Cozy season is in full swing, and it's almost JLPT time. I hope everyone's studies are going very well and that you have seen improvement since last month! As the holiday season and the end of the year (!) approaches, I would like to begin to assess my progress for the year and prepare a path for my studies for next year. Every year at the end of the year I feel like I fell short of my goal, and wish to ramp up for the next year. But I have been trying to be more realistic, so I'm excited to see how my goals and my actual studies line up at the end of the year.
秋と言えば勉強したい季節ですね。もうそろそろ日本語能力試験の時間になりますね。皆さんの勉強が上手く進んでいますように。後少しで年末年始なので、自分の進歩を調べて、そして来年の目的を考え始めようと思います。毎年の年末で目的を越えなかったと気がしますし、来年もっと頑張らないといけないと気分があるんだけど、最近はもっと現実的に目的を作るつもりんですが。今年の目的をどれくらい当たったのを調べるのを楽しみにしています。
October Progress
This month I spent the most time Reading (I read every day!) and the least time on Kanji. I practiced a lot of Vocabulary, focusing on learning and remembering vocabulary rather than just reviewing a large amount. I reviewed Grammar (both N2 and N3) so that I can try to make the usage stick in my mind.
I realized that I really can't do passive Listening, which I tried to do while doing mindless work, because I don't catch a single thing. It isn't like osmosis either, where something entered my brain without having to try. I was listening to native material (child-rearing info) but it really didn't leave any kind of impression. Active is really the best way for me, otherwise I tune it out.
〇 = Great, △ = Decent, ✖ = Not Great
- Read daily - read something almost every day 〇
- Write sentences 4 times a week - I wrote sentences more like once a week which could be better △
- Review kanji and vocabulary flash cards daily - lol no ✖
- Review 1-2 N3 grammar points weekly - reviewed once a week 〇
- Learn 1-2 N2 grammar points weekly - learnt 2 N2 grammar points this month △
- Listen to 1 podcast a week - yes! 〇
- Continue to work on hiragana with my son - writing is going well with しまじろう drills to supplement his reading practice 〇
November Goals
As the end of the year approaches, I want to wrap up any goals that seem doable for the end of the year. I tried earlier in the year focusing on one area of study (e.g. vocab, kanji, reading) each day, but since my days are so busy that has kind of fallen apart. I'd like to continue to try to balance my study so that each area receives somewhat equal attention, and then start looking forward to my plans for 2025.
- Continue working through Sou-Matome N2 workbooks
- Continue practicing with Sou-Matome N3 drill workbook
- Continue working on Keigo textbook
- Finish working through various borrowed Japanese textbooks
- Finish one novel this month
- Continue with small daily study habits
- Continue with hiragana writing practice
I wish I could spend long hours just practicing Japanese whilst wearing a comfy sweater and drinking hot tea, but unfortunately life doesn't allow that, so I will keep trying to fit in my study where I can. Wishing everyone the best of luck during your journey to the JLPT!
何時間連続勉強しながら暖かいお茶を飲みたいんだけど、それはなかなか無理です。そしてできるだけ日本語を勉強しようと思います。皆さん日本語能力試験の勉強頑張ってね！
