Back in April of this year, I announced Jalup would be ending on September 1st, 2022 (with a possible extension to the end of the year). It is way past September 1st, and it is nearing the end of year. Is the delete button imminent? Not quite… Since the announcement, I’ve received a ton of comments and emails expressing gratitude, support, and some sadness. One … Continue reading →
See updates following this announcement. See current status. It’s been almost a year since I’ve written the last post on Jalup. What a long break… but as some of you might have started to suspect, I’ve decided to close down Japanese Level Up. Why? 2 years ago, I initially talked about why I decided to take a break from the blog section of the site. … Continue reading →
In the continuing effort to raise my child bilingual, finding good Japanese TV shows that he can enjoy has been a major priority (maybe I shouldn’t say that out loud). I was happy to discover that some of the most popular and addictive ones are on YouTube, for free, and updated frequently with awesome, original content. I thought I would introduce you to them, as … Continue reading →
Studying Japanese in 2021… How far we’ve come from studying Japanese in 1899. Or in 1999. No one says they wish they could study like it used to be. With all the super advanced tools, the unlimited and instant access to everything Japanese, you have it made. This is the age of studying Japanese (or any foreign language). But does it sometimes feel like it … Continue reading →
If you broke down the entirety of Japanese studying into just two elements, it would come down to: 1. Flashcard studying (Jalup App, Anki, textbooks, etc)2. Immersion (enjoying native Japanese entertainment) You probably already understand that first comes flashcards. But then what? 1. When do I start immersion?2. What’s the best balance of time between flashcards vs immersion?3. How does this balance change over time? … Continue reading →
The number that seems to endlessly follow you everywhere you go: reviews due. When it hits zero, you get a rush of dopamine. When it hits 300+, you curse your existence. So you focus on getting to 0. But what you do before then can change your motivation drastically. Looking at your reviews while you review? Whether you use the Jalup app or Anki, there … Continue reading →
Ever read a blog, forum, or some other social media where someone was sharing their success story to learning Japanese? They shared their methods and techniques, and told you how you can do it too! You just got a front seat to survivorship bias. And it’s something important to know when you get stuck and wonder “why can’t I do it when everyone else can.” … Continue reading →
The endless search for the best method. The one that works so well that you can cut off months or years of required study time if you just keep up with it. But is this an illusion? How important actually is the method? If you chose another method, could/would you be as successful? Your focus has probably been on the method. However, I’ve noticed 5 … Continue reading →
