You guys will hit the end of RtK1 before you know it.

Savara, I used a system very similar to yours, except I did my learning in batches of 5.  I would learn 5 new Kanji, do something else (like work, hehe) and then do another 5.

Just don't make the same mistake I did and stop reviewing a few months after you're done.  I've just started going through RtK1 again using Japanese keywords with a target of 25 characters per day.

one who waits expectantly to finish will feel tha pain of doing kanji XD

2 isn't the problem, as I prefer to use Anki for sentences and Mnemosyne for words. (I could just use 2 decks, but I tried that for difficult English words once (in another deck for Anki) and I forgot about it in a few days.)

How did you move everything over, can you just import it? That would be the easiest, but can you import it into an existing deck without weird things happening to the old entries? I suppose it would be faster even just because of the fact that it doesn't have to load after you rate your answer. But at the moment this site is the best thing there is Especially because I need new stories every day and it's just faster to click "copy" than manually copy-pasting everything into Anki.

Finished reviewing for today, now start with the first 10 new kanji of the day... Don't give up Sava xD

Sarius24 wrote:

one who waits expectantly to finish will feel tha pain of doing kanji XD

How very Tao de Ching... and very true too

I just came across a post in my livejournal... I started RTK march 3rd. So now I have the date. It actually was the third time, I suppose. I looked into it in June last year (when I was just starting with Japanese) but discarded the idea after reading through the first 100 kanji.

According to my profile I signed up here early September. I don't even remember doing that, but I do remember it was *very* easy to do those first 100 because I had already seen them before (just reading through the book, then). And the 3rd of March I returned to finally give it a serious try.

While at this pace it will take 23~28 more days to finish (ugh I'm impatient now. Probably *because* I started calculating how long it will take me from now on, since last week.). In a way that seems to be a long time, but I've already been doing this for 3 months so another month isn't bad I guess

I've been thinking about pushing for 50 kanji a day, but I'm afraid that will only make things harder, as the amount of kanji to be reviewed every day are still increasing and I'm not sure how bad it would become if I would do 50 a day... (Anyone knows? At the moment I usually fail somewhere between 20~30 kanji a day)

Geh, I think I really should stick to 30 a day (which is still nice progress for each day, I guess) and stop worrying about when I'll finish once again xD But it's hard now I'm past the half way point.

Savara wrote:

Reviews have been harder lately, usually I only get around 70 % correct... But I think that's because of the fact that I've been adding more cards each day. Recall for the unseen cards is in the 90 %, but 3 days later I fail a lot more. It's still fine though I guess... right? I'm keeping up with failed cards and all the problem kanji will eventually stick with reviewing once I'm finished with adding new stuff... right?

To answer your questions: right. (There's not a lot more to add to that really )

Savara wrote:

So... Thoughts? I hope I'll be able to keep myself from going *too* fast during the next few days and keep the pace at 30~40 kanji a day... Or switch to 50 for a few days and once I have 200 kanji left, try to do those in 2 days. ...

That a good plan?

Or should I be wise and keep going at 40 a day until the end?

I think all three ideas will work out just fine. However, personally I would have chosen for option 2: switching to 50 kanji a day for a few days, and once you have 200 kanji left, try to do those kanji in 2 days. My motivation for this choice is that it would be quicker than option one and by doing 50 a day you would still have a good retention rate. The final 200 kanji might make you end up with a lower retention rate for those kanji only, but at least once you've had those, you will be finished, finally.

alyks wrote:

When I actually take the time to write the kanji out, my retention rate skyrockets.

Who says you can't write it out when you initially learn the kanji, or when you quiz on a computer? I also find that writing out the kanji helps my memory, but thats not something that relates to computers in my opinion.

If you have a cellphone with a dataplan you can use anki on the go as well. (or use a pda if you have one)

While using traditional flashcards might work for you, I don't think they would work for the majority of people who want to retain knowledge of the entire RTK1/3 set. Traditional flashcards are much more suited to memorizing smaller datasets for an exam or such.

alyks wrote:

I use traditional flashcards, maybe because I'm just old fashioned, but I dislike using SRS stuff. See, before I even studied Japanese, I had a solid background in memory systems and mnemonics and I have a very good idea of how my memory works. I know instinctively  which ones I'll remember and which I won't, and use that knowledge to review ones I know I'll remember less frequently. SRS disconnects me from that process. I'm much better at retaining information when I can trust myself.

