About two weeks after visiting Japan, the jet lag has finally subsided, and I’m spending more time back to learning rather than looking up visa requirements for how to move there (yes, we loved it that much). Now that I’m not trying to get as far as possible as fast as practical in preparation for the trip, I’ve seriously changed my study methods.
I’ve caught up on my Bunpro reviews, and I’ve decided to stop adding new material for a while so I can concentrate on trying to actually nail down and internalize where I am now (almost the end of N4). Instead, I’ve added Anki decks for the two manga series I’m trying to read. Running the anki decks ahead of reading the manga has really been helpful for me.
I’m cutting my italki sessions back to once a week from biweekly - enough to keep some output going, but it’s not as much a priority. Instead, I’m trying to spend a lot more time reading and listening. Again, the two manga series and NHK News Easy for reading, for the most part, and podcasts for listening (hello Teppei my old friend…)
I’d say my biggest struggle right now is the introduction of a number of keigo/kenjougo forms in the back half of the N4 grammar deck. I’m having a hard time keeping them straight, especially the 〜てください vs. お + Verb Stem + ください vs. 〜ていただけませんか different formulations. If anyone has something they could recommend that might help me keep track of them, it would be most appreciated.
Otherwise, I’m just keeping on keeping on. みんな頑張ってください!