Re: successful language learners -- the little details

From: Michael (throw_spam_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 10/08/04 

Date: 8 Oct 2004 15:05:53 -0700

jpwilso@bgnet.bgsu.edu (Justin Wilson) wrote in message news:<53b668b5.0410080509.263290c9@posting.google.com>...

> In the meantime, I carry a pad in my back pocket at all times. When I
> go out to eat, go shopping, etc.. every time I see a sign that seems
> important etc.. that has a word I don't know, I jot it down.

I would use a pda with a built in camera instead. Take pictures of the
signs etc and jot down everything else into jwpce. Put as many
pictures from you're Japanese environment into Supermemo as possible.

 I try to
> write a minimum of 10 per day. After I get home and look these up, I
> will add the most useful ones into Supermemo. As for the ones that
> don't seem so important, I may just append a definition to them on my
> pad, and casually review them later. (I'm considering writing these
> with a red pen and then using the red/green clear plastic testers when
> reviewing. Good idea ne ?)

I have not tried the colored glasses/pen method but don't you think it
would be better to put them straight into Supermemo as cloze
deletions?

>
> After I finish with the Oxford, I intend to start with the JLPT 4 list
> and make sure there isn't anything I have missed. Then the JLPT 3,
> then the JLPT 2, and finally the JLPT 1 list. I would guess that my
> vocabulary is around ~1,500 words at this point. I hope that I can
> finish the JLPT 1 list within 4 month's from now, though that may be a
> tad bit optimistic.
>

I think that's a little too optimistic. Its about 70 new words per
day. Perhaps you should aim at finishing level 2 instead? I find 40
new words a day is a good target.

> Overall, I expect that I will need to spend in the neighborhood of 3-4
> hours/day studying vocabulary -- drilling with Supermemo, and looking
> things up that I have written on my pad.

3-4 hours each day sounds manageable. I'm doing 2-3 hours weekdays and
6-7 hours on Saturday and Sunday. My review takes about 1.5-2 hours
and the rest of the time I spend reading and adding new words.

> (though it is a lofty goal I admit), reading books ought to do wonders
> for my ability to construct more complex, yet completely grammatically
> accurate sentences.

Reading books/internet articles and automatically adding example
sentences to every vocab item added to Supermemo.I'm speed reading
each example sentence as i do my repetitions.

You didn't mention mnemonics. Are you using any? How about writing
kanji? I hope you have already done RTK 1 & 2.

>
> Well, what do YOU think !? =)

I think you're very motivated and sure to do well but 10,000 words in
4 months may be abit too much.
Its certainly great to hear someone else apart from me and Randy
mention Supermemo in slj.
I also think most other responses to you're post will be ridicule or
jokes (like last time).I think this comes from the fact these people
lack motivation, imagination, discipline and good learning software.

Regards

Michael

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