Third Time's a Charm, right? -RtK

konayuki New member

From: South Carolina Registered: 2007-10-05 Posts: 2

Hey everybody Well I've always liked Heisig's methods, and I've tried to go through the first book two times already but I just can't seem to complete it! I find myself asking "Why can't you do it if you like it so much?" but still, no completion yet.

Man, I bought the first and second books a LONG time ago during high school (a sophomore?) and went along with a few chapters, but I stopped, I guess because I wasn't too serious on Japanese just yet. Then, during the end of last year, I tried it again and went up to Chapter...*checks* 21 I think, and I even used this awesome and wonderful site for flashcards! I was doing really well, then I got discouraged somehow or I was too overwhelmed and before I knew it, instead of coming everyday to practice it became every other day, then every 2 days to once in a while to... never. So I deleted all my flashcards with the goal of starting again from scratch someday.

And that day is coming soon...Monday to be exact. So I'm wondering: how do you keep on with it and do you have any suggestions so that this third time will -really- be my charm? I'd really appreciate it!

konayuki

Mcjon01 Member

From: 大阪 Registered: 2007-04-09 Posts: 551

I keep up with it by always, always doing my reviews every day, first thing, and then adding cards until my head breaks. Then I add some more cards, because I'm working under the assumption that the chasm in my psyche is a good place to put kanji. I'm actually on my third attempt at Heisig myself, and I desperately want to get this thing off my back. The idea of finishing before the month is out does wonders to keep me going. I tried slow and steady, but if I spend too long on a project, I tend to lose motivation...

roderik Member

From: The Netherlands Registered: 2008-04-04 Posts: 98

"I tried slow and steady, but if I spend too long on a project, I tend to lose motivation..."

I also found this true for myself. Therefore I'd like to reccomend spending every spare second you have to try and finish the book as quickly as possible.

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rich_f Member

From: north carolina Registered: 2007-07-12 Posts: 1708

Don't Ever Miss A Day. EVER. Seriously. Otherwise, you're going to lose momentum, and once you lose it, well, you know how hard it is to get it back now, right?

You don't have to obsess so much over adding 100 cards a day as much as making sure the cards you add, you know. An extra minute or two spent on a better story, or on fixing the image in your head will pay off 100 times in the future with less fails.

You're going to be reviewing a lot, even after you finish the book, so get used to the idea of spending 30 minutes a day reviewing even after you're done.

And it also wouldn't hurt to recognize that little voice inside you that says, "Ah, you can review tomorrow," as your sworn enemy. Crush it and ignore it. Sleep is for dead people. >_>a

konayuki New member

From: South Carolina Registered: 2007-10-05 Posts: 2

@mcjon01: I'm really desperate in finishing heisig myself! I just wanna be done with it and learn my kanji the easy way! lol

@rich_f: I used to go to the university library everyday for hours just studying my kanji and learning and relearning stories and doing the flashcards. Making up stories got so hard and I found myself slacking on the details. (No good!) And that tiny little voice? Consider it crushed, at least mostly, LOL. Although I have summer courses, I can still spend at least an hour or two a day doing the best I can, right? I just hope I can make it through this time!

Thanks guys

Shibo Member

From: South Dakota, USA Registered: 2008-01-19 Posts: 132

The others have hit the nail on the head. Study every day and *never miss a day of review*. I do it first thing when I get up, NO MATTER WHAT. Late for work, late for an appontment, whetever. It does not matter. Review every single day until it becomes a habit. Pace yourself and know your ideal pace. What's the point in doing 100 a day if they're all gone from your brain in a week? Make sure that your pace allows you to retain what you learn. And enjoy the journey. Make sure you make it fun or you'll be back again talking about your 4th try.

Zarxrax Member

From: North Carolina Registered: 2008-03-24 Posts: 949

Like everyone else has said, review every single day. I always do it first thing in the morning, because then once it is out of the way, you don't have to worry about it! Otherwise you just spend the rest of the day thinking "hmm, i need to do my reviews sometime..."
Also try to learn some new kanji every day. I fell into the trap for a few days where I would review, but I just wouldn't learn anything new... id tell myself that I didn't have time, or I didn't feel like doing it. I just try to set a realistic goal for each day, and then try to achieve it. Ideally, I'll learn my kanji in the morning after my reviews, but I usually end up letting it slip to the afternoon or night.

And when all else fails, REFUSE to let yourself go to bed until you've at least done your reviews.

Also a big problem for me is that it would take me forever to get my reviews finished. Then I realized that the problem was simply that I wasn't really giving it my full attention. I would chat with people while doing it, or surf onto some website after reviewing about 5 kanji or so. Just start it, and go straight through, no interruptions, and it goes so fast!

samusam Member

From: Japan Registered: 2006-01-07 Posts: 22

I'll just add that the third time is TOTALLY a charm. It was for me, anyway. So just continue the trend and you'll be fine.

samusam Member

From: Japan Registered: 2006-01-07 Posts: 22

Also! Keep track of your progress with a spreadsheet that you update daily at a predetermined time (for me it was right before bed). That way you can see in black and white how awesome you are (or, alternatively, what a miserable failure you are) as you progress through the book. Mine was named "RTK Progress" and kept track of the date, number of kanji learned that day, total number of kanji, and total number of reviews. And it was right in the middle of my desktop so I couldn't avoid it.

exrulez Member

From: Sterling, VA Registered: 2006-10-30 Posts: 24 Website

Awesome!!!
Hi, my name is Adam and i'm new to the forum!
I'm also at my X attempt at RTK. I get momentum and loose it. Get it again and loose it.
I'm about half-way through the book, but i'm totally commited.
よろしく everyone!

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