Post by Jembru on Jul 24, 2015 14:54:04 GMT
Remember me? Anyone? ^^
So yeah, I drifted away a bit while the forum is quiet, but I thought I'd swing by and see how everyone is getting on in their studies. I've been on my new upper-intermediate/advanced leg of my journey for over half a year now, so I thought I'd let you all know how it's been going for me.
Not much has changed. I'm still studying much as I was before (roughly outlined in; All work and no play make Jembru a dull girl). The most notable changes being that I've added a bit more review to my routine (I'll talk about this in a bit), I'm more lenient about using English in my notes, and I've graduated to writing my notes in ink. Weird fact: when writing in English, I'll only use black ink, and ideally a nice smooth rolling ball-point that makes good solid lines. Yet in Japanese, I prefer blue ink, and like a scratchier pen. Go figure!
As for my skill level, I probably don't sound all that different when I speak, but I certainly feel different. My comprehension in particular is coming on in leaps and bounds, and I'm starting to use expressions that don't translate naturally into English, but are frequently used in Japanese. My biggest weakness is still grammar. I know more structures, and have started to pay attention to formal styles, but my execution is still lacking. I think the first 2 chapters of that shadowing book has a lot to answer for, because the Japanese that rolls off my tongue, isn't compatible with written style. I'm working on that.
Jem's Latest Hacks
You know I was always looking for the latest tricks and shortcuts to language learning. Well, let me share with you my biggest game-changers of 2015;
1) Neuroplasticity
You know how I kept saying I can't learn as easily as others seem to? I think I worked out why. I don't watch tv shows, I rarely read besides Japanese textbooks, I don't play videogames and there isn't much of a problem-solving aspect to my job. So I somehow lost my ability to fully utilise my brain. When I studied, I felt fully engaged, but wasn't really as focused as I needed to be, which is why I seemed to need twice as much effort to learn half as fast as other folk.
I did a bit of research and it seems that you can retrain your brain for learning, but it comes from engaging in different types of mental/learning tasks. Daily anki grinds aren't enough!! I've started playing video games which require me to learn new cognitive skills. I'm dancing again, because learning a new routine is a different mental process yet again, and I read that keeping physically active is important for brain function too. I taught myself to speed read, and developed an interest in history, so I'm speed reading history books (in English). Oh, and I started to take flaxseed and evening primrose oil as both are meant to be good for healthy brain function (as a vegetarian, my diet is a little deficient in some omega and other essential fatty acids).
The difference is astounding! It's not only in my studies, but my whole life has benefited from better alertness and memory.
2) Mental Alertness under Pressure
I noticed that I get a fogginess in my head sometimes. When this starts, I can't focus, recalling simple information is a chore and I lose my ability to communicate in Japanese. I coped by avoiding situations where I'd need to use Japanese. People I love and care about fell to the bottom of my priority list not because I don't want their company, but because of the language our friendship is based around. It had been a mystery for so long, that I could chat openly and freely in Japanese with people I knew well, but not to strangers and newer friends.
The tipping point came a few weeks ago when I introduced JP to a Japanese friend of a friend. I was anxious before we arrived. JP and I ban English on our way to these meetings, because it always takes us a few minutes to 'warm up' if switching suddenly from English. On this occasion, I couldn't speak even to him. Everything came out jumbled, and I couldn't recall words quickly enough. This made me more and more anxious until I told JP I wasn't going to speak Japanese. We met my friend, and to my horror, JP burst out in Japanese. My friend was impressed, especially when he learnt that JP picked up everything he knows just by listening and then experimenting with the language in conversations.
The two of them chatted for almost 2 hours, using English only when JP really needed a word. All I did was occasionally throw JP a translation when needed. Of course I was proud of JP, but I felt pretty dejected that all my recent improvements had come to nothing.
I HAD to find out what was causing the fogginess. It took a bit of searching, but I eventually found this;
(videos aren't showing up when I use the embedding code for some reason)
youtu.be/fRItG9G1rb4
This was it!! I was experiencing what this guy called a 'DIY lobotomy', because I was so anxious about having to speak Japanese. I'd tried the 'take a few deep breaths' thing before and didn't notice any difference. Yet I didn't know then, that it's not the depth that counts, but the regularity.
Youtube happily has a few breath pacers. I use this one;
youtu.be/AThxQf9x07s
I did the full 10 minutes for 3 days in a row, and now use it whenever I switch on skype. When I am out, I imagine the curve in my mind and use that to help pace my breath.
I also noticed that when I start to feel anxious, the physical feeling is similar to excitement. When I was a kid, I used to feel like that on my way to the stables for horse riding lessons. So I also tell myself that the feeling isn't fear, but excitement at having the opportunity to speak Japanese. I did this, and the breathing, on my way to Newcastle yesterday. Sure enough, I was able to speak as freely and confidently as I do when I'm alone with my video journal!
3) Review
My final language learning hack is simple and effective. At the end of any study or practice session, regardless of what I was using to study, I write a box entitled まとめ, in which I recall as much as I can about what I just learnt (without referring back at my notes). Then before a session, I start with a box called 復習, and try to remember things I've learnt recently . These can be single words, phrases, a corrected mistake, or the use of a new grammatical structure. Of course, I always check my 'facts' after I write these, as I do sometimes get it wrong.
When we take a class, our tutor will start and end each lesson with a review, but self-learners often forget the importance of this. Even my most structured study method had a 'notes' section at the end, but didn't force me to recall information from the top of my head like this.
If you haven't tried this, I urge you to give it a go. You might be pleasantly surprised by how quickly what you learn starts to appear in your Japanese output!
Well, bye for now. I wish you all the best in your Japanese studies, and hope that some of you find my hacks useful.