Anyway, try this: use traditional flash cards. One thing I hate about SRS is using a computer. When I actually take the time to write the kanji out, my retention rate skyrockets. Take a normal flash card, and write on it vertically six or seven kanji with the English meanings on the back so you can flip the card over with your thumb and forefinger to read the English. (Of course, review so you have to remember the kanji from the English)
Then keep the flashcards with you. Review a card during a commercial break, on a train, in the car, or in line somewhere.

It's far, far more effective to spread out your reviewing in different situations, than at a single time and place on the computer. You learn to remember in different situations, to think on your feet.

I've rarely heard something so ridiculous.  Using an SRS is 'faster' than using traditional flashcards, that's the point.  You can review your paper ones in inefficient, random order, or you can just review the ones which are allocated.  Are you using your physical cards in a Leitner type box system, and if so, are you lugging them about on the train? 

Retention for me is 90 percent, according to Anki, and retention isn't even important.  What's important is doing as much as possible, as quickly as possible.  I could retain one hundred percent of one flash card,  but what's the point?  I could stare at my one, home made flashcard daily for hours, in order to keep my one hundred percent retention rate.

With a computer it is faster to make cards, faster to review them, and yes, you are allowed to write them down to practice them.  Also, you can add audio, pictures anything you like.  Of course physical cards are rarely going to have pictures, and never any audio.  I've added 736 cards this month, with retention of ninety percent.  I doubt you can make 736 cards a month physically, but if you can when will you be studying?  And you can review your SRS anywhere you have a mobile, if you have a web function.

Accept my humblest apologies if you really are making upwards of 700 physical flashcards monthly, and reviewing them.

Hey! My handwriting is very good! And a handwriting font just isn't the same as my own true to life handwriting! I use flashcards, and I write it with MY handwriting, and seeing my own handwriting is just so much more memorable than computer fonts, you know? Geez though, you get all worked up over somebody recommending an alternative method to anki. Reminds me of how people over at TJP get all worked up when we recommend the alternative method of RTK. Whatever happened to keeping it friendly? Anki's fine, use it all you want, I'm not saying its bad. It's very good and I use it myself.

And YES, I do use my beloved box for holding cards, but it's not like I take them ALL with me. I just keep a single box in my messenger bag. I review successful ones a lot less, also.

alyks wrote:

Hey! My handwriting is very good! And a handwriting font just isn't the same as my own true to life handwriting! I use flashcards, and I write it with MY handwriting, and seeing my own handwriting is just so much more memorable than computer fonts, you know? Geez though, you get all worked up over somebody recommending an alternative method to anki. Reminds me of how people over at TJP get all worked up when we recommend the alternative method of RTK. Whatever happened to keeping it friendly? Anki's fine, use it all you want, I'm not saying its bad. It's very good and I use it myself.

And YES, I do use my beloved box for holding cards, but it's not like I take them ALL with me. I just keep a single box in my messenger bag. I review successful ones a lot less, also.

You could also just scan your cards.  Plus like has been said an image from a manga or something else memorable is at least as good as seeing your own handwriting.  Computers are only as 'cold and unfeeling' as you make them.

I, for one, also feel that that it is worthwhile using the RevTK review system AND having a hardcopy (ie., flashcards).  Personally, I love having something tangible around my desk that is proof of my progress.

Before I even started using this site, I printed off the flashcards (they were available free on the net, I believe I found the link on a forum here) for the whole book.  As I progress through RevTK, I not only write in my personal story for each kanji in the study section, but I pick up a pencil and write it on the back of my flashcards.  They were printed on standard A4 paper, with 12 cards on each page.  Once I finish the 12 cards, I add them to the review section on the site, and I add my flashcard page into my ever-growing binder of kanji that I know.  I don't primarily use my binder for reviewing, but it's great to leaf through once in a while, or take with me on trips.  I try to stick to the Leitner system as much as possible though.

One issue touched on in this thread is something I have been wondering about: learning in a variety of circumstances and situations.  Maybe it's not such a big deal because I currently reside in Japan - but I always do my new cards and reviews in front of the computer (I wouldn't actually say it's 'cold and uncaring' as a few others seem to think - I spend so much time with it... ).  Sometimes I see a kanji on a train or streetsign, and I struggle for a moment, or longer, to recall it.  I can't help but wonder if I was in my comfortable computer chair - would I not have scribbled it down without hesitation and clicked on 'Kanji remembered' and moved on without a problem.

At any rate, I am confident that through my calligraphy classes and other learning endeavors I'm not totally putting all my eggs in one basket - but it is a little frustrating when I get caught off guard (different fonts, kanji handwritten by Japanese people, etc.).

I love my comfy study area.  It'll be good, though, when my job here is done (I definitely want all 3000 kanji), and then I can move on to more natural communications and putting my study into practice.