Q1 Study Progress: What Actually Happened

January began with good intentions and an old mistake. I pulled out my Japanese textbooks and told myself I would finally be consistent. Within minutes, I remembered why I had quit before. Grammar study felt tedious and like.

Repeating the same study habits while hoping for a different outcome felt absurd. So I stopped trying to “push through” and asked a better question: What if the problem wasn’t my discipline, but my approach?

What followed looked like procrastination—reading about learning methods instead of studying—but it wasn’t. I needed to rethink how Japanese fit into my life.

Three months later, I wasn’t grinding textbooks. I was doing ondoku, reading a novel, talking more with coworkers, and tracking progress in a way that actually worked for me.

This is what easing back into Japanese really looked like.

📅 January: What didn’t work (and why flexibility is important)

The textbooks: I tried getting back into the JLPT resources I had. Opened them daily for maybe a week. They felt empty. Just going through the review motions with no real engagement or purpose.

The reading I attempted: Light novels, articles, graded readers. All felt like homework. I’d open them, read a few lines, feel nothing, and close them.

What I learned: I tried to return to studying using my old system with timers, schedules, and clear goals, but it didn’t work. After so long in maintenance mode, that version of me no longer fit. I had to rethink my approach before I could study seriously again.

✍️ Why writing the series mattered

Around mid-January, I began researching and writing the Learning Languages as an Adult series, nine posts on maintenance mode, slow progress, realistic timelines, what counts as practice, isolation, speaking struggles, unexpected advantages, and the long game.

The series became my own re-entry process, written in public. The research helped me trust small efforts. Writing about maintenance mode gave me permission to be where I was. Naming the gap between competence and performance stopped me from feeling broken about understanding Japanese but struggling to speak. Explaining why speaking feels hard normalized the awkwardness at work. I realized I needed to understand the why before the how would stick.

If you haven’t checked it out, here’s the first of nine articles:

💬 The conversation shift (unexpected win)

Somewhere in late January or early February, I made a small decision: talk more with my colleagues and be funny.

I asked about weekends, family, and kids. I commiserated over difficult students and laughed at the random absurdities of school life. I even went to after-work gatherings. Me, the person who usually bolts at 5pm. I put in the effort that makes you feel like you belong.

It didn’t feel like studying, but it was real language use, and it made everything else feel less like a chore. It also helped with social anxiety.

Small win: The principal scolded a colleague and said to stop the private talk during work hours.😭 The twist? They got into the habit of stopping by my workspace to talk since they found I could actually be chatty. I was embarrassed, terrified, and am still calling it a win.

🔄 February–March: Finding rhythm (not perfection)

I used to track every study session by the minute. This time, I only tracked completion. Not to build a streak, but just to know when something had gone too long without my attention. This was more like a nudge rather than a record to protect. Did I do the thing or not? Yes? Good. No? That’s alright, we’ll find time soon.

To execute this, I set up my Google Sheets tracker again and had it instantly open whenever I clicked on my browser at work and at home. That reminder made a difference. Every time I opened my computer, it was there. Japanese study became one row among many, which somehow made it less intimidating.

By March, I saw the problem wasn’t my study routine but life maintenance. I needed mindfulness, movement, and study working together, not competing. I used to treat it as a choice: Japanese or everything else, and that all-or-nothing thinking cost me a lot of sleep.

Now, not every box gets checked. But Japanese isn’t competing with my life anymore. It’s part of the same system.

📚 What actually stuck: Ondoku

The centerpiece of Q1 was a 30-day ondoku challenge I wrote about in detail.

TLDR: I bought a book designed for elderly Japanese readers worried about memory decline and committed to reading one passage aloud twice a day.

It took closer to seven weeks, not thirty days. And somewhere in that same experiment:

Small win: I sang well and loud enough at the school graduation concert that the principal complimented me afterward and joked that we should organize a karaoke event.

Then we held a farewell party for the departing teachers.

Small win: I gave a three-minute speech in Japanese in front of over seventy people. This kind of thing would have had me on the verge of a panic attack. I was still a little nervous. But I got through it, and I was damn proud of myself.

Maybe all of that was unrelated. Maybe not. But there’s something about deliberate, intentional speaking practice that works differently than just using the language to get through the day.

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📖 And then: picking up a book and having an enlightening conversation from it

The short version: I drastically reduced my internet time and reached for books instead. Eventually I picked up コンビニ兄弟, a novel that had been sitting on my digital shelf for years. There was a lot of kanji I’d forgotten, more than I expected. But removing the distractions made me stick with it, and the story was interesting enough to keep me turning pages.

Small win: I’ve reframed reading it as a diagnostic rather than a goal. Not “finish this and understand everything,” but “see where you are and let the rest come back with time.”

A colleague complimented me for reading, and I almost launched into a defense: all the words I had to look up, how slow each page was, how exhausted I felt, how I couldn’t possibly pass the exam. I even showed them my N1 textbook, which I like to keep at my desk.

They looked at it and said, “But what happens if you pass? You’re not changing jobs. You’re already doing the work. Your classes are good, the kids like you, and you’ve taken on more responsibility. You’re learning what you need through the job itself. That matters more than a certificate.”

That reframed how I think about learning Japanese. Some things are necessary, some are optional, and some just aren’t a priority. Knowing the difference is progress.

💡 What I learned about re-entry

1. You can’t force motivation. The reframe has to come before the action.

2. Social connection is study. Talking with colleagues gave me more real language use than any textbook session did.

3. Systems beat willpower. A tracker you actually see beats trying to remember to study.

4. Small and sustainable beats ambitious and abandoned. Every time.

5. The exam isn’t always the goal. Ask yourself what passing actually does for your life right now. Sometimes the work itself is the proof.

6. Know the difference between what you need, what you want, and what would just be nice. That distinction is worth more than a study streak.

7. You’re probably doing better than you think.

🔜 Q2 and beyond

I’m moving out of maintenance mode. I’ve found practices that fit real life, a low‑friction tracking system, and less guilt about modest progress. I understand better how I actually learn.

Q2 looks different. I’ve switched to a tough new school1 where I barely know anyone, and it feels like an opportunity: new students, new colleagues, and lots of real language use.

My goal for Q2 isn’t streaks or hours. It’s connecting with students, being encouraging but firm, making people laugh, getting to know my colleagues, and reading because I want to. That’s what Japanese has always been for me: living in it. Q1 was about remembering that. Q2 is about doing it sustainably. If I stumble, I’ll pick myself back up and continue.

If you enjoyed this, a restack or share helps it reach someone who might need it today. And if you’d like to support this newsletter, you can always treat me to a rice cracker over at Buy Me a Coffee. It helps more than you know. 💛

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Article Cover Photo
British Museum. (1776). Seirō bijin awase sugata kagami (青楼美人合姿鏡): A mirror of beautiful women of the green houses compared (Vol. 2 of 3; illustrated book; colour woodblock print), by Kitao Shigemasa & Katsukawa Shunshō; published by Tsutaya Jūzaburō & Yamazaki Kinbei. Edo (Tokyo), Japan. British Museum, Asia Department. Museum no. 1979,0305,0.124.2.

It’s presentation prep day.1.

After our class greeting, I watch my fifth-graders automatically break into pairs, speeches in hand. One student recites her lines while her partner reads along, correcting her pronunciation before I’ve even reached their desks. Across the room, an early finisher is coaching a struggling classmate through a tricky sentence. Someone comes over to me: “Can you check my communication?” In our classroom, that means delivery and body language, not just words.

When I had time to observe everyone, I stood there watching and thought: When did this become automatic?

And then: Why I am I not like this with my Japanese?

What I used to think English teaching was

When I started teaching in Japan, my mentor told me: “English classes have to be fun and engaging.” So I made fun games, thought of engaging activities, and executed high-energy lessons.

Most kids loved it. But there was always one or two who didn’t. Not because the lesson was boring, but because they didn’t have the skills to access it. Some students didn’t know enough English to just jump in and felt lost. The “fun” didn’t help them learn. It just highlighted what they couldn’t do yet.

That’s when I learned that enjoyment doesn’t automatically lead to understanding. Until students had ways to process input and produce language, the fun lessons simply moved too fast for them.

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What I teach now (besides English)

Over time, I shifted from teaching just English to also teaching practical skills. My most successful students weren’t necessarily the “smartest,” but the ones who used the best tools. Here’s what those tools look like in action:

1. Mark up the page

   In my classroom, a pristine textbook page is a sign of a lost student. I tell my kids to circle unknown words, scribble phonetic notes in the margins, and make the page look used. They do it without prompting now. The mess is evidence of engagement.

   My own Japanese textbooks are practically pristine. I don’t scribble on them because I’ve always felt the need to preserve them, even if it costs me some learning progress. Also, a clean page doesn’t really cement your mistakes which does still embarrass me at times which is probably also why I’ve avoided it. Now I’m trying to let that go and focus more on improving.

