When you build something from the ground up, with absolute control and micromanagement over every minor aspect, an unfortunate habit tends to rear its ugly (but well groomed) head: Perfectionism. It’s natural that you want your study method and every factor that goes into your general study equation to be perfect. Flawless efficiency. I imagine you desire something like this: But you may actually be … Continue reading →
While studying Japanese is for the most part your own private and personal world (especially in the beginning), it is human nature to compare and compete. You want to know how others are doing. You want to know how you are doing compared to others. You want to know how long it took them to achieve what you are trying to achieve. Now I love … Continue reading →
A good way to start off the new year: let’s tell you why your New Years resolution will fail, and all your efforts to become fluent will be futile. Is this the first negative article on this site? Is this a sign of bad things to come? Am I going to tear you down? Come on. Would I do that? No . . . but you … Continue reading →
Fully immersing yourself in Japan’s culture is absolutely key to mastering Japanese. Japanese culture is amazing. It is wild. It is weird. It is deep. If you have yet to visit Japan, you will be in for one of the best adventures of your life. If you get the chance to study abroad for a semester, take it. If you can live and work in … Continue reading →
How often have you been asked “How are you studying Japanese?” only to get stuck in an annoying conversation with someone trying to explain your methods. Multiply this irritation when you are talking to someone who is a Japanese teacher or a Japanese person who studies English. Unless you are talking to close and understanding friends or family, you want to avoid this exchange at … Continue reading →
With the internet, the amount of Japanese resources at your disposal is now endless. This is good. In this context, more is better. You can be as picky as you want with what you use. However, with the expansion of precious Japanese material throughout the internet came along a fake form of studying Japanese. It looks and even feels like you are studying real Japanese. But you are not. … Continue reading →
Have you ever asked any of the following questions to a Japanese teacher, a Japanese person, or yourself? 1. Why use this word, instead of another? 2. Why is this word pronounced this way? 3. Why use this reading for this kanji? 4. Why isn’t there a word for this in Japanese? 5. Why does this Japanese version of an English word mean nothing like the original English word? “Why” is … Continue reading →
