO2001? Then boost up to 30 Core2k6k + Subs2SRS once I get KO2001 knocked out.

Sleep more. It's not worth it. Go to sleep earlier and wake up later.

Also for the mp3 suggestion if you're going to be using earbuds while you're riding a train you're doing more bad than good since you're going to worsen your hearing. I don't know your suggestion but be smart abt it

invidious Wrote:

chamcham Wrote:Don't get your girlfriend involved. It'll likely put a strain on your relationship.
When she's with you, the last thing she wants to be reminded of is work.

I've been very careful about this throughout our relationship. I have never asked her for help yet, but she always offers it. I spend a lot more time helping her with her English than she does my Japanese. We're crazy about each other, spend all of our free time together, so I don't see it being an issue.

chamcham Wrote:Also, do you exercise? If not, I'd recommend trying a Beachbody workout (especially the "Insanity Workout"). All of the exercise programs are on DVDs. So all you have to do is push play everyday . The extra energy boost from that will help you accomplish more during the day.

I am training for the Boston Marathon. I'm running 7:30 miles for ~15 miles right now. Trying to get down to 7 min miles for 26.2 miles.

chamcham Wrote:Lastly, when you finish RTK, I'd recommend watching japanese drama. These days they have exact japanese subtitles (i.e. it's exactly the words the actors are saying). Since the subtitles are in a separate file, you can copy/paste them or put them into "Subs2srs".

This is what I was planning on doing after I get through KO2001. I'm on #1200 in RTK1, so if I do 30/day KO2001, I'll be done in about 4 months or so. You think I should start earlier? I think I'd be better equipped to deal with native speaking with the increased vocab.

chamcham Wrote:There's actually a drama called "Rich Man Poor Woman" this season. It's about an IT hotshot that creates a social network (i.e. loosely based on Facebook). Of course, there are more shows.

For currently airing shows, look here:
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Currently_Airing_JDrama

Japanese subtitles are here:
http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/subtitles.php#Japanese

Where can I download JDramas? What about anime such as Death Note where the speakers aren't so "animated" - more realistic?
Thank you for your response

I would start watching Japanese Drama as soon as you finish RTK.
Get used to listening native Japanese. I know a lot of language learners
that think Japanese people speak too fast. I have no problem because
of all the Japanese drama I watch.

Also, I've done some textual analysis on the Japanese subtitles and on average, there's roughly 400-550 unique kanji in any given drama episode. So 400-550 unique kanji is enough for 45 minutes of native Japanese conversation.

The advantage of Japanese drama subtitles is that all of it is spoken dialogue. So, for the
most part, you can use it in daily conversation. It's also good for learning Business Japanese if you're into that too.

Also, what I do is pretend that the drama script is a screenplay (it basically is) and read it as if it were a book. Pick one drama and study an episode every week. Of course, watch other dramas in Japanese and just listen to them. Don't worry about understanding every word. Just make up the story in your head as you go along.

If KO2001 is more to your liking, go ahead and do it. It's not a problem.
But with drama, you can at least be assured that a native Japanese has
used the vocab in face-to-face dialogue.

There are japanese subtitles for anime too:
http://kitsunekko.net/

[Zgarbas]

invidious Wrote:

Zgarbas Wrote:Damn that's a crazy schedule.

I think you're good . Only possible recommendation would be to get an mp3-player or something and load it up with podcasts. That way the marathon training and going places becomes extra learning time.

Great idea! I have an iPhone and an armband for it - I just need some bluetooth headphones. I can't stand having wires bouncing around when I run.
Do you think I should do JapanesePOD101 podcasts or native speaker podcasts? I don't know if I could digest JP101 while running, but I may be able to pick up things here and there via native podcasts.

Why don't you just fill it with Japanese music then? I'm fairly certain you won't be able to digest much(especially listen to quick native conversations) when running. This way you get to relax while getting accustomed to Japanese . Podcasts are better for when you're walking to class or whatnot.

Btw, just read the part where you're totally burned out (somehow missed it). Don't go directly from a normal schedule to a crazy one. Take it slow. Japanese will still be there in a month. Aim for time, rather than reps (if it takes you 15 minutes to do 100 reviews, do that; if you can only do 5 in that time, stick with that) till you find your pace. Try only waking up a half hour earlier than your normal schedule for a week or two, and only then make it another 15-20 minutes earlier. It's normal to be burned out with such a schedule, and if you force yourself you'll quit it in no time. Opt for a slower, but safer transition =).

Zgarbas Wrote:

invidious Wrote:

Zgarbas Wrote:Damn that's a crazy schedule.

I think you're good . Only possible recommendation would be to get an mp3-player or something and load it up with podcasts. That way the marathon training and going places becomes extra learning time.

Great idea! I have an iPhone and an armband for it - I just need some bluetooth headphones. I can't stand having wires bouncing around when I run.
Do you think I should do JapanesePOD101 podcasts or native speaker podcasts? I don't know if I could digest JP101 while running, but I may be able to pick up things here and there via native podcasts.