So yeah, I drifted away a bit while the forum is quiet, but I thought I'd swing by and see how everyone is getting on in their studies. I've been on my new upper-intermediate/advanced leg of my journey for over half a year now, so I thought I'd let you all know how it's been going for me.
Not much has changed. I'm still studying much as I was before (roughly outlined in; All work and no play make Jembru a dull girl). The most notable changes being that I've added a bit more review to my routine (I'll talk about this in a bit), I'm more lenient about using English in my notes, and I've graduated to writing my notes in ink. Weird fact: when writing in English, I'll only use black ink, and ideally a nice smooth rolling ball-point that makes good solid lines. Yet in Japanese, I prefer blue ink, and like a scratchier pen. Go figure!
As for my skill level, I probably don't sound all that different when I speak, but I certainly feel different. My comprehension in particular is coming on in leaps and bounds, and I'm starting to use expressions that don't translate naturally into English, but are frequently used in Japanese. My biggest weakness is still grammar. I know more structures, and have started to pay attention to formal styles, but my execution is still lacking. I think the first 2 chapters of that shadowing book has a lot to answer for, because the Japanese that rolls off my tongue, isn't compatible with written style. I'm working on that.
Jem's Latest Hacks
You know I was always looking for the latest tricks and shortcuts to language learning. Well, let me share with you my biggest game-changers of 2015;
1) Neuroplasticity
You know how I kept saying I can't learn as easily as others seem to? I think I worked out why. I don't watch tv shows, I rarely read besides Japanese textbooks, I don't play videogames and there isn't much of a problem-solving aspect to my job. So I somehow lost my ability to fully utilise my brain. When I studied, I felt fully engaged, but wasn't really as focused as I needed to be, which is why I seemed to need twice as much effort to learn half as fast as other folk.
I did a bit of research and it seems that you can retrain your brain for learning, but it comes from engaging in different types of mental/learning tasks. Daily anki grinds aren't enough!! I've started playing video games which require me to learn new cognitive skills. I'm dancing again, because learning a new routine is a different mental process yet again, and I read that keeping physically active is important for brain function too. I taught myself to speed read, and developed an interest in history, so I'm speed reading history books (in English). Oh, and I started to take flaxseed and evening primrose oil as both are meant to be good for healthy brain function (as a vegetarian, my diet is a little deficient in some omega and other essential fatty acids).
The difference is astounding! It's not only in my studies, but my whole life has benefited from better alertness and memory.
2) Mental Alertness under Pressure
I noticed that I get a fogginess in my head sometimes. When this starts, I can't focus, recalling simple information is a chore and I lose my ability to communicate in Japanese. I coped by avoiding situations where I'd need to use Japanese. People I love and care about fell to the bottom of my priority list not because I don't want their company, but because of the language our friendship is based around. It had been a mystery for so long, that I could chat openly and freely in Japanese with people I knew well, but not to strangers and newer friends.
The tipping point came a few weeks ago when I introduced JP to a Japanese friend of a friend. I was anxious before we arrived. JP and I ban English on our way to these meetings, because it always takes us a few minutes to 'warm up' if switching suddenly from English. On this occasion, I couldn't speak even to him. Everything came out jumbled, and I couldn't recall words quickly enough. This made me more and more anxious until I told JP I wasn't going to speak Japanese. We met my friend, and to my horror, JP burst out in Japanese. My friend was impressed, especially when he learnt that JP picked up everything he knows just by listening and then experimenting with the language in conversations.
The two of them chatted for almost 2 hours, using English only when JP really needed a word. All I did was occasionally throw JP a translation when needed. Of course I was proud of JP, but I felt pretty dejected that all my recent improvements had come to nothing.
I HAD to find out what was causing the fogginess. It took a bit of searching, but I eventually found this;
(videos aren't showing up when I use the embedding code for some reason)
youtu.be/fRItG9G1rb4
This was it!! I was experiencing what this guy called a 'DIY lobotomy', because I was so anxious about having to speak Japanese. I'd tried the 'take a few deep breaths' thing before and didn't notice any difference. Yet I didn't know then, that it's not the depth that counts, but the regularity.
Youtube happily has a few breath pacers. I use this one;
youtu.be/AThxQf9x07s
I did the full 10 minutes for 3 days in a row, and now use it whenever I switch on skype. When I am out, I imagine the curve in my mind and use that to help pace my breath.
I also noticed that when I start to feel anxious, the physical feeling is similar to excitement. When I was a kid, I used to feel like that on my way to the stables for horse riding lessons. So I also tell myself that the feeling isn't fear, but excitement at having the opportunity to speak Japanese. I did this, and the breathing, on my way to Newcastle yesterday. Sure enough, I was able to speak as freely and confidently as I do when I'm alone with my video journal!
3) Review
My final language learning hack is simple and effective. At the end of any study or practice session, regardless of what I was using to study, I write a box entitled まとめ, in which I recall as much as I can about what I just learnt (without referring back at my notes). Then before a session, I start with a box called 復習, and try to remember things I've learnt recently . These can be single words, phrases, a corrected mistake, or the use of a new grammatical structure. Of course, I always check my 'facts' after I write these, as I do sometimes get it wrong.
When we take a class, our tutor will start and end each lesson with a review, but self-learners often forget the importance of this. Even my most structured study method had a 'notes' section at the end, but didn't force me to recall information from the top of my head like this.
If you haven't tried this, I urge you to give it a go. You might be pleasantly surprised by how quickly what you learn starts to appear in your Japanese output!
Well, bye for now. I wish you all the best in your Japanese studies, and hope that some of you find my hacks useful.
At least I can always claim that it had a significant impact on my Japanese development!