How to tackle the Kanji while doing JapanesePod101 ?

[oneirokritikos]

Hello all,

This is my first post here; here is my problem.
I just signed up on the site, and will soon buy a premiium membership, i'm really impressed by the wealth of material available to the learner here !
I am a "false beginner" in Japanese : I studied it at university, then on my own, gave up, started again three times, and am now trying again ! each time the main problem is kanji, kanji, kanji...

I was planning on doing the Heisig method, i started it two years ago, and went to 250 frames, then gave up...sounds familiar, right? Now I'd like to really destroy my Kanji problem, but how to best do it ?

Should I first complete the Heisig method, then start the Japanesepod101 lessons? Should i lead both simultaneously? just the lessons whille learning the kanji by rote each lesson? another method?
Please advise me on how to best master the issue. (I find no difficulty at all in learning grammar, vocabulary, usage,etc...) only kanji really disheartens me this way. what are your experiences with learning kanji in Japanesepod101? I m also interested in the opinion of the creators of Japanesepod101

Thank you,

O.

[QuackingShoe]

I can see you doing it at the same time, but I might also drop whatever kanji learning method jpod offers in favor of just using Heisig and using jpod for it's various other functions. In my opinion, it doesn't really matter. Determine a set number of frames you want to go through every day (you could start off slower, but try to aim for 20-30 at some point so you can get through it at a decent pace, more if you've got the time), and then spend whatever other time you have chillin' with Jpod, watching movies, and reading manga with furigana (since you don't know the kanji). You might go so far as to make heisig your only 'study time' and let the rest be more like recreation.

Highly recommend kanji.koohii.com while going through the method. Makes everything a lot easier.

My opinion.

[genevere]

I've opted for concentrating on learning the kanji first via Heisig. It's such a great system. I've been learning kanji since earlier this year and have got to 1750+. I agree that http://kanji.koohii.com/ is a great resource - beats making lots of flashcards. Once I've finished learning the basic kanji, I'll increase my learning of vocab and grammar - I find these far more challenging.

[shamanana]

lol, I can feel your pain cause I was there... OK, so I didn't study it at the university, since we don't have japanese courses here, but every other "step" was the same. Even that first Heisig try reaching the 250... yup, that was the number I stopped at
And then I found out about kanji koohii and what's equally or even more important... I found "Anki"... that little freeware will push you every day until you finish that last kanji. http://ichi2.net/anki/download/index.html.
I am a bit "slow" and of course I got other things in life as well, so it took me about 6 months to do the first book. And I was doing like 10 new kanji per day. Yes, I am slow . But, the interesting thing is, the more you are nearing the end, the more kanji you are able to tackle every day. But be careful! That means more reviews later on.

Was it worth it? Absolutely! The frustration I was going through before when I had to write down the kanji, had no idea how to do it or what all those things meant...
So, I'd say... follow QuackingShoe's advice ... you got nothing to lose, but so much to gain. Just make sure you don't take any long breaks from reviewing... it's a pain...

[oneirokritikos]

Thanks for the replies so far !
So what do I do with the Kanji I encounter in the Jpod lessons? ignore them? integrate them with the Heisig kanji? Save them for later study once I finsih the Heisig method?

[QuackingShoe]

I'd make note of them without actively studying.

But either way. Just try something and change it if it doesn't work out. S'not a lifetime commitment.

[RebelDogg]

I agree with quackingshoe.

I'm still just beginning, but I am using the Heisig method right now. So far, I'm using the method to memorize the characters but I still take note of kanji as I find them. But I don't delve into the meanings/readings for the characters. Also, when I make my flashcards I draw the kanji on (some, not all) of them. That way I'm always seeing it when I do my vocabulary.

Also, before I ever play the audio, I try to translate the conversations in the PDF. I start with the kanji transcript and when I run across one I don't know I look down at the kana transcript. Then I go over the romaji just in case I fudged up anywhere (happens... ) I have found that some kanji just stick in my head easily and seeing them over and over you kinda learn them without trying. I figure it'll come in handy when I really get down and dirty with reading and writing them.

So, in short, I wouldn't ignore jpod's kanji.