Why don't you just fill it with Japanese music then? I'm fairly certain you won't be able to digest much(especially listen to quick native conversations) when running. This way you get to relax while getting accustomed to Japanese . Podcasts are better for when you're walking to class or whatnot.

Btw, just read the part where you're totally burned out (somehow missed it). Don't go directly from a normal schedule to a crazy one. Take it slow. Japanese will still be there in a month. Aim for time, rather than reps (if it takes you 15 minutes to do 100 reviews, do that; if you can only do 5 in that time, stick with that) till you find your pace. Try only waking up a half hour earlier than your normal schedule for a week or two, and only then make it another 15-20 minutes earlier. It's normal to be burned out with such a schedule, and if you force yourself you'll quit it in no time. Opt for a slower, but safer transition =).

I won't quit. My entire future is planned around me knowing Japanese. ;-) Plus, I'm really not the quitting type - I know the meaning and payoff of hard work. That said, I also know that there are "diminishing returns" to studying so much. I might get 100% benefit from 1 hour, 90% from 2 hours, etc. The same was true when I played guitar for 6-10 hours a day for years (I'd consider myself fluent in guitar ).
Music is okay for vocab, but it doesn't really help with sentence structure - since it is more poetic. And things said in music might not ever be said in normal conversation. I'll try both though
I was studying A LOT before school started, so I'm having to adjust. I hate having to sacrifice Japanese study time (which I really ENJOY) to work on other school subjects.

My solution is simple:

Meditate a lot,
without any distractions
and trust your intuition.


The best thing for time management.

Just let things flow.

I would say definitely drop core6k for now and focus on genki since that is what you are using in class.
Look at it this way, you are aiming to learn it all eventually anyways, right? And there is definitely going to be a LOT of overlap of vocabulary between them--you are essentially just learning a lot of words in a different order.
So you may as well learn it in the same order that your class is using, right? Once you are done there, you can go back to core6k and you will be able to blaze through lots of the words because you will have already learned them.


Or alternatively, just stick with core6k but only unsuspend words as you cover them in genki, and add any new ones that aren't covered in core6k.

[s0apgun]

invidious Wrote:

s0apgun Wrote:I'd say lessen your focus on RTK. Do less cards a day or do RTK lite, its not as important as you think.

Well, I'm on #1200 in RTK1 - I just want to finish it so I can start on KO2001, which I see as a combination of vocab and kanji - so Core2k6k becomes less important. I'm not sure if I'll keep doing it once I start on KO2001. Maybe 15x Core2k6k and 30x KO2001? Then boost up to 30 Core2k6k + Subs2SRS once I get KO2001 knocked out.

IMHO, 1200 Kanji from RTK is more than enough. You should stop adding new cards and keep up with the reviews. I really don't get the KO2001 thing... I chose to go the Core2k route like many others here because of the audio files included. I would drop KO2001 from your plan, finish Core2k and then get into Sub2SRS along with some native reading/listening. I think this route will get you to a much more enjoyable level of Japanese for your situation. Fluency will come with time... lots of time... its not really one of those things we recommend rushing around here.

If you're trying to qualify for Boston, you're running out of time. To run in the 2013 race, you have to register by Sept. 21, which means that your qualifying race has to be before that - in all likelihood, this coming weekend, since Sept. 21 is a Friday. Are you trying for 2014?

Also, I'm interested in how you're planning on qualifying running only 15 miles/week. That's very low in my experience. I typically run 60-70 miles/week while in training, going for a 6:52 pace (3 hours flat). I didn't make it in that time, but did manage 3:06:40, which qualified in my age category - assuming things don't fill up before that.

I have found in general that working a full-time job, training for marathons, and the other necessary stuff through the week tends to leave little time and energy for learning Japanese. It took me 7 months to get through RTK, and I'm currently going through Core6k at 20 words/day (about a third through it, now), in addition to studying grammar via Textfugu. Having a professional teacher to tutor you is a big help - my wife is a native speaker, though not a teacher, and she's actually in school, herself, currently, so I'm on my own for the time being.

Good luck qualifying for Boston, though it sounds like you're trying for 2014. I'm hoping to run 2013, though if that doesn't happen I'll see you in Boston in 18 months!

chamcham Wrote:Also, rather than a set schedule, you can be more flexible.
I have this app for my Android phone called ColorNote.

I can make a list of goals on a sticky notes and can cross them out as
I complete them. When the day is over, I reset the list again (i.e. nothing
is crossed out).

Whenever I have spare time(in bed, sitting on the toilet, on the bus to school, etc), I look at the list and ask myself "What do I most want to do right now?" and then I do it.

No need to make a fixed schedule.
So it's really convenient.

With a fixed schedule, things fall apart when you get behind and you give up easily.

I do exactly the same because my schedule can never be fixed and I do several different things daily/every two days, this helps doing different things for different periods everyday without getting lost in what to do next. I use the widget with the list on the home page so it's always there on the surface and shows the remaining number of tasks.

