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

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

Last edited by chamcham (2012 September 12, 2:45 pm)

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

Last edited by invidious (2012 September 12, 2:51 pm)

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.

Last edited by invidious (2012 September 12, 2:56 pm)

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 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.

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.

Last edited by Zarxrax (2012 September 12, 10:20 pm)

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!

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.

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