Walden
Member
From: England
Registered: 2008-08-24
Posts: 13
I've started RTK yesterday, and I'm 45. But I'm worried, how long should I spend on each Kanji, how do I imprint the story into my head? When I add them to RevTK I seem to forget ones I've done 10 minuites prior.
Sorry if this isn't the right section, as I'm new.
Thanks in advance.
Shirow66
Member
From: Sweden
Registered: 2008-01-27
Posts: 50
Well the easy answer would be "As long as it takes for the story to stick." This is of course different for everyone. I would recommend writing each kanji a whole bunch (like 20 at least) of times with pen and paper because I've found that that makes the kanji stick better than the stories usually. Try to build a sort of muscle memory of how the kanji is written. If you have problems remembering a story, try making it more personal or detailed, or dirty, or anything that would make it stick better. I often find myself going back and changing stories while I review because my mind just comes up with a better solution as I'm reviewing.
annabel398
Member
From: Austin TX
Registered: 2008-08-04
Posts: 80
I've got a bit on you age-wise, Walden, so don't let the years be your excuse :-)
I suggest you look back over the kanji you *do* remember (not the easy ones like 一 and 二 but some of the more complicated ones) and ask yourself those particular kanji stick in your head. When I did this, what I found was that I was remembering the ones with really oddball stories like 器 ("utensil," a St. Bernard spread-eagled on a table with four hungry mouths, one at each corner, waiting for the forks and knives so they can dig in) or 則 ("rule," measuring the size of your lobster catch with a saber notched with ruler markings). This told me that I really needed to work harder on vivid images. Ridiculous, incongruous, revolting... the weirder the better.
Also, personify the elements of your story. For 副 "vice-," I picture a wealthy Dick Cheney going on a hunting expedition with a saber instead of a shotgun. And measuring that lobster? I'm a scuba diver, so I imagine descending with that notched saber, scaring off all my dive buddies. Look through other people's stories in the "study" section. Often I'll find a story with a hook that I can then make my own.
I had a mental setback when I realized I was forgetting kanji at about the same rate I was adding them. Going back and really working on vivid images has helped me a lot... I'm running only about 2% to 4% in my "fail" pile now.
Above all, don't get discouraged and give up. You can do it.