2. Learn with someone else

   I watch my students lean into each other to check things like grammar, pronunciation, and meaning before I’ve had a chance to weigh in. Peers explain things in language that’s more accessible than anything I could offer. The learning happens between them, not from me.

   I’ve been studying Japanese on my own for years, and I sometimes wonder if it would be better to learn in a classroom or alongside someone at a similar level. I also think about what it would be like to teach a beginner and whether I could explain things as clearly as I think I can. To find out, I want to start learning with others and look for chances to help beginners.

3. Start before you're ready

   When my students write together, they produce better work than when they write alone. They catch each other’s small mistakes in real time, suggesting better ways to say things without making it feel like a correction. The mess is where the learning happens.

   I stopped writing in Japanese because every sentence felt like it had to be complete and correct before it could exist. Watching my students simply start and improve as they go has made me want to do the same.

4. Teach what you know

   Early finishers in my class help struggling classmates. Teaching someone else forces you to articulate what you know, which deepens it in a way that reviewing alone doesn’t.

   I don’t need to be a high-level learner to explain a basic grammar point to someone else. In fact, doing that would probably help my Japanese more than another hour of flashcards, so I want to start leaning into that.

5. Ask for feedback early

   My students show their work to a peer before they ever show it to me. Feedback arrives while there’s still time to do something with it. They’ve learned that feedback isn’t judgment. It’s just information on what to improve and what you’re already doing well.

   I avoided feedback for years because at some point I started treating my Japanese ability as a measure of my intelligence. It isn’t. It’s just where I am with the language right now, and I want to be more open to feedback.

6. Celebrate the small things

   We celebrate small wins in my classroom and normalize the struggle out loud. A sense of community is one of the most consistent drivers of persistence in language learning, something I knew from research long before I understood it from the inside.

   I’m my own harshest critic. My students are kinder to each other than I am to myself when I forget a word I should know by now, and I’m working on changing that.

   

What I realized about my learning

I built a classroom around these ideas and then went home and ignored all of them.

I was asking my students to be risk-taking, messy, and collaborative while holding myself to a standard of perfection that I would never ask of a ten-year-old. The mechanics of learning don’t change just because we grew up. Whether it’s fifth-grade English or adult Japanese, progress happens on marked-up pages and in corrected pronunciation and in the slightly uncomfortable moment of showing someone else what we’re working on before it’s ready.

I’m starting simple this week. More writing in Japanese. Sentences that don’t have to be perfect before they exist. Feedback I’m actually going to ask for instead of avoiding.

The kids figured this out without being told. I had to watch them for years before I understood what they were doing.

Better late than never.

If you want to try the same, I have a set of language learning journal prompts you can download below for free. They’re a low-pressure way to start. No perfect sentences are required.

If you enjoyed this, a restack or share helps it reach someone who might need it today. And if you’d like to support this newsletter, you can always treat me to a rice cracker over at Buy Me a Coffee. It helps more than you know. 💛

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Article Cover Photo
Utagawa, T. (c. 1800). The Noda Jewel River in Mutsu Province [Woodblock print]. JPWoodblocks. https://jpwoodblocks.com/utagawa-the-early-masters-of-the-japanese-woodblock-prints/

I don’t think I stopped reading Japanese on purpose. I just kept choosing easier things instead. It had been about two years since I last read a Japanese book for fun.

Of course, I did not plan it that way. Life got busy, routines narrowed, and my Japanese use shrank to what was strictly necessary. Even though I quit social media for years now, there was still always something easier on the internet.

A few months ago, I added friction to how I accessed my browser. I wanted to see what I would do with the extra quiet. The answer, eventually, was books. Not long after that, I felt ready to try reading in Japanese again. Not because my Japanese had improved, but because there was finally space to notice what I was avoiding.

I chose コンビニ兄弟 (The Convenience Store by the Sea) by 町田 そのこ(Sonoko Machida), a book that had been waiting on my digital shelf for years.

The first few sentences went smoothly, but then kanji combinations slowed me down. Some, I felt, were completely new to me; others were ones I felt I should have remembered. That moment of frustration turned out to be useful. It showed me which parts of my knowledge had become passive rather than truly gone.

When self‑judgment crept in, I shifted my approach. I wasn’t reading for enjoyment yet. I was reading to check where my Japanese actually stood. The book itself became the assessment.

What I was experiencing is called the receptive-productive gap. We recognize more words than we can actively use. When we stop engaging deeply with a language, that gap widens. It does not close through preparation alone. It closes through contact.

My Kindle helped more than I expected. With a built‑in dictionary, I could look up words without breaking the flow. The dictionary was not perfect. Sometimes it failed to find the word I needed, and translating required being online. Still, the friction was low enough to keep me reading. If I had needed a separate dictionary, I probably would have quit. Here, motivation mattered less than friction, and removing small obstacles kept me reading long enough for something to change.

By page forty, the kanji that had blocked me early on felt less foreign. Not because I studied them, but because context did its work. The hardest part was the beginning. Staying with the text allowed repeated exposure to do what review alone often cannot.

I had not picked up a book in two years because I was busy, and reading stopped feeling like something I do and started feeling like something I should already be good at. I was waiting until my Japanese was good enough. In the meantime, there was always something easier to reach for.

I think a lot of us do this. We put the book down and tell ourselves we will come back when we are ready. But ready does not arrive on its own. It shows up a few pages in, when the language starts carrying more of the weight.

You do not get good enough to read. You read, and that gets you there.

コンビニ兄弟 is at 42 percent. I am still tapping unfamiliar kanji. I am still finding cobwebs. But I am back inside the language, and that matters.

If you are sitting on a book in your target language, pick it up not to enjoy it yet, but just to see where you are. Use whatever removes the most friction. Look things up. Go slowly. Let the text carry you for a while. The words that stop you at the beginning will not feel the same a few chapters in.

Here is what I know now:

1. You do not need to rebuild everything before you start. Reading is not the reward for being ready. It is how readiness returns.

2. If it feels awkward or frustrating at first, that does not mean you have lost the language. It usually means it is waking back up.

3. The gap does not close from the outside. You close it by reading patiently, imperfectly, and a little at a time.

If you enjoyed this, a restack or share helps it reach someone who might need it today. And if you’d like to support this newsletter, you can always treat me to a rice cracker over at Buy Me a Coffee. It helps more than you know. 💛

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Article Cover Photo
Utagawa, K. (c. 1840–1860). Woman reading [Woodblock print]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kuniyoshi_Utagawa,_Woman_reading.jpg

A month ago, I bought a book with an ambitious title:

Improve your memory just by reading one sentence a day! Adult Read‑Aloud Practice.

It isn’t meant for language learners. It’s marketed to elderly Japanese readers worried about memory decline. I liked the cover. It was on sale. I forget things.1 I bought it.

As you may or may not know, my profession is teaching English at an elementary school in Japan. Japanese is my go-to language for all work-related communication, including talks, meetings, memos, and directions. I'm not too bad at understanding. That said, when faced with reading things aloud to students or colleagues, it is indeed a problem at times. I sound awkward and unpracticed.

While everyone knows I’m not a native speaker, I don’t want to sound like I’m sight-reading a language I barely know. So when I saw this ondoku book with a specific method for reading aloud, I wondered if it could help.

I committed to the 30-day structure. One passage a day, twice a day. Here's what actually happened.

📚 But first, what ondoku actually is (and what this book adds)

Ondoku (音読) literally means “reading aloud.” In Japanese education, it’s foundational. Elementary students, like the ones I teach, read passages aloud daily to build fluency, pronunciation, and comprehension.

For elderly Japanese natives, ondoku serves a different purpose: cognitive maintenance. The book’s author, Dr. Kato Toshinori, is a brain specialist who argues that reading aloud activates multiple brain areas simultaneously and keeps the brain flexible even into old age.

For me, as a non-native speaker who sometimes needs to read aloud for work, ondoku serves yet another purpose: building the muscle memory and confidence to read smoothly in front of others without sounding like I’m decoding text for the first time.

The book adds a specific technique I hadn’t tried before: 助詞強調おんどく法 (particle-emphasis reading method). Reading aloud regularly has been shown to improve pronunciation and fluency in language learners, though most of that research focuses on classroom settings rather than self-directed practice.

🎯 The particle-emphasis technique

The book’s core method is simple but specific: when reading aloud, emphasize the particles.

In Japanese, particles (は、が、を、に、で、と, etc.) are small grammatical markers that show relationships between words. Native speakers stress them subtly in natural speech. Non-native speakers like me often drop them, mumble them, or treat them as unimportant.

The book argues that emphasizing particles while reading aloud forces your brain to process sentence structure more carefully. Instead of reading in a flat monotone, you’re actively marking the grammatical skeleton of each sentence. Every は, が, を got extra stress. It felt almost theatrical. But that was the point.

