Whisper it but I’ve added some N3 grammar points I’ve encountered in my reading even though I’ve not completed N4… Ssshh Asher is listening… everywhere…
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There aren’t really any strict rules, just keep in mind that a lot of the grammar builds on each other. So I recommend having a solid foundation (N5/N4) before you jump around too much.
For example, to learn the grammar point たらいい (N3), you should learn たら (N4) first and for this you should know た form (N5) already.
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You will find that regardless of what study path you take, N3 ish standard is where you will find the meat of Japanese grammar, the stuff you use everyday. The grammar you have searched for in N2 and such are more than likely formal, alternative or fancy ways of saying things you will already know by the intermediate stage. They are useful when watching the news, working in an office or company or reading an article, not so much everyday conversation.
Also, try to think of things in a Japanese sense. For example ‘To become’ may not seem important (although we use it constantly in English ~ I want to be a ~~ or It will be ~~) it is actually a vital Japanese grammar, mostly because its used within other, more complicated grammar. But also because Japanese people use it very frequently, its meaning has a wider range than its English translation.
Overall, the JLPT has no speaking section, and so its a pretty bad way to measure fluency. I’ve met N1 people who have the worst accent and spoken Japanese (this was confirmed by the Japanese people around them). But, if you want to build the basics of grammar and sentence construction, following the JLPT is a relatively good way of tracking progress imo
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I will second this. I believe that if you were to live in Japan with a very solid hold of N5, 4, and 3 (including being able to output it without prompting), you would be very fluent. Though, generally I would say that focusing on N levels for studying order might be best for people looking for a certification that will help them for entrance into school or for job hunting. Using textbooks may start you out in the N5, N4 range, but you will definitely also encounter some N3, N2 stuff along the way, even before you are ready for N2. But that’s only natural.
I think following a study plan that is more comprehensive (fostering the four disciplines of writing, reading, listening, and speaking) will make you the most well-rounded in Japanese (writing may be not as prevalent due to the increase of typing - though it does help cement knowledge and tell the difference between similar kanji, and learn stroke order for some Japanese dictionaries). And as iterated multiple times throughout multiple posts on the Bunpro community, Bunpro is probably best used as a supporting member of your study-buddy-action-plan, and not your main source of language learning.
I have also met people who have passed N1 and can’t speak Japanese, though this may matter less to people who are only hoping for passive-proficiency (listening and reading based), and do not necessarily need/want to be actively proficient (writing, speaking).
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I have also met people who have passed N1 and can’t speak Japanese, though this may matter less to people who are only hoping for passive-proficiency (listening and reading based), and do not necessarily need/want to be actively proficient (writing, speaking).
In fact, that describes me. Although I might one day visit Japan, I have no intention of residing there for any time, nor do I suspect I would ever work with Japanese speakers. The vast majority of Japanese I encounter is written, so that’s been the main focus of my studies. And while Bunpro might still have things I’ll probably rarely or never encounter (～ざるを得ない comes to mind), it’s still a very useful resource. And now that we have vocab decks, that’s only truer still (although I need to try and find a way to sync up my Anki deck and Bunpro…).
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Seconding this. It’s difficult to judge which grammar points are important in a language you don’t know yet, so following an order set up by people who do know the language is a good idea. Trust them, they’re probably not horribly wrong on what’s useful/basic.
Ofc depending on what your goals are there might be some things that are a more or less useful, or things you encounter a lot that are missing, but 90 something % of beginner levels (be that JLPT or a textbook) will be useful, regardless of what you’ll use it for.
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I use bunpro mostly so I have a path to follow to study since there is so much grammar out there and I would never know what to start with (which is actually why my first attempt to learn japanese fizzled out once I passed basic basic grammar and kana). Since I am subscribed to quite a few japanese channels for learning japanese, I’ll often watch videos that aren’t exactly on my level (N5 so I have watched some N4 and N3). Don’t worry about following N levels too much, try to learn what is more related to your situation and that you want to learn.
I would just learn them in order, because “to become” is simpler in Japanese than “if” (imo) and you still use “to become” very often. For example, I know maybe six ways to say “if” in Japanese, or rules that apply to saying “if,” depending on if it’s volitional, non-volitional, giving advice, not giving advice, asking for advice, speaking formally, etc. And these forms all expand on concepts you learn in earlier levels. Whereas you’d only have “if” in English.
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