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
