Finished N5 Grammar - what's next?

Bunpro
#22

You need to learn 1900 vocab until december, if you do 20 words a day that will result as 95 days of active learning so according to my calculation it’s reachable within 5 months (4,75 precisely) if you study 5 days per week. which means that if you start today you should be ready by end of november for you exam in december.
Honestly I think your best shot is to aim N4 in July. This way you can adjust your pace (since the more words you’ll learn the harder it will be)

as for your plannification of new words : I think it’s best for you to get rid of the N5 vocab asap before starting N4 vocab. You’ll be exposed to new vocab when you do your reviews, make sure to check on them even if they are not in your queue yet.

As a rule of thumb I think it’s best to solidy your base before moving on to the next level.
However when it comes to grammar I think it’s okay to learn N4 grammar even though you don’t know 100% of the words in N5.
You’ll also do the same with N3, N2 and N1…
If you don’t 100% your vocab deck and you keep adding the others you’ll end up with unfinished decks until you reach N1 and that’s gonna be super frustrating…
It’s a long journey until you’ll reach the 10k words required to N1. Keep it up and don’t burn up I believe in you !

#23

Sorry for the late reply. I actually created a new topic not long after that post.
I already have a pace I’m quite comfortable with. To answer one of your questions that isn’t answered on that thread: since I’m planning on doing a working holiday I’d like to have as many doors open when it comes to job opportunities, I’d like to stay for the full year, so getting a job will eventually happen. I’ve seen many job ads asking for at least N4 level, and even more asking for N3 and N2. Of course, I’d also like to immerse as much as I can and be able to speak to people, not just have the minimal interactions when buying groceries or checking in to a hotel. I know I’m lacking in the speaking and listening departments, and it’s not going to be easy to practice that while not being in Japan.

#24

Don’t have advice; but I wanted to send you a bit of encouragement. You are definitely not years away from being able to have a conversation in Japanese! I’ve been to Japan 4 times now. I’m nowhere near what most people would consider conversational. I know most of the N5 vocab and only about half the grammar in Genki 1 (grammar is my weakest spot, that’s why I’m using Bunpro haha). Anyway, with my limited knowledge I have been able to chat with locals on every trip. Is it engaging conversation about deep topics? No, but I can talk about my job, my family, the weather, my height, whether I prefer dogs or cats… which is what I would be talking to most people about in English anyway. If you have done all of N5 grammar than you definitely know more than me. You got this!!

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#25

Thanks for the encouragement. I do remember chatting with our tour guide in Okinawa last year and I started by asking him if he was born in Okinawa. Once I get started it’s not too bad but I get nervous beforehand. With a bit more practice, it should improve. :slightly_smiling_face:

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#26

I don’t know much about your studying progress. But I know this, when you finished something, AWESOME. Also, time to “GO Next”, be it finishing N5 vocabs or touching on N4 grammar, or reading a simple Japanese novel. Keeps on with the Japanese journey! 頑張って！

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#27

Hey, thanks for the encouragement! I’m keeping up the pace, some days I feel like I’ve progressed while others I feel like they were not really productive, but I remind myself to trust the process. I got curious about those simple novels, so I was wondering if you had any recommendations or knew where to find some!

#28

Yotsuba is cute. Here’s where you can read the anime series:

So try reading it first. Then, here’s where you can listen to someone explain it:

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