I want to improve my skill in Kanji

[jkid]

みなさん、
I am looking to improve my skill in Kanji from dreadful to a word with a meaning slightly more positive.

I learn Kanji best remembering stories. If people could recommend a good book to get me practicing that would be fantastic.

On a side note how essential is correct stroke order?

[Bueller_007]

みなさん、
I am looking to improve my skill in Kanji from dreadful to a word with a meaning slightly more positive.

I learn Kanji best remembering stories. If people could recommend a good book to get me practicing that would be fantastic.

On a side note how essential is correct stroke order?

Don't bother learning to write kanji. It's a huge waste of time for almost all foreigners. Just learn to read them. That said, if you actually do want to write kanji, then stroke order is critical. It's also necessary if you want to use a Japanese kanji dictionary.

If you like remembering "stories" for kanji, then Heisig is probably the best choice for you, even though it makes me somewhat sick to my stomach to recommend it.

[jkid]

OK then, I don't want to use a method that most would consider cumbersome or otherwise not like to recommend. What would you then suggest my approach be?

Thanks.

[Bueller_007]

OK then, I don't want to use a method that most would consider cumbersome or otherwise not like to recommend. What would you then suggest my approach be?

Thanks.

It's not cumbersome, it's just, IMO, a stupid way to remember kanji.

If you search the forum for Heisig, you'll find quite a few posts about him/it.

[jkid]

Buellerさん、
What I meant by my previous post is what method do you use to remember Kanji. My current method clearly does not work to well as my skills in this area are very weak. What is your recommended approach to Kanji learning?

Thanks.

[Belton]

I wouldn't completely rule out learning to write kanji.
I think that the physical action of writing helps you remember and learn.
Also it can be satisfying in and of itself.
And it can be a useful skill so you are not stuck forever using romaji or kana to make handwritten notes.

That said if you are using a computer, reading (or recognising maybe) is the more immediate and useful skill.

I handwrite my classwork, usually needing two drafts to make it neat and get the unknown kanji shapes correct. I use furigana so I can read back what I've written. Eventually I don't need it and I look up kanji less often. Because it takes more effort, is active rather than passive and I look harder at the kanji, I think I remember more than when typing on a computer screen.

The type of stories that help me is using the kanji in example sentences, rather than making something up to remember the shape. Learning in the context of a sentence rather than in isolation. Learning a kanji as part of a compound rather than a single kanji. Understanding the actual components and derivation (rather than making up my own)

The more links you make in your brain the better.

I also find I seem to naturally learn to read a kanji by meaning then kunyomi then onyomi. Rarely all at once.

Learning how components and radicals work is useful. Helping you guess at partially remembered kanji. And also allowing you to use printed dictionaries.

If your listening skills are good, reading a kanji transcript along to an audio recording is a good excercise. Something like Miki-san's blog except slower maybe.

Use flash cards. Read things. Write things. Check your writing! Essentially repetition is the way to learn. If you can integrate it with your other Japanese studies so much the better.

I like Basic Kanji Book Vol1 and 2 by Chieko Kano et alia, Bonjinsha
http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Kanji-Book- ... 4893580914
(dollar price on Amazon looks high to me, it's only 2400 yen)
It's a fairly traditional approach that eases you into reading and writing kanji. Grouping kanji by topic or function at around 10 kanji per lesson. And I think it would be suitable for someone with a beginners knowledge of Japanese in terms of vocabulary and grammar.

[Bueller_007]

I also find I seem to naturally learn to read a kanji by meaning then kunyomi then onyomi. Rarely all at once.

Me too.

What is your recommended approach to Kanji learning?

Flash cards. Basically, just remember the meaning from the cards. You'll learn the readings as you see them used in actual words in your Japanese textbooks, etc. Worked for me, but to each their own. Many people like Heisig.

[jkid]

Thanks guys. I ordered Vol. 1 of the series so I will see how it works out.

[mualexander]

Thanks for the recommendation of the Kanji workbook.

I was wondering if anyone knew if there was a Nintendo DS game out there for studying Kanji. My wife and I have been playing Brain Age and Big Brain Academy, and it seems like such a good platform for practicing reading and writing (and speaking) Japanese.

Thanks again,
-marshall

[Derek]

Thanks for the recommendation of the Kanji workbook.

I was wondering if anyone knew if there was a Nintendo DS game out there for studying Kanji. My wife and I have been playing Brain Age and Big Brain Academy, and it seems like such a good platform for practicing reading and writing (and speaking) Japanese.

Thanks again,
-marshall

Yup, there's about 100 of 'em.

Here's a few titles from the importer that I use:

http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NTR-P-AK9J.html
http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NTR-P-AMZJ.html
http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NTR-P-AKJJ.html
http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NTR-P-AKNJ.html
http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NTR-P-A4NJ.html

Here's a couple of Japanese Dictionaries:
http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NTR-P-ARJJ.html
http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NTR-P-ADJJ.html

And while this isn't exactly what you asked for, here are a few games designed to teach Japanese people English:
http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NTR-P-AE8J.html
http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NTR-P-ANGJ.html
http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NTR-P-AMEJ.html
http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NTR-P-AE9J.html
http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NTR-P-AUAJ.html


Now, I can't really vouch for any of these titles, as I have never used any of them before. If you do buy one be sure to post a review here so we can all steer clear of it, or go out and get it immediately.

[mualexander]

Hey Derek,

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll start with the ones that you already use and I'll post my own success with them..

Take care,
-marshall

[Derek]

Thanks for the recommendations!

No problem.

I'll start with the ones that you already use and I'll post my own success with them..

Oops, I may have worded my statement improperly.

When I wrote:

Here's a few titles from the importer that I use

I didn't mean to imply that I use these titles, I meant that they were from the import shop that I use. I guess that I should've said, "Here are some titles I found from MY IMPORT SHOP. "

Again, I haven't used any of these titles and I am actually very curious to read your feedback on some of them. You can be our guinea pig.

[mualexander]

Hah no problem, I misread your response -- I guess I was too anxious to get to the titles themselves..

Anyways, I'm happy to be the guinea pig. Hopefully my reviews turn out to be useful even though they will be coming from someone at the far low end of the Kanji skill spectrum.

[Derek]

Anyways, I'm happy to be the guinea pig. Hopefully my reviews turn out to be useful even though they will be coming from someone at the far low end of the Kanji skill spectrum.

That's good to hear. I am looking forward to reading your opinions on them. Oh, and don't worry about your kanji level. I only know about 20, so I could really use an effective, fun way to learn. I'm always playing DS (I need help... ) so it should be a perfect fit.

Of course, I have a few other things to worry about learning first. Things like vocabulary, grammar, verb conjugation, wrapping my little noggin around the -て form, politeness levels...

If you'll excuse me, I think I need a beer.

P.S. I always wanted a guinea pig