🎯 Why I wanted to test this

The honest reason was personal: I’d been in maintenance mode for a very long time. My conversational Japanese hadn’t gotten worse, but I wasn’t actively studying or pushing myself. I was coasting on what I already knew, and some of my skills had plateaued at “functional but cringe.”2

I was ready to move out of maintenance and back into growth. But I needed something structured and sustainable. Ondoku felt like a low-barrier way to restart deliberate practice. And the particle-emphasis technique seemed like it might address my specific problem: I could understand structure when reading silently, but I couldn’t produce it naturally when reading aloud.

The immediate work reason was layered on top of that. I didn’t want to keep sounding awkward every time I had to read something aloud in front of students or colleagues. A few things from my series on adult language learning helped me understand why this method might actually work for that.

Output builds confidence and reveals gaps before you face real interaction. Ondoku is exactly this. It is solo production without social pressure. Reading aloud also forces production without the panic of conversation, which should theoretically help build automaticity. Effortful cognitive tasks strengthen pathways. Reading aloud in a second language requires attention, pronunciation monitoring, meaning processing, and working memory all at once. That is a lot of load, and that is kind of the point.

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📅 The 30-day structure (my adapted version)

I kept it consistent but adapted the practice to fit my needs:

Every morning (before work):

• Read the day’s passage silently once for understanding

• Look up any words I didn’t know (usually 3-5 per passage)

• Read the passage aloud once, emphasizing particles (は、が、を、に, etc.)

• Focus on making the particle emphasis clear and natural-sounding

Every evening (after work):

• Read the same passage aloud again with particle emphasis

• No looking up words, just producing

• Notice if it felt smoother than the morning's read

After each day:

• Made flashcards for new vocabulary

• Reviewed flashcards from previous days using spaced repetition

Total time:

• Morning: 5-10 minutes

• Evening: 3-5 minutes

• Flashcard review: 5-10 minutes

• Total per day: about 13-25 minutes

Why I added flashcards: I knew I was moving from maintenance back into growth mode. The flashcards weren’t just about learning vocabulary. They were about rebuilding the habit of deliberate study. I needed something structured to signal to myself: we’re actively learning again.

Why I kept the particle emphasis: Even though the book is designed for native speakers, the particle-emphasis technique seemed directly relevant to me. There’s a teacher that I work with who I admire and I’ve noticed them naturally stress particles when speaking in front of people or on when talking on the phone. Forcing myself to emphasize them in private practice felt like it might transfer to the same situations.

🔍 What I noticed (week by week)

Week 1: Awkward and slow

The first week felt clumsy. My mouth didn’t want to form sounds at natural speed. And the particle emphasis made everything feel unnatural.

But more than that, the morning reading revealed how much vocabulary I’d let slip. Words I definitely knew a year or two ago required looking up. I’d been coasting on work vocabulary (classroom phrases, daily routines) without expanding or maintaining anything beyond that narrow band.

Reading silently was fine. I understood most of the passages. However, when I tried to read aloud with particle emphasis, I’d hit words I couldn’t pronounce confidently or particles I wasn’t sure how to stress naturally.

My competence was there. My performance was weak, retrieval was slow, articulation was effortful, and particle production was uncertain.

The evening read-aloud was noticeably smoother than the morning one. Just having looked up the words and read them once in the morning made the evening attempt easier. The repetition within the same day helped cement things faster than I expected.

Week 2: Patterns started emerging

By the second week, I started noticing recurring structures. The book wasn’t random passages. It was carefully designed to repeat certain grammar patterns and vocabulary across different contexts.

And the particle emphasis was starting to feel less robotic. I was finding a middle ground between theatrical overemphasis and natural stress. The particles were becoming audible rhythm markers: repeated patterns that felt available for spontaneous use rather than conscious performance.

Because I was making flashcards for new vocabulary, I started seeing the same words appear across multiple passages. The spaced repetition worked naturally because the book reinforced its own vocabulary.

The flashcard habit was also settling in. It wasn’t burdensome because I was only adding 3-5 cards per day. But that consistency mattered. Maintenance preserves access. What I was doing now was actively rebuilding it through small, regular efforts.

Week 3: It started feeling automatic

Around day 17, something shifted. Reading aloud stopped feeling effortful. I realized the book’s technique wasn’t about making particles sound weird. It was about making them audible, which then allows them to settle into natural prosody. Native speakers do stress particles, just subtly. I hadn’t been placing any importance on them, which made my reading sound disconnected.

That same week, we had a 別れ音楽会 (graduation concert) at school where the teachers performed a song in front of the entire student body. I have always dreaded this. This year? I actually enjoyed it. I sang out loud. Loud enough that the principal noticed and complimented me afterward. Was it the book? Probably not directly. But I had been showing up every single day. That counts for something. And apparently, it shows.

Things were getting busier at work around this time too. I was tired and wanted to maximize sleep, so the morning practice was the first thing to go. I kept the evening read-aloud but dropped the morning one. One passage a day instead of two.

Despite this, things were becoming genuinely smooth by this point. I could get through most passages at a natural speed on the first attempt. The particle emphasis was becoming automatic, not something I had to consciously perform. The goal of speaking is to make retrieval fast enough that you don’t have to think about it. This felt like that.

“Week 4”: Consolidation

Week 4 exposed the real constraint. It was not motivation, but capacity. As work intensified and I was getting home late, even one passage a day became unsustainable. Rather than stopping entirely, I adjusted. I dropped to every other day and put flashcard reviews on pause. Reading aloud still felt okay. The habit is holding, even under pressure.

That same week, we had a 送別会 (farewell party) for departing staff, and I had to give a two‑minute speech in Japanese. This is something I genuinely hate. In the past, it would have kept me up all night beforehand and given me a stomachache the entire day. This time, though, I simply did it. It was not perfect. I stumbled in a few places. But I was far less nervous than I had expected to be.

What surprised me most was how present I felt while speaking. I remember sweeping the room with my eyes, actually looking at people’s faces instead of retreating inward. I even enjoyed seeing them smile at my small anecdotes. I did not freeze. My voice did not shake. My thoughts did not collapse under pressure.

Looking back, this feels connected to the reading practice. Even as volume decreased, familiarity accumulated. The language felt less like something I had to summon and more like something already there. That shift did not remove difficulty, but it changed my relationship to it.

🔍 Honest assessment

Let’s be real, four weeks isn’t a long time. The ondoku practice didn’t transform my work performance (singing aside). I’m still not as smooth as Japanese teachers when reading aloud. Students still try to rescue me when I read instructions. I still pull the foreigner card quickly when doing sub work for Japanese language or social studies classes. But I feel less anxious about reading aloud now. Even if the technical improvement is modest, the psychological shift is real.

I’ll also be honest about the boredom. Some passages were poems or excerpts from older texts where I genuinely had no idea what was happening. I’d have to stop and figure out the context before reading aloud, which added friction I wasn’t always up for.

The bigger impact wasn’t work performance. It was getting back into growth mode. After over a year of relying on daily work Japanese, I was actively studying again. The structure rebuilt my study habit. I felt like I was improving, not just maintaining. And for the record, I didn’t do this in 30 days. It took me closer to 7 weeks. It wasn't perfect, but I'm happy with the effort I put in. I do plan to keep going, too. I paid for the book and I refuse to let it become another abandoned study material.

As I prep for round 2 of ondoku, what I’d do differently is record myself and listen back. I have no real idea what I actually sound like. This is a trick I used on my past students preparing for speech contests. An honest recording would tell me more than my own sense of how a session went. Maybe I’ll even rope in a native speaker to listen.

Reading aloud isn’t a Japanese-specific practice, by the way. Any language has particles, connectors, rhythm, stress patterns that native speakers internalize and learners flatten. Picking up a book in your target language and reading it out loud forces your mouth, ears, and brain to work at the same time in a way that silent reading never does. It surfaces gaps you didn’t know you had. It builds the muscle memory that makes production feel less like an emergency. If you’re in maintenance mode in any language, this is one of the lowest-barrier ways to start moving again. Find a passage. Read it out loud. Emphasize whatever carries the grammatical weight in your language. Record yourself if you’re brave enough. Then do it again tomorrow.

If you enjoyed this, a restack or share helps it reach someone who might need it today. And if you’d like to support this newsletter, you can always treat me to a rice cracker over at Buy Me a Coffee. It helps more than you know. 💛

Waddle on. 🐧

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📠 References

Book - 1日1文読むだけで記憶力が上がる！おとなの音読 
Kato, T. (2024). Ichinichi ichibun yomu dake de kiokuryoku ga agaru! Otona no ondoku [Book in Japanese]. Kizuna Publishing.

