How do I memorize vocabulary and get it to stick?

[JAEason989549]

Ok I am 14 (15 in November), and I have been in classes for almost 3 months. We use the Genki textbook. I can remember all the particles, grammar points, sentence structures, but I can't get the vocab to stick! I am just looking at words listed on a page. Tomorrow, I am going to try flashcards, and see how that goes. I can't get the Kanji to stick either... :/

The kanji is very hard to memorize without thinking in radicals. Wanikana has it right and it's kanji sticks, but those aren't the right Kanji I need to learn for class. The main thing is the vocab memorization...

Can anybody help me? Give me suggestions? I know there has to be a better idea, than what I am doing. Study ideas and stuff?

[Tracel]

Hi JAEason989549,

Genki is a good book to learn from, but it does have a lot of vocabulary. Making up flash cards is a great idea, especially with Kanji. Writing out the vocabulary onto cards gives you practice too. If you have a smart phone, then you may be able to get a Japanese flash card app or dictionary that allows you to make your own lists. I use a couple of apps for my i-phone that allow me to make "flash cards" with my own vocabulary.

The best way I have found to memorize vocabulary is to put it into context for myself. Make up meaningful sentences that help to connect the words with your own life. This can also help you memorize the grammar patterns for the lessons. Dream up two or three sentences for each word that you are having trouble with. This takes some time, but somehow connecting the vocabulary to your own life will make it more relevant for you. Some of the exercises in the Genki books get you to do this. If you don't do these for class, then maybe do them for yourself and get your teacher to check them for you. Try to have fun with it.

There is really no easy way to learn kanji, but if you keep at it, they do start to make sense. I also try to use the radicals to piece together and memorize each kanji, and this works for many of them. I recommend that you try to learn them in words as much as possible though, instead of a just single stand alone kanji.

Good luck.
Tracel

[community.japanese]

JAEason989549-san, Tracel-san,
kon'nichiwa

The best way I have found to memorize vocabulary is to put it into context for myself. Make up meaningful sentences that help to connect the words with your own life. This can also help you memorize the grammar patterns for the lessons.

Thank you very much for the great help, トラさん
It is, yes, difficult to memorise kanji and vocab. Instead of trying only to memorise each single kanji, it's always the
best if you remember kanji in (at least) word or phrase forms.
This goes also to hiragana and katakana. As to vocabulary, making some example sentences would be very helpful
just like Tracel-san wrote.

If and when you have any questions, please feel free to post and ask us!

Natsuko(奈津子),
JapanesePod101.com