Missing details, and missing chunks of story. Some parts I can understand fully either with little look ups or none at all, other parts I’m not understanding at all.
Tbh, I’m not entirely sure what my level is as taking most tests online put me at lower N3 level and the vocabulary tests say I should have between 2000-2500 vocabulary but I feel like my vocabulary is still lower than this and my grammar isn’t as high as N3. That’s part of the reason I’m thinking of going for the JLPT, why I’m doing the 日本語総まとめ books and why I’ve bought the Shin Kanzen Master N4 books, to test if I really do know N5 and N4 stuff so I can then check and work on N3 and know where I stand.
I do have books that are lv15-20 on Natively as well as learner reading materials that are supposedly for N4-N3 level that I can read comfortably without looking at the translations but obviously native material is going to be more difficult. Even reading Zoo book 1, I understood most of the first story except the end, I couldn’t understand any of that part. The second story I was able to understand mostly and the bits I was unsure of made sense in context when I really thought about them. The third story I understood very little of even with look ups. The fourth one I didn’t understand at all and the last one I’m again understanding large chunks off and getting the gist of it from that. Zoo book 1 is showing around Lv 30 on natively.
I know that feeling. My level is all over the place. Even within the same series there are volumes that I find easier and volumes that I find harder - but it’s supposedly all the same level.
I haven’t read Zoo, but I have read a few short stories by 乙一 and I do quite like them. Guess I’ll put it on my tbr list. Not like I don’t already have like 6 other books by him on there.
Zoo book 1 was my second time reading his stuff, there’s one of his stories in one of the graded readers I’ve read that I think is also included in Zoo book 2.
I’ve noticed some of the stories in Zoo are a little bit graphic for my taste but they are an interesting read so I’ve got others of his works to read as well
I’m hoping what I’m doing will help to fill in the gaps so I can then read at a more even level but yeah, we’ll see how it goes.
This last week has kind of bombed I’ve been playing Crisis Core remake and Forspoken so I’ve had some listening practice and I’ve done another lesson or two with my tutor. I rescheduled Sundays lesson as I was just not feeling up for it at all. I’ve not read much the last few days, some stuff in a textbook with my language exchange partner and redoing the parts of 日本語総まとめ N4 that I had got wrong before as well as a few bits of the vocabulary book. I’ve still managed to do small amounts here and there but no full on reading sessions and today I’m out all day so reading is unlikely.
My friend got me a kanji word search book as an early xmas gift because I’m going for the JLPT N4 in December and it looks pretty cool. It’s got grammar and idioms in it, there’s a lot of coverage and it might help a little with bringing back the fun aspects.
Changes to day to day plans:
I think I’m going to go back to reading Zoo book 1 during my breaks at work, then once I’ve finished that, I think I’m going to re-start A Whisker away and look up the words I don’t know but use it more as intensive reading sessions rather than extensive reading and see how I get on.
What I’ll do going forwards:
I’ll continue with 日本語総まとめ N4 set as I’m hoping to have that finished in the next week or two to start on the Grammar one so that once that’s finished I can work through the Kanzen Master N4 stuff if it’s arrived by then.
My intention going forward is to complete the Kanzen Master N4 set within 3 months then use the final month for reviewing before the JLPT hits in December. If that works for me then I’ll switch over to the Kanzen Master series and get the N3 ones for next year.
Shout out to being on Natively for over a year 🎂🎊:
Just realised that today I’ve been on the natively site for just over a year, think the forum it’s a little less than that. Being on here and interacting with the other members, seeing what people are reading/ watching, replying to comments, asking for advice or anything in between, has actually been a massive boost for my motivation and commitment and it’s helped me through some tough times. The members on here are friendly, inclusive and supportive in ways I’ve struggled to find before I came on here and it’s just helped me so much by being here.
What I’ve been up to the last week:
So, this last week I did not go back to reading Zoo book 1 on my breaks, I copped out and started back on Tsurukame for trying to review my Wanikani stuff again for more Kanji practice. I have however finished the vocabulary and Kanji 日本語総まとめ N4 book but didn’t continue on to the Grammar, Reading and Listening book as I switched straight onto Shin Kanzen Master (SKM) N4 Kanji book instead.
Plan for the next week or so:
For SKM someone suggested doing each book individually; Kanji>Vocabulary>Grammar>Reading>Listening.
So I started off with the Kanji book on Saturday and just hit the 5th section at lunchtime today. I’ll come back and do some more after some errands but hoping to have it finished in a week or two max (I’m off work the week after next so will have more time to focus on it then as well).
I also want to finished reading the last few pages of the final story in Zoo book 1 then I’m going to go back to the Read Real Japanese books or the vocabulary books I’ve got for using at work til I feel more confident with my reading again and I’ve managed to pull my vocabulary up a bit.
My hope going forward as things continue:
After that we’ll see how things go but I’m hoping that I’ll manage to complete all the SKM books before I need to go for the JLPT N4. I still can’t book it at the moment as it’s not yet showing available for me to book and I also need to figure out how to get there in time since it’s a little out of the way for me.
