JapanNewbie

12 Responses to “Remembering the Kanji and Running with Swords”

1. 

   Michael
   

   Mar 28th, 2007
   

   at 16:01
   

   In case anyone’s interested in checking out RTK, Heisig offer’s a sample of the first book, going through maybe 200 characters: http://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/miscPublications/pdf/RK4/RK4-00.pdf
   ~~~
   There’s also a sample of Remembering the Kana: http://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/ miscPublications/pdf/Remembering_the_Kana/RK-Hiragana_sample.pdf

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2. 

   Michael
   

   Mar 28th, 2007
   

   at 16:02
   

   Oops… messed up that second link. Here it is again: http://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/miscPublications/pdf/Remembering_the_Kana/RK-Hiragana_sample.pdf

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3. 

   Grace
   

   Mar 28th, 2007
   

   at 22:55
   

   I dunno if I go for the whole “making stories to go with kanji” thing. I figure it makes sense that if you use it, you’ll remember it, so just make more opportunities for yourself to write kanji – like write out your sentences for IJ =P instead of typing them. I’ve been pained for years by the fact that I constantly learn, forget, learn, forget with kanji. Right now I’m simply trying to be more conscious of kanji when I read it – instead of just glancing at it long enough to comprehend the meaning (which isn’t very long), focusing on the different sections and writing it in my head. (^_^);

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4. 

   Michael
   

   Mar 29th, 2007
   

   at 02:11
   

   The story thing never connected with me either, but I know some people find it immensely helpful. Memory maven Harry Lorayne used to recommend the technique in his books and lectures. For me, what helps is hands-on writing practice. Whenever I need to make a note to myself, I write it in Japanese. Or if I need to write a short email, I’ll often write it out by hand first just for the practice.

   Thing is, though, realistically, the only time I ever really need to write Japanese is when sending New Years cards. And my wife does many of those anyway, since her handwriting is so much nicer than mine. ^_^

   My reading memory for kanji was always fairly good, so I don’t think the writing improves on that much, except that it has made me better at recognizing kanji when it’s in a less common font, poorly written, in calligraphic script, missing part of the character, upside down, or otherwise different from what I’m accustomed to reading.

   Actually, related to that is a project I’m working on compiling examples of kanji written many different ways. I’m planning to put it together into a kind of flashcard program for people who want to do some really hardcore kanji drills. Things are somewhat stalled while I’m over here in the US, but I’ll pick up on it again when we get back to Japan. My wife hates the project, though, since I’ll sometimes study random trash that I find lying on the ground. And if it’s a handwritten note or a package with an interesting typeface, I’ll carefully photograph it to add to my kanji collection. But hey, at least I carry antibacterial lotion with me to clean my hands afterward. :P

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5. 

   Heather Meadows
   

   Mar 29th, 2007
   

   at 09:19
   

   Michael, your project sounds totally cool! Have you thought about blogging it? Maybe one hardcore kanji example per post? The blog could serve as advertising for the flash card program. You could even make actual flash cards, which you could sell through an online store like Yahoo! or eBay.

   Regardless, if you do make a program, you should definitely see if you can make it work on handheld gaming systems, because that would be really convenient for your likely target demographic ;)

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6. 

   harvey
   

   Mar 29th, 2007
   

   at 11:06
   

   That project does sound awesome!

   To piggy back Heathers idea, you should make it for PalmOS as well!

   I know these things require time and resources… So maybe it’s not possible… but doesn’t hurt to dream huh?

   Btw… Who -are- you Michael? I’m really curious!

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7. 

   Tadashi
   

   Apr 1st, 2007
   

   at 09:56
   

   Learning Kanji with the radicals is better anyway. That way you have not to memorize each stroke, but only what radicals you need and in which order.

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8. 

   harvey
   

   Apr 1st, 2007
   

   at 10:38
   

   Hey but Tadashi, the Remembering the Kanji method teaches you all the radicals, and then to build stories based on those radicals and their “meaning”. So basically it is the same as your suggestion.

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9. 

   Tadashi
   

   Apr 1st, 2007
   

   at 18:03
   

   @harvey
   Oh, I actually wanted to support you. Sorry if it looked like I wanted to suggest another learning method ._.

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10. 

    harvey
    

    Apr 2nd, 2007
    

    at 00:19
    

    Tadashi: Got it Tadashi! No problem :-) I guess I read wrong!

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11. 

    Michael
    

    Apr 4th, 2007
    

    at 01:19
    

    I hadn’t thought about blogging it, but that’s a great idea. I’m not sure how many kanji nuts are out there, but maybe even some of the less insane people could benefit from it too. ^_^

    As for the flashcard program, I’m planning to do it in Flash Lite, so it should be suitable for a number of small devices.

    ———

    Who am I? No one particularly well-known, though some may remember me from my fabulous performance in The Pelican Brief (man in blue shirt going down an escalator). I don’t have a blog, except for a small stub that I set up for a friend who’s studying English, but I’m an active poster on a few blogs, most written by Japanese people. I work in a number of areas, pretty much whatever hobby of mine turns out to be profitable this week, so sometimes that will be programming, other times it might be photography or translation or something else. I’m married to a wonderful woman from Japan, and a few years ago I became a Japanese citizen, which made for the unusual situation of having to apply for a work visa in my native USA when we came here last year. Frankly, I’m surprised they granted it. Well, while it’s interesting being an alien in America, I’m looking forward to being back in Japan after my wife finishes up a commitment here. In Japan I’m involved in a number of activities: primaily working with my father-in-law in his business, but also helping to found an unusual English school (no, not to teach unusual English ^_^), trying to support various community projects, and a few handfuls of other things.

    Anyway, that’s me in a nutshell.

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12. 

    w00t
    

    Jan 23rd, 2008
    

    at 23:20
    

    http://scipp.ucsc.edu/~iwh/Remembering%20the%20kanji/

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