Use Passwords To Learn Japanese
Learning Japanese comes down to a lot of repetition over a long period of time, at regular intervals. What else are you doing constantly every day that sounds the same? Entering passwords.
True, a lot of passwords can just be stored these days, not requiring you to type it in. But what if you ignored that and use every repetitive entry of your password to improve your Japanese memory?
A few password ideas
1. Your Facebook account?
Kao-Hon-Wo-Miru (顔本を見る)
2. Apple account?
Ringo-Wo-Taberu (りんごを食べる)
3. Microsoft account?
Chiisai-Yawarakai (小さい・柔らかい)
4. Twitter account?
Tori-Ga-Urusai (鳥がうるさい)
These are just a few examples, but if you make your password a Japanese sentence related to the account, you are creating a strong password (you can add a few extra characters at the end for more strength if you are worried) and giving yourself reason to expend all this extra energy. Every day you are typing out the same sentences.
You know how you are supposed to technically change your passwords frequently for better security? Use those password updates as a chance to learn a whole new set of sentences. Make them sentences you are having trouble remembering. There are a lot if possibilities here.
It’s like having Anki built into what you normally do anyway.
Willing to give it a try?
Founder of Jalup. iOS Software Engineer. Former attorney, translator, and interpreter. Still watching 月曜から夜ふかし weekly since 2013.
That is a pretty cool idea.
Give it a try!
That’s really clever. Though I’d underscore the importance of adding a couple extra numbers or symbols for the sake of security.
With uppercase letters, symbols between words, and sentences, I think there is some good strength in there.
If you use a sentence you already are very well covered. It’s a shame this comic with a very good explanation isn’t in Japanese! http://xkcd.com/936/
Is there an interesting and informative Japanese comic like xkcd?
Very informative comic! So then full Japanese sentences will be perfect.
I haven’t come across any comic series like that in Japanese.
Ah ah…
I’ve already been doing this for a while, actually (though mostly for fun rather than educational value)… I’ll forgo giving concrete examples for obvious reasons, but there’s actually one use in the article which is similar to one of mine.
I had a feeling you’d be doing this already!
Sounds like a good idea.
Speaking of repetitive learning: to learn the numbers/generic counters/days of the month just use them every time you count something. And if you don’t have stuff to count just use it as an inner clock: brush your teeth for 30 seconds (x3?), drink water for ten seconds, count down waiting for the bus etc.
Agreed! There are so many opportunities for normal counting throughout the day, everyone should be a 数字プロ.
Really creative
Thanks!