Article Cover Photo
Harvard Art Museums. (n.d.). Beauty Reading, from the series Fūryū hokku Gosekku (Kikugawa Eizan, 1787–1867). Harvard Art Museums. https://hvrd.art/o/209758

Hello! How has the first quarter of the year gone for you? Mine was off to a rocky start as I had to make several lifestyle adjustments and readjustments, which affected my language learning routine. It's been tough, but I'm staying positive and determined to find the right rhythm by Q2. One way to help is to by adapting ’s No Zero Days — even if it’s just for 10 minutes!

In case you're still uncertain about how to evaluate your language learning progress over the last three months, I've prepared a set of reflection prompts that can be found below the subscription button of this article!

📅 Q1 Stats, Q2 Goals & Habit Tracking

For Q2, I aim to maintain a balanced focus on both language studies and general life maintenance. Along with Toggl Track, I'll be using a Google Sheet Habit Tracker to ensure that several activities turn into daily habits. The sheet will open automatically whenever I start my browser to remind me of what I need to do. And although it’s designed for language studies, I’ve adapted to track everything I want to do so that I don’t have too many apps/trackers at once.

Get your template

🤔 Quarterly Language Learning Reflection Prompts

Remember my end-of-year reflection prompts post? Well, I’ve made a shorter version for this quarter:

Progress Assessment

• Did I successfully reach my language learning objectives this quarter?

• What progress have I made in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in the target language?

Consistency and Practice

• Have I been consistent with my language learning routine?

• Have I practiced with native speakers or language exchange partners?

Vocabulary and Grammar

• What new vocabulary words and grammar terms that have I learned?

Resources

• What language learning resources have been most helpful to me this quarter?

Challenges and Reflection

• Have I encountered any challenges or difficulties in learning the language?

• What are my goals and priorities for the next quarter in terms of language learning?

⭐ Small Wins

1. The Konbini Call - In February, I forgot around 800 yen in change at a convenience store’s copy machine. Previously, I would’ve simply accepted the loss because of my apprehension towards talking to a complete stranger in a second language over the phone. However, I promptly located the number on my receipt, called, and requested them to hold on to the money until I returned. I didn’t even have to force myself!

2. Public Speaking - This month, I had to deliver two speeches and again, the old version of myself would’ve spent the entire night writing and memorizing my lines. This time, I didn’t worry about it and spoke as I normally would. Despite my performance anxiety skyrocketing and my smartwatch misinterpreting my activity as cardio, it still felt like a small win to me.

3. Student Relationships - Although this is not limited to Q1, I experienced the accomplishment of my efforts when the auditorium filled with a thousand students enthusiastically responded to my speech. A few even gleefully shared that their classmates became emotional and cried when they found out I was leaving. I think my level of closeness with them is directly linked to the time I invest in studying Japanese. I’m happy to dedicate extra effort after going through this.

💭Your Turn

How has the start of your 2024 been treating you? Any good news or hurdles you'd like to chat about?

Hello again.

I’m back with part two of my language learning app list. In case you missed it, you can catch part one of my “ultimate” language learning apps here. Additionally, I forgot to mention my ranking criteria last week. All of the apps I’ve mentioned have been used regularly for at least four months.

This is how I categorized them:

A+ Level: Highly recommended for everyday use. It is customized for personalized language learning and delivers significant advantages.

A Level: Strongly recommended for routine usage. Delivers excellent performance in its intended functions.

B Level: Recommended for consistent use. Although it is well-rounded with good features, it might be outshined by A-rank level apps in specific aspects.

C Level: Suitable for occasional use. Offers a moderate level of effectiveness but is not necessarily essential to the study routine.

B-level Apps: iTalki, Udemy 📱

⭐ iTalki

iTalki is an interactive online platform that helps people learn languages by connecting them with teachers through video chat. This website allows students to find online tutors who offer one-on-one tutoring sessions tailored to their needs. With a variety of teachers at your disposal, iTalki offers classes in more than 100 languages. Learners have the freedom to select a tutor that matches their learning style, schedule, and personality. In addition, teachers can determine their own prices and schedules.

My Experience: In the past, I had utilized iTalki to search for a grammar tutor. However, I encountered difficulty in finding an instructor who possessed the ability to provide clear and immediate explanations. After enrolling in grammar classes through an established language school, I realized that the native-speaking teachers they employ can usually provide detailed explanations of grammatical concepts. Despite that, I acknowledge the potential of using iTalki for conversation classes and foundational lessons.

My iTalki Alternative: ⭐ Udemy

Udemy is online learning platform where students can purchase video courses. They provide access to thousands of courses produced by independent instructors to millions of students. Language courses average for around $11.

My experience: For those who prefer structured study plans and curriculums, Udemy courses offer a similar format to language schools. The PDF textbooks for the course are carefully organized, focusing on essential grammar and vocabulary frequently tested. Example sentences are also provided to complement the explanations. While I enjoy the structure it offers, it's important to remember not to solely rely on the language courses for self-study. I find that are most effective when used as a supporting tool in conjunction with textbooks like Shin Kanzen Master or apps like Bunpro.

C-level App: Clozemaster 📱

⭐ Clozemaster

Clozemaster is an interactive platform that improves your language skills by filling in missing words in sentences. (Did you know? The term “cloze” denotes an exercise or test format in which words are omitted from a text and replaced with blanks.) It provides a diverse selection of languages and even offers a free play option. The pro pricing is as follows: $8.00 (monthly), $60.00 (yearly), and $140 (lifetime access).

My experience: I discovered Clozemaster over five years ago, but eventually switched to more efficient apps. I returned to it this year to enjoy during my quick work breaks. From my perspective, Clozemaster doesn't prioritize teaching Japanese. Rather, it assesses your knowledge. Despite only dedicating around 10 minutes each day, I find it enjoyable to discover what I am not familiar with and what I can successfully guess right.

🌟 Rising Star: Journaly ✍️

Note: It's not on my app tier list since I just started using it, but I couldn't resist praising its potential!

Journaly is more than just a standard app you can use with your target languages; it’s a dynamic community where enhancing your language skills go hand-in-hand with self-improvement. Whether you’re a taking your very first steps in a new language or have experience under your belt, the Journaly platform fosters improvement through receiving insightful feedback from its members. The pro pricing is as follows: $5.00 (monthly) and $42.00 (yearly).

My experience: Since joining earlier this year, I've been loving reading and providing feedback on the English entries. Although I haven't fully tested its usefulness for my own writing yet (only shared my teacher-corrected entries from the 14-day challenge), it shows great potential as an app! Don't forget that Journaly is a community-driven platform, so consider helping others who are learning your native language as a way to give back.

Unmentioned Essential: 🍃 Midori 🌿

Note: It's not on my app tier list since it’s just a dictionary, but it’s something that I use daily!

For about ten years now, I've been using Midori, as my ultimate all-in-one Japanese-English, English-Japanese dictionary app. Tailored for learners of any proficiency, it presents an extensive assortment of over 190,000 word entries and 12,000 kanji, along with their readings, meanings, and example compounds. You can find more than 150,000 example sentences with furigana, and improve your kanji skills with stroke order diagrams and animations. In addition, Midori offers different search options like photo capture and handwritten kanji recognition. The app is now available for free on iOS.

The apps I've described cater to different aspects of language learning, but I think that it is always important to keep in mind that apps are simply tools. The actual value comes from how one uses them to enhance their study routine and customizes them to their learning style. Achieving success in language acquisition requires more than just using resources; it also depends on your dedication, consistency, and strategic approach.

That being said, I would also like to point out that rankings, including these, are highly subjective. An app's high effectiveness can vary from person to person and may not resonate equally. So, please freely explore and experiment to discover the ideal mix of tools for your needs.

Until next time, happy studying!

After reading the ultimate language app tier list, came up with a brilliant suggestion to have language learners create their own tier lists for language learning apps. As someone constantly on the lookout for the perfect language study app, I thought it would be helpful to share my own experiences from the last two years or so. Why that period? It’s because that’s when I began exploring intermediate-level material a bit more seriously. However, isn’t a comprehensive list; it merely includes the apps that particularly came to mind while writing this.

A+🔝-level Apps: Anki, Nihongo 📱

⭐ Anki

Anki is a versatile application that enables users to craft their own flashcards, acquire flashcards shared by friends, or import decks from the internet. Its customization options are extensive; users have the ability to modify flashcards and adjust the spaced repetition algorithms to suit their learning pace. Additionally, the program’s functionality can be extended through a variety of community-created add-ons, allowing for a personalized experience tailored to individual preferences and study needs.

Available across multiple platforms, it’s open-source application can be downloaded for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems, in addition to Android and iOS mobile devices. While Anki is free for use on all platforms, iOS users have to purchase it for $24.99, which contributes to sustaining the app's development.

My Experience: If you fail to study consistently using Anki, you'll be faced with an overwhelming backlog of overdue flashcards that might seem impossible to overcome. Despite this, Anki flashcards are highly effective for embedding vocabulary and simple grammar rules into your long-term memory and have significantly contributed to my language learning progress.

