bodhisamaya wrote:

Do the iknow list users here put together for KO2001
http://smart.fm/lists/47378

I can't access iknow at work which is where a majority of Japanese studying is accomplished via my EEE PC (I work for the government at night which means I have nothing to do 90% of the time).

You really shouldn't use the 2001ko iKnow lists without buying the book because 2001ko put a LOT of work into making those lists.  And they're really good lists for beginners, too. 

As for how it's better...  The book gives you the list of items, but no direction on how you should be studying it.  iKnow (or Anki) gives you the direction.

activeaero wrote:

So now I'm on to do both volumes of KO2001.  I've got my books and the spreadsheet and am kind of stuck wondering what to do.  I feel like I want to step away from having English in my cards but at the same time that scares me lol. 

If I do go monolingual in terms of my cards do I need to shy away from english completely when I first "learn" the words/sentences?  For instance, with each new compound can I look at the English meaning the first time I learn it and then stick it into my deck without English from then on or does that defeat the point?

I certainly hope you're not letting your fears get the better of you. Do it anyway and get used to it.

The reason you're asking these questions is you don't know why you would go monolingual dictionary. Is it because everybody is telling you? Then find out what you think. If it's because you feel like you want to step away from English in your cards, like you said, then that right there is the answer to your questions.

mentat_kgs wrote:

yukamina wrote:

English won't kill you.

But it'll take its toil.

Monolingual is worth it. One should try it as soon as possible. Maybe sooner.

And what do you do when you don't understand? And worse, what if you think you understand, but you don't?

I think you shouldn't go monolingual at this time. If you have to ask yourselves all these questions, you're not quite there yet.

You should only do that when you feel that it's clearly going to help you learn faster, not because "all the cool kids are doing it".

And off course you need to know the meaning of everything you put in your SRS, what are you learning if you don't know that?

No need to force it until you feel comfortable doing it. But if you play with it some, you'll get a better feel for the idea, and you'll get a better gauge for when to go whole-hog on it.

When you feel more comfortable, try looking up words *you already know* in a J->J dictionary, and learn from the definitions. Dictionaries have their own style, too. The more words you look up, the more used to it you get.

And start with a 小学校 level dictionary, like the チャレンジ小学国語辞典. (ISBN 978-4-8288-0457-6). I think this edition is out of print, but there's probably a newer edition out. It covers a lot of basic K-6 level vocab, plus some extra. Definitions plus example sentences, and it's not written over your head. (And if it is, look up stuff in a J->E dictionary for now until you can figure it out without it.)

yukamina wrote:

mentat_kgs wrote:

yukamina wrote:

English won't kill you.

But it'll take its toil.

Monolingual is worth it. One should try it as soon as possible. Maybe sooner.

And what do you do when you don't understand? And worse, what if you think you understand, but you don't?

Experience will tell you what's correct and what's not.

mentat_kgs wrote:

Or skip it. You are not ready for it yet. Have patience, focus on other stuff. Soon it'll naturally come back to you.

Btw, I disagree with Tob. I think monolingual is something you have to force. Its a huge pain in the beginning, but it does its job.

Depends on the dictionary you're using. I was using Sanseido.net for a while. Then a lot of the definitions started to include the word and or kanji I was looking up. Weird no?

I switched to yahoo and the definitions are far more simple. The only time I use a JE dictionary now is when I want to learn a Japanese word I already know in English.

Monodicts do suck when you have a small vocabulary, though. So waiting is also an option. Just, when you finally do go for it.... go for it