Hey Francesco,

Have you been using the site since you started the book? If you're ever stumped for a mnemonic yourself just check up one of the ones a user has uploaded - chances are it'll do the job, or at least inspire you to create an original one.

Not long over the halfway mark I had a complete concentration lapse and couldn't think of any decent stories. So, instead, I inputted the Kanji, failed all of them on purpose, and then just went off user mnemonics when I re-studied. The lazy boy's guide to success.

I finished the book after about 3-4 months, largely due to the mnemonics on this site.

You really can't tell how much time should be spent on each kanji until it comes to reviewing time - then you'll know whether you did everything right. But spend a small amount of time on each until you have a solid image in your head.

Adding small details helps. Like, say... when using the water primitive, picture the water being all sparkly and full of ripples.

Francesco -

Congratulations on deciding to start RTK! I recently finished the book, and it's definitely worth the time it takes to complete.

I want to warn you - if you are not using the mnemonics, you are doing exactly what the author says NOT to do. You may be able to remember a few hundred kanji like this - but you'll lose them quickly. The first time I got this book, I thought that the stories were a waste of time, and only used some of the stories. Fairly soon, I got discouraged, and I gave up on the book. I only got up into #200 or so. Don't let this happen to you!

The mnemonics are the most important part of the book. Otherwise, you can just throw your book away and never use this site!

If you have trouble with understanding the stories, don't worry about it too much. Just make sure that you understand what the individual parts of the kanjis are (example: sun, tree, flesh, etc) - and you can make up your own stories if you like. That's what the study section of this site is for - we all make up our own.

If English is causing you trouble - are you able to understand another language more easily? RTK is also available in Spanish and French, if that might make things a bit easier for you.

Again, the mnemonics are important. If you are not going to use them, don't waste your time with the book.

To answer your most recent question as a personal example:

I've learned all 2042 kanji (but not perfectly - I have abut 700 in my "failed" stack, but I think I can get through those fairly quickly). I started this book in early September - so it took me about 5 months. But it could take you much, much longer than that - or shorter. If you have 30 minutes or an hour, (or more!) to devote to studying every day (instead of TV, for example), do it!

How much time do I spend on one story to remember it? Sometimes, only a minute. Sometimes, 3-4 minutes. Sometimes, I spend a long time, and even then I forget it. The best way is to spend as long as you need - don't rush. If you rush through it, you'll only have to come back and re-learn it, and that wastes even more time. It's best to concentrate on it right then. If you're getting tired or bored, close the book and do something else for a while.

Hope that helps - good luck!

Cazzo, Francesco, purtroppo se non capisci l'Inglese bene sara dura sta cosa.

Ma, ormai, non impossibile. Pensaci un po: il dottore Heisig, quando ha iniziato, lui non ce l'aveva un "metodo Heisig" da leggere. No! Semplicemente ha dovuto inventare un metodo, il suo metodo, che li permetessi di ricordari i Kanji. Va be, se lui ce l'ha fatta, anche tu ce la puoi fare.

La cosa importante ? memorizzare i "primitive", i elementi di base che dopo compongono i altri kanji. Se memmorizzi i primitivi, va be, le storie le puoi inventare da solo. Non ? che Heisig sia uno genio speciale con abilit? che tu non ce l'hai...no! Anche tu puoi inventare le storiete che ti servono.

Questo sito web, puoi il libro di Heisig, certamente possono aiutarti. Ma alla fine le storie che compongono i kanji che servono a te le puoi inventare solo tu. Non ? faccilissimo, sai, ma mica devi essere superman. Basta la costanza...inventare 10 o 15 storie ogni giorno poi memorizzare, poi fare ogni giorno ogni giorno. Ecco, se fai cosi, tra 6 mesi conosci i 2000 kanji di base. Certo che ce la puoi fare.

Coraggio!

cescoz wrote:

Wow sooo fast!
You have learned 2000 kanji in just 4 months?!
Awasome
How many kanji you did in a day?

Thanks! Well it started out at around 200, then down to 50, then a massive dry spell of nothing, then 25.

Good luck with the rest! The great thing is you don't have to wait till the end to enjoy the fruits of your labour. If you see a kanji that you've learnt in a game/manga that you'll one day read in the future, feels great.

I'm from Sicily