My Anki Alternative: ⭐ Nihongo Dictionary App

Nihongo is a comprehensive language learning app featuring an extensive dictionary with over 180,000 words, 165,000 example sentences, and 6000 kanji entries. Each word is categorized by its frequency of use as common, uncommon, or rare, and users have the option to add personal notes to any dictionary entry. The app aids in distinguishing transitive from intransitive word pairs and includes kanji stroke order animations for visual learners. Pro users can enjoy additional benefits such as audio pronunciations and the photo lookup feature, which utilizes Google’s cloud OCR for high-accuracy text recognition in Japanese. Unfortunately, it is only available on MacOS and iOS. Additionally while it is free to download, the prices to purchase the pro features are as follows: $4.99 (monthly), $38.99 (yearly), and $129.99 (lifetime access).

My Experience: Nihongo's flashcard system offers several advantages over Anki's vocabulary decks. One key benefit is that if you miss a day of study, your pending reviews do not pile up. The ability to easily add pictures to the words you encounter in the real world is very handy, and I am fond of their OCR feature. If there’s a kanji I can’t read, all I need to do is upload a photo. Additionally, finding several example sentences for the words you add in your deck is straightforward process.

A-level Apps: 📚 Bunpro, 📖 Satori Reader, 🗞 Todai Easy Japanese

⭐ Bunpro

Bunpro is a software that uses spaced repetition to assist in learning Japanese grammar and vocabulary. You can use it as a standalone grammar tool or alongside popular textbooks like Genki, Tobira and Minna no Nihongo. While it is primarily a web-based application, there are tester versions of mobile apps available for iOS and Android. However, please note that these versions may not be fully functional. While free to download there are premium subscriptions consist at $5 (monthly), $50 (yearly), and $150 (lifetime access).

My Experience: Bunpro is an effective tool for studying Japanese grammar. It organizes grammar concepts according to the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) levels, facilitating learning to a degree that enables comprehension in authentic texts. The program offers varied review exercises that challenge users to try out different verb conjugations and insert the correct particles, ensuring each grammar point is applied correctly within sentences. This approach provides immediate correction of common errors, aiding learners in their language acquisition. The only drawback for me is that it takes a huge chunk out of my limited daily study time. I haven’t found a decent alternative grammar app for this yet. 😫

⭐ Satori Reader

Satori Reader provides a range of 32 graded reading series, catering to different levels of difficulty. The inclusion of translations and explanatory notes in every sentence's annotations enriches your understanding of the Japanese language and the meaning of the text. There are three options available to view words: kanji, kana, or kanji with furigana, giving you the freedom to customize your experience. There is a free option with select stories, and the pro version is premium subscriptions consist at $9 (monthly) or $89 (yearly).

My experience: If you're new to reading, Satori Reader a great starting point. It combines engaging stories with high-quality voice acting, making the listening experience enjoyable. The narration is clear, providing a helpful bridge from knowing basic vocabulary and phrases to engaging with authentic native material.

Thanks to the thorough explanations provided, it can also be used as a valuable tool for learning grammar. The material helps you become familiar with Japanese sentence structures and introduces new vocabulary while building on what you've already learned. As the content covers different difficulty levels, it can be used continuously as one advances. Given the slow series update, I wish there was an option for a lifetime subscription instead of having to make regular payments so I can pop in anytime I please without feeling like I’ve wasted money.

My Short Read Alternative: ⭐ Todai Easy Japanese

Todai Easy Japanese compiles news articles from various sources and topics, providing learners with extensive resources to enhance their reading experience. In addition to the articles, the pro version on the platform includes a dictionary, grammar guides, speaking and translation practice tools, and even JLPT preparation tests. With the free version, there are 10 articles available daily. The pro subscriptions are as follows: $29.99 (quarterly), $38.99 (yearly), and $51.99 (lifetime access). There are also English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese and Korean Todai apps.

My experience: A couple of years back, I purchased a lifetime subscription for under $20 during a promotional event, and it's been great for casually reading the news. It provides a less expensive, though slightly less engaging, short reading option compared to Satori Reader.

Recently, they've added brief quizzes at the end of each article, which appear to be created by AI. The quality of these reading comprehension questions is rather dubious but I answer them anyway. Considering the cost, it's a valuable application to own.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my A-tier language learning app tier list. While it was mostly Japanese-focused, I hope my experiences and insights have given you some ideas on which kind of apps might suit your own learning styles.

Stay tuned for part 2 coming out next week, where I’ll write about apps with multiple language features, giving you even more options to consider for your language learning toolkit.

Until next time, happy studying!

Hello all,

I’m back. However, it seems that I misplaced the article I was supposed to publish earlier today because I've been scatterbrained preoccupied with hosting friends and family.

Whenever social commitments are made that require me to deviate from my usual hermit-like schedule, my immediate concern is still being able to study. I start making these elaborate plans in my head that never actually happen because I get so absorbed in what I need to do (in a good way because sometimes people>studying). If you're an introvert too, you probably understand the need for downtime to recharge and get back on track. And while I am struggling to re-establish my routine, here are a few things I tell myself count as “sneaky studying”:

1. Listening to target language podcasts while multitasking.

   Instead of music, I tell myself to listen to audiobooks or podcasts when I'm getting ready or during my commutes. I've developed a newfound interest in podcasts featuring multiple hosts because of their conversational nature. My current go-to is the Hiiki Biiki archive. The Japanese used is native-level, and it's as if you're eavesdropping on two friends discussing random yet interesting topics.

2. Changing the dubs and subs on English shows to Japanese.

   Over winter break, I've been indulging in the shows on Disney+. For fun, I've been switching the English dubs to the Japanese versions. The differences in translations and cultural contexts of jokes and quips make for an interesting comparison. It's strange, but Japanese dubs and subs can have slight differences in their scripts sometimes1, providing a good way to test for both listening and reading skills while you unwind.

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3. Playing a video game in Japanese.

   Although I’m typically not into video games, I’ve been enjoying this cozy RPG called Bear’s Restaurant in Japanese. RPGs often contain extensive text, including dialogue, descriptions, and narratives. Besides the interesting storyline, the game reinforces learning by frequently repeating key phrases and vocabulary. There are 15 different languages to the game available on Steam and 13 on the mobile app.

4. Reading instructions and labels.

   The past few weeks of helping people shop have taught me the value of being able to read and comprehend ingredients lists and other labels. As for instructions, I’ve slowly yet successfully followed an entire manual on changing my electronic bidet seat without flooding my apartment! Despite needing help from a native Japanese speaker in the end, I’m happy for the practical experience (and to have saved on the installation fee).

5. Asking fellow Japanese language learners what they’ve learned recently.

   When catching up with another Japanese language learner, I realized I should ask about what they’ve learned recently more often. It's a chance to expand our knowledge and get fresh insights into the language. I find that when I actively take part in these conversations, I not only get inspired and motivated by my friends' progress, but also find new information, resources, techniques, and strategies.

Do you have your own “sneaky study” tips? I’d love to hear them! Share your creative ways of integrating language learning into your daily routines. Maybe you have found a method to incorporate new vocabulary through cooking recipes or have discovered an app that gamifies grammar.

Hopefully, you’ve had a better time keeping up with your own language studies! Whether you’re consistently hitting your study goals or finding unique solutions to learn on the go, I’d love to know. Happy studying, and until next time!

In 2023, I reached a personal milestone in reading 100 books in Japanese. Out of these, five books have made a powerful impression on me, and here they are, listed with no specific ranking:

1. エミリの小さな包丁 (森沢 明夫) ・Emily’s Little Knife (Akio Morisawa)

2. そして、バトンは渡された (瀬尾 まいこ)・And So the Baton is Passed (Maiko Seo)

3. かがみの孤城 (辻村 深月)・Lonely Castle in the Mirror (Mizuki Tsujimura)

4. また、同じ夢を見ていた (住野 よる)・I Had That Same Dream Again (Yoru Sumino)

5. キッチン (吉本 ばなな)・Kitchen (Banana Yoshimoto)

My connection with “Kitchen” by Banana Yoshimoto runs deeper than with the other titles, as it was a book I first encountered during high school. My English teacher described it as a powerful story told in an intensely beautiful style. However, they also expressed a sentiment that has stayed with me: the translation, while competent, struggled to capture the full elegance of Yoshimoto’s work.

I often think about the subtle details and cultural references I might have missed with each read—things that probably stand out more to someone who has always spoken the language. My experience with these stories is shaped by this gap in understanding, which makes me wonder just how much deeper the authors’ messages might go. Additionally, I’m curious when would be the best time to reread these books?

