Thank you for the work. I'm in.

DevvaR wrote:

I want to use this to develop a habit of reading using peer accountability but the NHK Easy articles are below my level. For the previous challenge, essentially what I'd been doing is reading the full articles but with this challenge, you've included the easy and full ones. Is it alright If I participate in this and just read the full articles?

Sure, its no problem. This time I wanted to create a template spreadsheet that can be used in future editions and supports both levels of articles. Thanks to this approach depending on your current level and learning speed you could for example only read Easy for 2 editions, then both for the third one and finally read only Full news when you get comfortable. In your case you're already there

Signed up. Hopefully the addition of full articles on the regular days will help keep me motivated to participate during the days when the Easy articles aren't published.

captal wrote:

In the previous contest we could go back and read more articles to make up for days we missed. I never did this because I felt like it was against the spirit- which is to read/listen every day. Any thoughts on changing this? (That is, if you don't read for a day, no credit for that day)

Its hard to judge this either way, I agree its sort of "against the spirit" and takes away a lot of competitiveness but on the other hand its awesome that people read in large quantities and I'd like to encourage them to read as much as possible.

I don't want to be too strict with the rules (hidden authority issues?) so I'd opt for everyone finding their own way. Maybe color code your nick to indicate what 'type' are you? First person who does this can create a legend beneath explaining the color and what it means.

Personally I knew there would be days I'd be "unavailable" so at first I wanted to make up for them but later decided against it, I want to see how diligent I am at this.

Well, no update for the 18th yet, maybe it's a slow news day. I read the articles for the 17th instead.

Joining this. I actually did get into the habit of reading NHK almost everyday from the last one, I was just never bothered to update.

I just had my first taste of 'Normal' NHK News. It's definitely a step up from the Easy articles. Whereas the Easy articles are dwindling in the amount of new vocabulary, the 'Normal' versions of the same articles have me adding several new words per article (and even a bit of new grammar).

Hopefully, like the Easy articles, the Normal articles will quickly become easier to handle.

Let's do our best, everyone.

Has anybody checked out the old Easy articles from the archive yet? It seems the TTS used to speak a lot faster. I kinda wish it was still like that today.

Phew. Keeping up with these main site articles is tough work. Too many new words for each article compared to the easy versions. Hopefully they will start to get easier and this time next month I can fully rid myself of the training wheels and be a big boy in the next challenge.

The article regarding Obama was the most challenging one of yesterday's group to get through.  I swear every word in the full version was a new one for myself.

So one more day left. How's everyone doing?

I've missed a couple days so I haven't completely made my goal, but my consistency has improved quite a bit compared to the round we did last month so I will call this a success.

seems legit. Approved.

I better get it in next round.