Learning japanese vocabulary?

Here are my tips. Maybe it could be useful for you.

Introduction.

I think that learning vocabulary is a big work, for every language. For the japanese language, you've to learn not only how to pronounce it, but also, you've to learn the writing.

Each kanji has several pronounciations and some kanji have special prononciation(s). You may know this already.

There is no easy way to remember vocabulary. As for me, I remember words I've been learning in texts I've studied quite well. If I see this word again, I'll remember the meaning of this word.

Anyway, to remember pronounciation and writing, one method works for me. What is my secret? I've no secret actually, just a method.

It takes a lot of time for me, but you can do with less words.

This is a "non-smart" method I think, but as it works for me, I'll tell you.


THE METHOD (if I can call it like that).

I'm learning twice a day, the morning before breakfast and the evening after eating. (that's random... you can choose another interval during the day [or the night]).

I'm learning 40 new words a day.

The morning, I review the words I learned the day(s) before, then I learn 20 new words.

The evening, I learn 20 new words.

HOW?
For the new words, I write it on a paper (yes, use your fingers!), search example in my dictionary for each word in order to understand the meaning (as I'm not a native english, it helps).
I first learn 10 words. Then, I hide kanji and kana, and try to write on the paper the word in japanese (from the 10th word to the 1rst one, then from the first to the 10th).
Then, I learn 10 other words and I do the same (except that I write again the 10 words I've learned before and then do it again from number 1 to number 20).

So, let's try it with Aniki (random name) who is starting japanese and want to learn to take the JLPT 4.

He'll learn 20 words the morning (see this page for vocabulary list).

Aniki will start with writing 'ああ' on his paper, then '会う', etc... until '朝'. Then, what? Yes, he'll hide meaning and kana (except for words who are only in kana (sic!) and he'll start to find and write words on the paper starting from '朝' until 'ああ'. In the same time he'll write '朝', he'll pronounce it outloud 'ASA' to be sure to write it well and to remember the pronounciation at the same time. It's very important!
I've read somewhere that our chin can remember words, I don't know if it's true or not, but anyway, try to pronounce words in the same time you're writing it, you're learning a language... .

Once Aniki will be back to '朝' (yes, you remember? from number 10 to number 1 and from number 1 to number 10), he'll start learning the next 10 words (here, from '朝御飯' to 'あちら').

When he'll reach 'あちら', he'll write again all of the words from 'あちら' to 'ああ' and from 'ああ' to 'あちら' (from number 20 to number 1 and from number 1 to number 20).

That's the end of the first morning (no review for now ).

The evening, after eating well, instead of watching the TV, Aniki will learn 20 new words with the same method!

It's the end, it was a hard day for Aniki, but the day after will be harder, he'll have to learn those words and review the words learned today!

Let's go to the next topic, REVIEW.


ABOUT REVIEWING.

You may think that if I review each and everyday all the words I've been learning, I may need more than a day to review it all. You guess right. ( )... But I don't do that.

Let's make an example.

Let's say that Aniki (yes, again!) will start learning from tomorrow (2006/07/27 -> thursday).

So, as you know, he will learn 40 words on thursday (you don't know? read the previous section ^^).

Then, on friday, after (or before) his breakfast, he'll review the learned words.
Those words will have to be reviewed each and every day during the next 4 days. That way, it'll help you to memorize it. (You can write something on your paper to remember the number of times you review your words).

Well, so, on this friday, Aniki will review 40 words and learn 20 more words. He'll also learn 20 new words the evening.

On Saturday, he'll review 80 words and learn 40 more words.

On Sunday, he'll review 120 words and learn 40 words.

On Monday, he'll review 160 words and learn 40 words.

On Tuesday, he'll review 200 words and.... NO!!!... Are you following me? He'll review 160 words 'only'. And he'll 40 words.
What about the first 40 words??? He'll leave it until Thursday. On Thursday and Friday, he'll review the first 40 words, but in another way. He'll hide the english meaning and he'll try to find it (as well as pronounciation).

On Friday and Saturday, he'll review words 41 to 80 with the same method, etc...

Then, for the first 40 words (number 1 to 40), he'll write it again on paper (same method as the beginning). He'll write it on Saturday and Sunday. Then, he'll leave those words alone until the next month. The next month, he'll review it again, once. Then, every two months.

Depending on the number of words you have to learn, once you'll have learned all of it, you can set a period of learning (every two months or so...).

Do you understand my method?


I CAN'T DO THAT, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME!

Ok... You can adapt this method following your free time.

For example, instead of 40 words a day, you can learn only 20 words a day (or less...).


IS IT EFFECTIVE?

I'd say 'yes, it is!'.
Anyway, It'll depend of your memory. I'm learning the vocabulary for JLPT 1 since october 2006 and sure, I've already forgotten a lot of words. BUT, you won't lose your time. By doing that amount of work, you'll remember how to read a lot of kanji, you'll improve your writing skills, you'll improve your 'global' memory. Plus, when you'll see that word again in a text, you'll remember it instantly .


Please feel free to ask anything about that method