Quufer Wrote:If you're trying to qualify for Boston, you're running out of time. To run in the 2013 race, you have to register by Sept. 21, which means that your qualifying race has to be before that - in all likelihood, this coming weekend, since Sept. 21 is a Friday. Are you trying for 2014?

Also, I'm interested in how you're planning on qualifying running only 15 miles/week. That's very low in my experience. I typically run 60-70 miles/week while in training, going for a 6:52 pace (3 hours flat). I didn't make it in that time, but did manage 3:06:40, which qualified in my age category - assuming things don't fill up before that.

I have found in general that working a full-time job, training for marathons, and the other necessary stuff through the week tends to leave little time and energy for learning Japanese. It took me 7 months to get through RTK, and I'm currently going through Core6k at 20 words/day (about a third through it, now), in addition to studying grammar via Textfugu. Having a professional teacher to tutor you is a big help - my wife is a native speaker, though not a teacher, and she's actually in school, herself, currently, so I'm on my own for the time being.

Good luck qualifying for Boston, though it sounds like you're trying for 2014. I'm hoping to run 2013, though if that doesn't happen I'll see you in Boston in 18 months!

Yes, 2014 - and I meant 15 miles at a time, not 15 miles total over the week. 15 miles is my long run right now. I've never ran an "official" marathon, but I have ran over 30 miles trail running with my friends who train for ultras. I've ran 10 miles in under 60 minutes several times (not races, just achieving personal goals), but I've never tried to go 26.2 at a pace like that. I think I can make it there in less than a year, though.

When I do Core2k6k, I only write the Kanji if I have learned it in RTK already. I suppose I could fail the card if I can't remember the kanji as well as the vocab word - which would sort of hybridize it with KO2001. I could always restart Core2k6k from the beginning once I'm done with RTK and focus on kanji in addition to vocab in hiragana. I'll be through about 1500 Core2k6k by the time I finish RTK. I was concerned about the fact that KO2001 doesn't have native speakers saying the sentences - I really love that feature as it helps my speaking a ton. Last Thursday, my teacher asked the class to come up with a sentence - I was the first to blurt something out - what I said was beyond the capabilities of the class. But it was strange, it was almost like I was in third person, like an out of body experience. My pronunciation sounded EXACTLY like Core2k6k speakers. I surprised myself. I realize this isn't indicative of colloquial every day speech - my girlfriend calls it "standard Japanese", like a newscaster or something would say it.

I'm liking the idea of going from RTK to finishing up Core2k6k at a 30-40 words/day pace and then moving onto Subs2SRS (which I'm really looking forward to!). So, Core2k6k down (at least the first ~4000 words?), Tae Kim's down, Genki 1 down = Subs2SRS. I like the idea of having a hierarchy of levels, almost like the Japanese Level Up website.

It was mentioned that I take a long time to do Core2k6k in the morning. I do pour-over coffee, so yes it takes a bit longer than a machine. I also take a long time going through Core2k6k because I write down every sentence in a notebook (even if I already knew the vocab word). I make note of EVERY word and grammar point I don't understand in the sentence. I make sure that I know the primary vocab word, and then look up any other vocab I don't recognize and write their definitions and what word family they're part of (adverb, noun, etc.). I may not retain the additional words completely this way, but I see it as a way of familiarizing myself with the word at least so that by the time I get it in Core2k6k, it sinks into my brain a bit easier.

Public service announcement:
Just a reminder, in case anyone has forgotten, falling behind on RTK anki reviews SUCKS. Don't do it! Sacrifice sleep if you must, don't fall behind!

250 reviews today - chipping away at them.

chamcham Wrote:Also, do you exercise? If not, I'd recommend trying a Beachbody workout (especially the "Insanity Workout"). All of the exercise programs are on DVDs. So all you have to do is push play everyday . The extra energy boost from that will help you accomplish more during the day.

If you can't do a full workout, just keep doing Day 1. Turn off the video and then try again the next day. Keep doing it until you've finished a full workout. When you finish a full workout, then really start the whole program and follow the calendar.

In the beginning, i could only make it to 5 minutes before stopping. I kept at it and now I can do 20 minutes. A full workout is 40 minutes. But at least I'm well on my way. It's takes no brain activity all. Just push play and follow what you see.

Do the workout IMMEDIATELY after waking up. Literally roll out of bed and exercise. If you get used to it, you'll never lay around in bed and waste valuable time.

thanks for this advice. i started following said advice and finished week one of insanity yesterday (today is the rest day). i had to rush to work one day and postpone the workout until the evening. every other day i've done it first thing in the morning, which is getting me out of bed so i don't lay there procrastinating. i think my circadian rhythm has adjusted so my body expects a certain level of exersion in the AM. i accomplish more each day with the early rise, and have more energy. now i just have to keep this routine up for the rest of my life and i'll be good