I’ll continue using my lessons and audiobooks as well as Forspoken for the moment for casual listening as well as the occasional film/anime, over and above any of the listening stuff from the textbooks.
For speaking, my vocabulary still lets me down quite a bit and it’s even more frustrating when I am struggling to remember a word that I know I should know. Mostly my tutor has been speaking (to help my listening) and asking similar questions each lesson (mostly about cooking, weather and basic what did you do recently?) but we’re trying something a little different from the next lesson and I want to let her know I’ve decided to go for N4 incase there’s anything from that which she can help me with.
I’m hoping overall that as time continues and I practice more and review/ use more of the grammar and vocabulary in real life situations (either by speaking, reading or listening) that this will help me get a better grasp on things to pull my foundations up enough to be able to build upon for the next step up while helping me to stop translating so I can start acquiring and internalising everything but I know it is a slow process for me. I’m still much further along now than I was this time last year, or even from where I was in January of this year when I hadn’t really picked up a book before that wasn’t geared towards language learners.
I’ll see how things go but knowing how I’ve been recently, there’s a chance this plan may change again within the next week or so
I too find it amazing how much simply tracking your reading helps your commitment, especially in a helpful community. We’re so happy to have you @CatDQ
This last week I’ve done more practice on Tsurukami (mostly for keeping myself busy on break if reading is too much) I’ve completed up to section 12 of Shin Kanzen Master N4 Kanji book (yesterday I was feeling under the weather so didn’t finish it like I intended, we’ll see how today goes) and I also finally finished Zoo book 1. I also reshuffled my book shelf but then realised that I still have about 16 books on the way so they might not fit how I’ve shuffled things, think I need a larger book shelf or I need to move stuff through to the other room .
The Read Real Japanese books come with native speed audio so that will also give me listening practice though I’m doing pretty well on that front atm listening to Forspoken and the occasional audio book. i can pick out most words and even when my tutor speaks I’m doing good writing down the words I’m unsure of before she send me a message with the kanji, furigana and meaning.
How I feel I’m getting on:
Finishing Zoo book 1, again I found portions I could understand without any look ups, others I needed to look up words or look up full phrases but I got the gist of what was going on.
I’m starting to amass a fair amount of physical books including a few non fiction books, some of which I haven’t asked to be added to the site because it’s like time hacks, really obscure things that I’ve been sent, or even books too old to find on Amazon. Think my favorite so far though is actually my Monster Hunter book that’s like a fictional field guide. I just love the drawings in it
Update 15/08/2023: this weeks update is a little all over the place
What I’ve been up to:
I’ve completed SKM kanji book and I’m about 8 sections into the vocabulary book. I also started on Breaking into Japanese Literature but tbh, I don’t like it. I found the Read Real Japanese books to be better or maybe just easier in general to understand and figure out. I don’t like the set up in Breaking into Japanese Literature and I’m not sure about the stories. One of them has some triggering topics and I’m not too sure I want to read that.
I didn’t quite stick with the plan for this week and feel a lot of it was wasted due to ill health or giving away too much of my time (sounds selfish but I usually spend a lot of time doing things for others even when I’m supposed to be on holiday so I feel I’m allowed to take time for me but I didn’t). I ended up doing less studying than intended and my tutor had to cancel a few of my lessons due to ill health and moving back to Japan. She says she’ll let me know once she’s back online for lessons again so I’m hoping she settles in well in her new home and takes some time for to rest and recuperate.
Plan for the week:
Plan for today (or later, since it’s just after midnight) is to do more of the vocabulary sections in SKM and to find something decent to read that holds my attention again like the first few stories in Zoo book 1.
Plan for the rest of the week is to continue working through SKM vocabulary book and try to read a bit as well.
Random thoughts:
I’ve found that I don’t like to read intensively unless it’s textbook or learner materials making it more difficult for me to find stuff to read at times. I’m also thinking that maybe JLPT this year wasn’t a great idea since my motivation is already slipping and I’m not too sure I’m doing ok with it. That might change depending on how I feel after the vocabulary book. I’ve also not yet managed to book my test. I’ll need to sort that at the end of the month.
The last week has had a lot of ups and downs and I’ve been super busy again so I’ve struggled to do much in the way of reading or studying.
I got a few sections of SKM N4 vocabulary book in this morning and about 90 pages of the Ocarina of Time manga in on Monday as well as some listening while driving (I have a few Japanese music playlists). I also found out that the JLPT in my area is now closed, I didn’t know if would only be available to book for a few days, not even a week. I don’t get paid til Friday so I’ll just need to keep the money aside for next year and see if I go for N3 at that time if I continue working through the textbooks and the books I’m reading.
My tutor has been offline for the last few weeks and I think that might continue for some time before she settles in so I’m going to have to look at an alternative tutor in the meantime. Preply allows you to transfer units to a diffuser tutor and there are a few that cost the same so I’ll get all my outstanding lessons. I just need to pick the right one.
Plan for this week:
I’ll continue to work through the Ocarina of Time manga as well as SKM N4 text books going forwards. I’ll also put aside the money for the JLPT for next year. And I’m hoping my physical copy of 本好き arrives before end of next week, it’s due to arrive on 31st August even though I ordered it a few weeks ago. That way I can read along with the book club. I know it’ll be hard for me, I’ve been trying to listen to it on audible (I’ve got the first 3 books) but most of it is over my head.