🤔📚 Evaluating the Need to Reread

I’ve spent a significant amount of time looking through academic papers but can’t seem to find a rule of thumb that will help indicate whether it is worthwhile to repeat an extensive read or move on to the next one. Instead, here are a few guiding questions I put together:

Reading Goals: Are you aiming for depth (mastery of content) or breadth (exposure to varied content)?

Comprehension: Have you understood the material at a satisfactory level?

Retention: How well have you retained what you’ve read?

Frequency of Encounter: How often do you encounter similar material?

Interest and Engagement: Are you still engaged with the current material, or would a new read increase motivation?

Time Constraints: Do you have a deadline or is the learning pace self-determined?

If your goal is to deepen your understanding and mastery, and you find that you've not fully grasped the material, it might be worth repeating. However, if exposure to new structures and vocabulary is the priority, moving on to new materials could be more beneficial. As with everything in language learning, finding balance based on your personal objectives is key.

📖⏰ Rereading Timing on Texts and Test-taking

Something interesting I’ve come across is an experiment by Rawson and Kintsch in 2005 showed that rereading had no significant difference for short retention intervals. However, distributed rereading was more effective than immediate rereading for long retention intervals. This suggests that the timing of the retention interval affects the effectiveness of rereading, with distributed rereading being better in the long term.1

🎧📚More on Reading in Your Target Language

If reading more in your target language is one of your goals this year, please check out my previous articles on the benefits of extensive reading and listening while reading!

This year, the pie chart showing my study hours is an absolute mess. I changed my projects halfway through the year and found out I couldn’t combine them in the app I’ve been using. Still, I’ve put in a bit over 569 hours into studying (at the time this article is published, at least). I’m happy with the work I’ve done, but I can’t seem to shake off my first two thoughts upon seeing it: 1) gosh, I still don’t feel like I know enough 😟; and 2) I need to study more intensively next year! 😤

Comparing this year to my old data, which is also all over the place, I realized I didn’t do as badly as I initially thought. In 2022, I studied for 1,263 hours. Out of that, 708.5 hours went to grad school work, and the other 554.5 hours were mostly for flashcards and reading. I also found that I only started keeping track of my study time in November 2021, and most of my 190 hours of Japanese study were also spent on flashcards and reading. Reflecting on this, it makes prefect sense I feel like I haven’t learned enough when all I really used to do is read native content and make flashcards for unfamiliar words and phrases. 😅

🔄 The results of changing up my routine

This year, I resolved to take weekends off from apps and textbooks to practice the language in real life, or just learn it in a more laid-back way (which I didn’t count as study time). I’ve noticed three things come out of this:

1. I’ve shifted my focus. I used to fuss over how much information I could retain with my seemingly short-lived working memory. Now, I feel like I’ve accepted how my brain easily filters out information and actively focus on how well I can apply the language instead. Besides, I can always keep re-learning things until they finally stick.  

2. My anxiety with the language has improved. I don’t mind talking to strangers in person or over the phone anymore. By no means does that say I am confident with my Japanese level, I’m finally giving myself grace in knowing that I still suck but I am learning and improving each time I try. I have to wait till next year to see if I won’t be a bunch of nerves with public speaking to high-ranking people, though.

3. I’ve forged my best school relationships so far this year. I’ve noticed that more students regularly talk to me (lesson-related or not), even the ones who struggle in English! It feels like I finally am their teacher and an adult they like to be around and trust. As for my colleagues, I habitually talk to a bunch, including those I don’t even share classes with. It’s nice to be able to chat about work and life. I believe these positive interactions are due to focusing on communication.

All in all, it’s been a beautiful year. I can’t wait to do better in 2024 and also finally make the switch to a better study tracker.

🎉More Small Wins

1. 26 Japanese books read, making a grand total of 100. I use Bookmeter to track the native content I read which so far is a total of 76 books and 24 manga. Currently, I am also reading another manga and novel which I hope to complete by the end of the year and add to the growing list.

2. I traveled across the country with minimal language hitches. I’ve had the good fortune of going to Osaka, Kyoto, Toyama and Nagano this year. Asking for directions, listening to announcements, eavesdropping, and chatting with inquisitive old ladies has been a blast!

3. Creating the free digital language journal. At the risk of tooting my own horn, integrating this prompt-based language journal to my study routine has forced me to sit still and be mindful and thorough about the output I create. As I’m lucky enough to get access to immediate feedback, I’m learning so much through meaningful context!

4. This newsletter. As someone who doesn’t maintain personal social media accounts, I sometimes feel a bit disconnected from the world living out my adulthood in a foreign country. I’m really happy that planted this Substack seed in my head. Now, I get to connect with even more language learners like YOU. Thank YOU so much for being here. 💛

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💭Your Turn

How has 2023 been for you? I’ve written a few reflection prompts in my post last week that you can use to sum up your year. You may also want to look at how used it in her 2023 recap! Wishing you a fantastic rest of the year!

After talking about how I felt I needed more focused instruction to help me fill in the gaps with Japanese and help me advance, I found two grammar tutors on iTalki to assist me with a textbook that had been challenging for me to complete. The hour-long sessions were conducted weekly, specifically on Saturday or Sunday mornings. While I was excited about it at first, I eventually found it to be tedious and not worth the money. Initially, I assumed the issue was because of a lack of connection with the tutors, which is why I worked with two for a over a month each. But at the risk of sounding quite self-deprecating, the problem was actually me. (/cue Taylor Swift song)

These weekly sessions fed into my tendency for laziness, leading me to believe that I could forego daily reviews and simply rely on intensive weekend studying. Despite understanding the necessity of consistent effort, grammar has always been something I found really tedious and postpone it. As a result, adopting a weekly class schedule turned out to be self-sabotage. There was a part of me that believed I could afford this approach because I was investing in professional guidance. However, I also found myself frustrated when my teachers information that I could have easily learned from YouTube videos and Google searches.

However, some form of instruction is better than none, right? Keeping this in mind, I impulsively enrolled in an advanced small group class at the end of September and am enjoying them immensely. They take place thrice a week on weekdays, each session lasting an hour and a half. This schedule allows me to engage in consistent practice while still having the freedom to unwind and go out on weekends.

Interestingly, while one-on-one lessons provide the opportunity to have your teacher’s full attention, I found group classes motivate me more by tapping into my inherent fear of being the least capable person in the room. As a result, I am encouraged to understand and complete the expected work.

🎒Which class style is the right one for me?

If you're on the fence about whether to take one-on-one classes compared to group classes, the following questions may help:

1. Do you prefer one-on-one interaction?

2. Do you need personalized feedback?

3. Do you have specific language goals?

4. Are you willing to pay more for individual attention?

5. Do you have a flexible schedule?

6. Do you prefer a self-paced learning style?

7. Are you comfortable with the idea of focusing on your weaknesses?

If you answered yes to most of these, then a language tutor may be beneficial for you. However, I also encourage you to also consider group classes, as they provide exposure to peers at your current language level. This can foster a healthy competitive spirit in a supportive environment.

📊 October Study Stats

My study hours for Japanese doubled from September, a fact that makes me feel extremely pleased with my decision to invest in language classes. I’m also thrilled that I finally can get immediate corrective feedback, you guys! Moreover, being able to identify my strengths and weaknesses compared to my classmates who work in professional office settings has been eye-opening. If possible, I’d like to keep taking group classes until I build self-confidence in using honorific language.

How are your studies going?

A three-week break from language learning isn’t exactly ideal, but that’s precisely what happened when I traveled back to Los Angeles to spend time with my family. We went on hikes in national and state parks, watched a Broadway musical, caught a baseball game, drove out to see a meteor shower, went on a cruise to Mexico, and fit in an absurd amount of shopping and dining out.

Within the first few days, it became crystal clear that standing by to my Japanese study routine would not be workable. My original plan was to:

• Use language learning apps daily, like Bunpro and Anki.

• Finish my current read 雨の日も、晴れ男.

• Engage in daily communication in Japanese through video calls and messaging.

However, I only managed to do the following:

• Watch the live action of ゾン100 ～ゾンビになるまでにしたい100のこと～ and the anime of わたしの幸せな結婚.

• Read four volumes of the わたしの幸せな結婚 manga.

• Translated random things like package label instructions and yojijukugo tattoos.

• Talked to the dogs in Japanese.

In hindsight, it may sound silly, but at that moment, I thought, “Hey, perhaps my Japanese isn’t as bad as I believe it to be.” 🙃

My slice of humble pie 🥧

So yesterday, I sat through a full mock exam of the JLPT N2 and failed the reading portion spectacularly. While I wasn’t too confident about passing, I was at least hoping that I would guess what I didn’t know right. That did a good job of keeping my Dunning-Kruger effect in check.

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias wherein people with low ability at a task overestimate their ability, and people with high ability at a task underestimate their ability. It’s named after psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger, who first identified this phenomenon.

