Japanese language learning

6-19-26

It's never-ending --

    this language learning

Even when I finish Book 2,

    Book 3 is waiting

Even when I finish Mango's 30 hour audiobook,

    there's Pimsleur (Levels 1-5!) to pick up

Even when my DuoLingo score goes from 21 to 99,

    I'll still barely be intermediate

Get the hang of basic verb conjugation.

    then throw in the layer of informal speech

It can be discouraging 

    seeing how far there is to go.

But when I look back,

    I see how far I've come

And unlike doing dishes

    (which is also never-ending but shows no progress),

  at least I feel like I'm getting somewhere.

6-19-26

Some Japanese friends have asked

    how I'm learning the language

Well, it's a multi-layered approach

    that I've sketched out

    in 3 three-month phases pre-Japan

Japanese from Zero textbook and video series

    for grammar and a basic foundation

DuoLingo

    for vocabulary, sentence structure, basic kanji

Comprehensible input videos

    for listening skills and "real Japanese"

Read Japanese Kanji Today

    for an introduction into kanji

Tadoku books and online club

    for reading, enjoyment, and interaction

Japanese songs (kids songs and popular songs)

    for understanding and connection

Journaling and workbook exercises

    for increased output

Mango and Pimsleur audiobooks

    for listening and speaking

Shinobi app

    for reading comprehension

Prayer

    for consecrating a hobby

Weekly in-person interaction

    for connection and output and friendship