Going forwards/ plan for the remainder of the year:
I want to continue working through the SKM text books but if I finish them, I’ll head back to MNN blue set. I think working through my manga might be a better idea that trying to read harder stuff on my own just now though I may add Zoo book 2 in as I want to finish reading that set before going back to キノの旅 book 1 and seeing how far I can go. I think キノの旅 will be next year again but this time, I’m hoping to read through all 23 books as one set. I’ll still read other stuff as well but ideally I’d like to read them all instead of stopping and starting like I did after I read the first one.
I want to put more time back into my studies but it’s getting more difficult. I’m hoping that I can work around that though and find a way that lets me do what I need for work as well as having the time to continue my Japanese since it is one of the things I really enjoy.
The furigana version or the one without? Especially in the first few books she talks a lot about the actual process of making certain things. She uses words that even natives probably don’t know because they are kinda specialised, but they are always followed by her explaining (to her family or friends) about it. So, some of your “not understanding” might also have come from that.
Ocarina of time is one of my favourite games. The manga deviates from the game in a lot of ways but some of them I think really show the characters for who they are so I’m enjoying it so far. I also quite like the art style.
This makes me want to pick up my copy of the Ocarina of Time manga again. I read the first few pages a while ago and got distracted reading other things. It’s so funny to me seeing Link talk in the manga when in the games he’s always just like
My studying recently has been tapering off and falling behind. I’ve done very little reading since last week and very little studying. Though I know what’s caused it, I’m still trying to claw my way back and today isn’t going to be much different.
My recent successes though, I found a new tutor for the interim since my previous tutor is still not available and hasn’t said when she’ll be back (though I’m considering sticking with both by just adding a second subscription on so I’ll have 2 different tutors each week). This new tutor is having me interact more but I’m kinda back at square one with not knowing what to say or how to say it. She is nice, very good at explaining in English if I don’t understand in Japanese and she’s also using mostly Japanese in the lessons. She also put up with me having a bit of a complete lack of intelligence on my first lesson where I just kinda froze and stared blankly til she wrote it down then realized I did know what she’d ask, I just hadn’t recognized it
We’re doing free conversation to try to help build up my confidence and use of vocabulary as well as trying to figure out what I know and don’t know. So far it’s a little hit and miss but I’m trying to go back to Japanese if I revert to English.
How I’m feeling:
Tbh, I feel like I’m stuck, I’m walking backwards and I’m forgetting a lot of what I feel I should know. The grammar I have learned seems to be fading away and I’m losing motivation again. I know part of that is personal stuff, not getting enough time to myself and feeling stressed at work, as well as the fact I’m still kinda bummed about missing out on registering for the JLPT but that at least I can fix by putting the money aside for next year and practicing til I feel I’m in a better place.
If I continue with SKM, I could still have them finished by December/ January and then switch back to MNN like I originally planned.
Plan going forwards:
My intent is to continue with SKM for the moment, continuing to read オカリナの時 and read 本好き along with the book club as best I can. I’ve already ordered the 2nd and 3rd books (since I’ve also got them in audiobook format) and I’ll see about getting the rest as time goes on.
I’m hoping the reading along with the book club as well as starting conversation lessons again should help to pick things up again but we’ll see how it goes.
Don’t beat yourself up too bad. Everyone’s got those periods, where you get like you’ve gotten nowhere, and you’re tired, and you’re wondering how you could’ve studied for so long only to know no Japanese… I’ve been there.
Best advice I can offer is to keep just doing a minimum until the excitement and motivation comes back to you. Even if the minimum is just maintenance, review-only no new stuff kind of thing. Sometimes your brain just needs time to chew on things, so taking a small step back and letting it do it’s thing can be beneficial in the long run.
I’m hoping you have a good time with the 本好き bookclub, and that it can be a fun bit of reading for you to look forward to every week! Remember that everyone there is always ready to help, and may in fact have the same questions you do! So don’t feel shy or nervous; we’re all here to learn.
Not like I don’t already have like 6 other books by him on there. 
I’ve been playing Crisis Core remake and Forspoken so I’ve had some listening practice and I’ve done another lesson or two with my tutor. I rescheduled Sundays lesson as I was just not feeling up for it at all. I’ve not read much the last few days, some stuff in a textbook with my language exchange partner and redoing the parts of 日本語総まとめ N4 that I had got wrong before as well as a few bits of the vocabulary book. I’ve still managed to do small amounts here and there but no full on reading sessions and today I’m out all day so reading is unlikely.
How time flies!
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Especially in the first few books she talks a lot about the actual process of making certain things. She uses words that even natives probably don’t know because they are kinda specialised, but they are always followed by her explaining (to her family or friends) about it. So, some of your “not understanding” might also have come from that. 
Everyone’s got those periods, where you get like you’ve gotten nowhere, and you’re tired, and you’re wondering how you could’ve studied for so long only to know no Japanese… I’ve been there.