Progress as of May 13th

Well, lately I've really been getting into it again. My energy is slowly coming back (though I'm nowhere near well yet, which bothers me but which can't be helped, I guess) and it also makes it easier for me to focus on learning more Japanese.

What's also fun is that I'm starting to recognise more and more things that I've learnt (both vocabulary and grammar) in the dramas and movies that I'm watching.

Japanese drama (dorama) isn't like a soap opera or anything. It's a series with usually 11 or 12 episodes and all different kinds of topics and genres can be used. There's often a comic note in them as well, and some are just straight-up comedies, but others are very sad and dramatic and yet others are very exaggerated and action-filled. I enjoy watching them, because they are fun and they help me get a feel for the language. Also, it's just really nice to recognise more and more stuff you hear. ^^

As for my progress: I've almost finished the Essential Grammar part of Tae Kim's grammar guide, so I'm almost 2/3 through the grammar guide. Vocabulary-wise, I now have 419 words in Anki (as opposed to 239 last time I posted in late February). All in all, very proud of myself. ^^

Progress as of October 24th

So this past week I had a holiday and I got a lot of Japanese done. I've also got more of a clue now on how to progress, so I'm progressing faster and further.

So here's another update on how I'm doing.

I've started RTK2 again, so far I'm on 577 cards.
Vocabulary for N5 has me on 191 words (I think I'll add some more today, so I'll be past 200 then).
I've just finished Tae Kim's Basic Grammar, which contains 11 topics. Now moving on to Essential Grammar, which contains 18 topics.

Japanese-wise, it's been a productive holiday! ^^ Health-wise it's been a bit worse, but hey, you can't have everything.

Progress

Wooooh I've finally caught up with where I left off in RTK2.

Like I said in my previous post, I had suspended all my RTK2 cards before my Japan trip, so I wouldn't have a whole load of reviews when I got back. And just now I unsuspended the last cards and I'm up-to-date with my reviews again! ^^ I am quite pleased with myself.

I have been studying more N5 as well. I am up to exactly 100 words now. ^^

Also I have caught up on my Tae Kim studies, reviewing what I'd learnt so far, so tomorrow I can start with a new chapter.

So all in all it's been quite a productive day and I'm pretty proud of myself! ^^

Final Preparations and Setbacks

Well, in 5 days we will finally be leaving! It's getting so close. Eddie is coming here on Wednesday and on Friday we will head to Japan! ^^

Unfortunately there is a minor setback: Himeji castle is closed from April 2010 until somewhere in 2011 for renovations. I was really looking forward to seeing it. ><

However, I've found a good alternative; Okayama. A small town which is also on the way from Kobe to Hiroshima (as is Himeji) and it also has a castle that looks similar to the one at Himeji (only smaller). And where the one in Himeji is white, the one in Okayama is black, causing it to have the nickname 'The Crow's Castle'. The rest of the town looks interesting too. So hopefully it will be just as good. ^^

I haven't been doing any RTK studies, since I don't want my reviews to pile up again, like they did when I had the computer problems. So I've only been reviewing, but not adding anything.

I've also started Tae Kim's grammar and I wish I had done it sooner. It's so easy and fast! So I will keep that up for a few more days and hopefully I can string a few sentences together when we're there. ^^