In the context of language learning:

• Beginners might think they’re doing better than they are. This might be because they’re not yet aware of the complexity and nuances of the language. They might have a basic grasp of vocabulary and grammar, and think that’s all there is to it.

• As they continue learning and become more knowledgeable, they might feel like they’re getting worse because they’re becoming more aware of what they don’t know. In other words, the more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know.

• Experts, on the other hand, might underestimate their abilities. They have a deep understanding of the language and are aware of the many subtleties and complexities. However, because of this knowledge, they can often be overly critical of their performance.

Here’s how it can progress:

Unconscious incompetence: The learner isn’t aware of what they don’t know.

Conscious incompetence: The learner realizes there’s a lot they don’t know.

Conscious competence: The learner knows how to use the language but has to think about it.

Unconscious competence: The learner can use the language naturally, without thinking.

At an intermediate level, if you’re confident but accurately aware of your skills and limitations, it’s not exactly the Dunning-Kruger effect. However, if you overestimate your abilities and think you’re more proficient than you actually are, it still could be a manifestation of the Dunning-Kruger effect. Alternatively, if you’re highly skilled and yet underestimate your competence, that’s the other side of the Dunning-Kruger effect often referred to as the impostor syndrome.

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The next steps 👣

I plan to leverage my jetlag to wake up earlier and dedicate an extra hour to Shin Kanzen Master Dokkai, in addition to my usual routine of extensive reading and flashcards. The difficulty of the material will determine whether I drop casual reading entirely and focus solely on textbook Japanese. However, I haven’t registered for the December JLPT yet. I’ll need to do that this week before I find an excuse to back out again.

Looking at my progress this month and comparing it to last year’s, one would think that I have become much less productive and serious about studying. Here is what the charts don’t show:

1. After reading Dr. Matthew Walker’s book, “Why We Sleep,” I reduced my study hours in order to prioritize deep rest to help my work and study performance. Currently, I toggle between seven to nine hours a night, which is quite the upgrade from the measly four to six.

2. I try my best to no longer dodge invitations out from Japanese natives in order to focus on reading or studying. Instead, I see these meetings as the best way to improve my communication skills and get me through social awkwardness.

3. I’ve been consistently landing jokes in class. My students are my safe space. Whenever I utilize nuances, wordplay, and cultural references to make them laugh, I feel like it shows a growing understanding of the language.

4. I’ve adjusted my study routine with a schedule that balances activities I enjoy and need rather than trying to optimize everything and push myself to learn large amounts of information because I must already be at a certain level of proficiency. I realize that I tend to forget what I learn quickly, so I should focus on a more enjoyable process for continuous growth and sustainability.

5. I no longer berate myself for taking some time off each week to unwind. Instead, I even make it a point to try to do other things so that my life is more than just teaching and studying.

All this said, it still doesn’t stop me from feeling slightly frustrated about not progressing at a more notable pace. The more that I think about it, I’ve realized that a lot of aspects of my language learning seem to come in waves.

🌊Motivation: Some days I feel highly motivated and enthusiastic, while other days just allow me to do the bare minimum or even none at all. Understanding that the determination to study can rise and fall can help one navigate through periods of lower motivation. For instance, I set different study goals depending on my energy levels and what I have on my plate at work.

🌊Confidence: My confidence in using the language also fluctuates. Sometimes I feel more comfortable expressing myself and understanding others, while at other times, I encounter difficulties and feel less competent. I try to remind myself that confidence grows with practice, and each low point can be reframed as an opportunity to improve.

🌊Retention: I experience periods of forgetfulness where what I’ve studied just seems to vanish. I realize that this is common in language learning, so I should just develop better techniques and be more intentional about what my brain doesn’t absorb as easily.

💡🤔 What are the areas in language learning that comes in waves for you? Are there specific strategies or adjustments that help you navigate through it?

New Resources I Tried 📱💻

App: 読めないと恥ずかしい漢字

Targeted towards adult Japanese native speakers, it can be quite challenging for non-kanji otaku folk like me. This app tests you with a time limit on tricky kanji, obscure kanji, and everyday kanji that you’re probably reading wrong. I’m making several mistakes everyday in its easy stage.

App: 漢字検定・漢検漢字トレーニング

This is a kinder alternative to 読めないと恥ずかしい漢字. It tests you on the kanji kentei levels 6級 (fifth-grade kanji) to 2級 (high school graduate level). I like to use this after I give up on the other app. I like how you can mark what wrong so I can easily review and add them into an anki deck.

Site: Challenge JLPT

A website with seven different drills that you can choose from for the upper-intermediate level. I enjoy doing the grammar and word order exercises during my downtimes at work.

💡🤔 Do you prefer using apps or textbooks when you study languages? What have been the best ones you have come across?

Books I Read 📚

Manga: Hakumei and Mikochi: Tiny Little Life in the Woods (ハクメイとミコチ)

Hakumei and Mikochi live on a small hill deep in the forest. They go on adventures as a team to explore their surroundings, head to the nearby town for shopping, and encounter a plethora of characters - including an odd scientist, a friendly beetle, and a talented minstrel.

Children’s Novel: Witch’s Express Home Delivery Service 2: Kiki and her New Magic (魔女の宅急便 2キキと新しい魔法)

Kiki comes from a long line of witches from her mother’s side. At 13, she left home in search of a town without other witches, to prove that she can make a living. With her black cat, Jiji, she started a delivery service. Book 2, like the one before it, is a series of short stories about her adventures.

Novel: Confessions (告白)

The murder of a science teacher’s four-year-old daughter by some of her own 13-year-old students sets in motion a revenge plot. This story, which is narrated in different voices, has so many plot twists, resulting in unexpected and shocking collateral damage.

Future Study Plans 📈

Since I want to focus on accuracy rather than fluency, I’ve decided to look for a Japanese teacher who will hound me with the mistakes I keep repeating ad nauseum. I’m not sure how one-on-one classes will go and how effective they will be, but my fingers are crossed! Other than that, I’ll be doing the usual — anki, extensive reading and random drills. Also, I’ll be back next week to talk about fossilization, something I’m trying hard to overcome.

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Hello! It just dawned on me that I started this newsletter without even a proper introductory post! So, here it is! (ノｗ`*)

A Personalized Approach to Language Acquisition.

Over the past seven years, I have intermittently been learning Japanese. Despite living in Japan for longer than I have been studying the language, my progress remains relatively limited. This can be attributed to the following factors:

1. I used to work in English-only speaking jobs up to seven days a week before securing a full-time teaching position.

2. My full-time teaching position had a mentally taxing adjustment period where I had to be fully committed to learning the ropes.

3. I had few opportunities to expand my linguistic proficiency since my basic knowledge was useful enough to get by at work.

4. I had have had very questionable study habits and somehow believed that I could learn any language just by being ✨exposed✨ to it. 🤡

When I began my graduate studies in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), I found a strong connection with the English language learners we analyzed. Numerous valuable lessons could be integrated into my self-study routine, and I was consistently eager to discuss class readings and insights with others. However, not everyone I knew shared my interest in applied linguistics or second language acquisition. To create a safe space for exploring these topics, I started a language learning studygram. Then, thanks to Victoria from StudyNotepad, I discovered Substack, which enables me to share my insights regarding second-language research in a more extended format.

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Delving into Second Language Research

A crucial aspect of this account is diving into second language research by discussing various techniques and strategies for effective learning, exploring scientific studies on second language acquisition, and examining linguistic theories. Writing about this helps:

1. Enhancing Understanding. Investigating linguistic theories and scientific findings enables both myself and subscribers to better understand the processes involved in second language acquisition.

2. Applying Knowledge. Learners can optimize their study habits by translating research insights into practical strategies for more effective language learning.

3. Inspiring Curiosity. Encouraging readers to explore different learning strategies sparks intellectual curiosity while enriching their language-learning experience.

The Benefits of Documenting My Japanese Learning Journey

Creating this newsletter to document my Japanese learning journey offers several advantages that I hope will encourage you to do the same.

1. Tracking Progress. Keeping a record of my achievements allows me to reflect on my challenges and how much I have grown as a learner.

2. Staying Accountable. Sharing my journey encourages me to remain committed and consistent in my language studies.

3. Connecting with Like-Minded Learners. Being in a community of people passionate about languages offers invaluable support and motivation through shared experiences and advice.

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The Vision for this Newsletter

Readers can expect content that includes:

• Insights into linguistic theories and research findings

• Practical tips derived from scientific studies to enhance language learning

• Updates on my progress in learning Japanese

• Reflections on overcoming obstacles and celebrating milestones

By sharing my knowledge and journey about second language acquisition, I encourage fellow learners to embrace their linguistic adventures with enthusiasm, grace, and curiosity. Everyone's language learning journey is unique, and we all progress at our own speed. Nevertheless, discovering the most suitable techniques can greatly help us. Why don’t you try writing about your language-learning progress too?

P.S. I added a separate section called “Shea Sensei,” where I can write about living and teaching in Japan.

I made this a separate subscription in my newsletter since I know it’s not a topic everyone is interested in. However, an integral part of my reason for consistently learning Japanese has been because of my opportunity to work as a licensed public elementary school English teacher here. This eye-opening, ongoing experience teaches me much about intercultural communication and education systems. You can manage your subscription here if you want to read about my work-life reflections, observations, and everyday silliness. My students are the cutest. I have the Instagram highlight reels to prove it. ♡

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"What are you writing?" a colleague asked as I tried to scribble a kanji on my phone's bilingual dictionary. I pointed toward the whiteboard with the hastily written kanji boku (睦) on it. "Oh, that." he says, "It's the radical me (目) followed by tsuchi (土), katakana no ha (八), and tsuchi (土) again. 

I thanked him and then studied the dictionary entry. Turning towards him again, I held up my phone to show the animated stroke order. "It's katakana no ru (ル).." I said. And just like an anime character, he put his hand on behind his head, smiled sheepishly, and replied, "Japanese is really difficult, isn’t it?"

I stared at him in disbelief for a split second, and we both dissolved into laughter. Because of this, I know I won't forget the word shinboku (親睦) or even the stroke order for its kanji anytime soon. I have meaningful context to thank for that. 

What is meaningful context?

Meaningful context in language learning is using language in real-life situations or authentic contexts that are relevant and noteworthy to the learner. It involves understanding and producing language in a way that reflects its practical use and purpose. When exposed to meaningful context, we better comprehend and retain new vocabulary, grammatical structures, and expressions. This is because putting words into context gives them meaning, which is essential in getting them into your long-term memory. Meaningful context also involves connecting new information with existing information, creating a cognitive structure. 

Okay, but how is this even related to the story you told at the beginning of the article?

Interestingly, memorable situations, such as my experience above, can also be considered meaningful context. Since I found it hilarious and endearing, it left a strong impression and provided an additional cognitive hook for retention. The more engaging, emotionally impactful, or personally relevant our memorable language learning situations are, the more likely they will stick.

Attaching emotions to language learning creates a more memorable and meaningful learning experience. Emotionally engaging content, such as heartfelt movies, exciting stories, personal anecdotes, or thought-provoking discussions, can activate emotional responses that facilitate memory formation. Emotional connections help anchor the language in your memory and make it easier to recall later.

It's crucial to mention that not all emotions are equally beneficial for memory. Positive emotions, such as interest, excitement, or enjoyment, promote memory formation and retrieval more effectively. Negative emotions, such as stress or anxiety, can hinder learning and memory. Therefore, creating a positive and supportive learning environment is vital for optimizing the benefits of emotional engagement.

How can I create meaningful context in my language studies?

To create meaningful context in your language learning studies, consider the following strategies:

1. Real-life connections: Find ways to connect the language you are learning to your daily life and personal experiences. For example, try incorporating the language into your hobbies, interests, or work-related tasks. This makes the language more relevant and meaningful to you.

2. Authentic materials: Seek out authentic materials in the target language, such as books, articles, podcasts, movies, or TV shows. Engaging with content you enjoy and find interesting will provide meaningful context and expose you to the language as native speakers use it in real-life situations.

3. Conversations and language exchanges: Engage in conversations with native speakers or language exchange partners. This allows you to practice the language meaningfully and interactively, exchanging ideas, opinions, and personal experiences.

4. Cultural immersion: Immerse yourself in the culture associated with your learning language. Explore the customs, traditions, and everyday life of the target culture. This will deepen your understanding of the language and provide meaningful context for language learning.

5. Contextualized learning materials: Use language learning resources that provide contextual examples and exercises. Look for resources that present language in meaningful contexts and help you understand how words, phrases, and grammar are used in real-life situations.

6. Goal-oriented projects: Set specific language learning goals and work on projects that require the use of the language. For example, you could translate your favorite songs, write a bilingual story, or create content in the target language. This gives you a purpose for using the language and creates a meaningful context for your studies.

Remember, making your language learning experience personal, meaningful, and tailored to your interests and goals is key. Engaging with your target language in meaningful ways can improve the learning process and make it more enjoyable and effective. As for me, whenever I reflect on either conversations or learning materials, what I consciously identify as my personal situations of meaningful context are the ones that actually stick. I think I'll make a habit of identifying more of these in the future ☺️

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Infographic with sources available on IG @penpenpenguin.jp 🙇‍♀️

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"What do you mean you're not fluent yet? You've been in Japan forever!" 

I'll be the first to admit that this is one of the comments that make me feel defeated, especially when I tell people I have a long way to go before becoming proficient in Japanese. Having worked in Japan for several years now, one would think that I would have already mastered the language. Even if I grew up bilingual, acquiring fluency in a third language is more challenging than one would think. 

Most of us know that language learning is a complex process involving various skills and abilities. Among these, accuracy and fluency are crucial aspects that often cause confusion among learners and educators alike. While accuracy and fluency are essential for effective communication in a second language, they represent different dimensions of proficiency.

Fluency:

1. Fluency is the ability to communicate smoothly, effortlessly, and naturally in a language.

2. It encompasses aspects such as speaking at a natural pace, using appropriate intonation and rhythm, and expressing ideas coherently.

3. Fluent speakers can understand and respond quickly in real-time conversations without frequent hesitations or disruptions.

4. Fluency emphasizes effective communication and the ability to convey thoughts and ideas fluidly.

Accuracy:

1. Accuracy refers to the correctness and precision of language use in terms of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and sentence structure.

2. It involves using the language according to its rules and conventions, adhering to grammatical principles, and selecting appropriate vocabulary.

3. Accurate language use helps to convey information clearly and avoids misunderstandings or misinterpretations.

4. Accuracy is essential in formal contexts, such as academic writing, business communication, or legal documents, where precision and clarity are essential.

Finding the right balance between fluency and accuracy is crucial in language learning. While fluency facilitates effective communication and natural expression, accuracy ensures clarity and correctness in language use. Achieving a balance involves practicing and developing both aspects through meaningful communication, exposure to the language, and explicit instruction on grammar and vocabulary. To develop both, you must intentionally immerse yourself in the language and access quality instruction and feedback. 

What do the experts say about developing fluency and accuracy?

Experts generally agree that fluency and accuracy in a language is vital for learning. However, which one to focus on depends on the situation and goals. Placing a heavy emphasis on accuracy can create anxiety and self-consciousness in learners. However, overemphasizing fluency at the expense of accuracy may lead to reinforcing errors resulting in fossilization. 

Here are a few opinions from language experts: 

1. Dr. Rod Ellis: Dr. Ellis, a prominent researcher in second language acquisition, suggests that early stages of language learning should prioritize fluency over accuracy. He argues that learners should focus on developing communication skills and gaining confidence in language use before becoming overly concerned with accuracy.

2. Dr. Diane Larsen-Freeman: Another influential researcher, Dr. Larsen-Freeman, promotes an integrated approach combining fluency and accuracy. She advocates for allowing learners to develop fluency through meaningful communication while offering explicit instruction on grammar and accuracy.

3. Dr. Andrew Cohen: Dr. Cohen, an expert in applied linguistics, proposes that fluency should be prioritized initially, but accuracy should be addressed. He suggests gradually shifting the focus from fluency to accuracy as learners progress in their language proficiency.

These perspectives demonstrate that experts recognize the importance of fluency and accuracy in language learning. The emphasis may vary depending on proficiency level, learning context, and learner goals. It is generally recommended to strike a balance between the two, developing fluency to facilitate effective communication while also working on accuracy to ensure clear and precise language use.

How do I approximately gauge my current fluency?

Here are five questions that can help you self-assess your fluency level in any language. Whether you're an intermediate learner looking to improve your skills or a beginner just starting out, these will provide insights into your progress and help identify areas for improvement. You can find the Instagram infographic here.

1. Can I understand my target language in various contexts and topics without difficulty? This means comprehending spoken language across different situations, such as conversations, lectures, or presentations, and on multiple topics. It indicates the ability to understand the content, follow the context, and grasp the main ideas without encountering significant difficulties.

2. Can I express myself in my target language and clearly convey my thoughts and opinions? Fluent speakers can express their thoughts, ideas, and opinions in the target language clearly and coherently. They can organize their thoughts, use appropriate language structures, and convey their intended message effectively to others.

3. Am I comfortable with different registers and styles of language, such as formal, informal, and professional? Language fluency extends to being comfortable with different registers and styles of language. It means adapting the language to different social contexts, such as using appropriate language in formal or informal settings and adjusting the tone, vocabulary, and style of speech to fit the specific situation.

4. Do I possess a range of vocabulary I can use appropriately in different situations? Language fluency entails having an extensive vocabulary and using it appropriately in various contexts. This includes knowing a wide range of words, phrases, and expressions and selecting the most suitable ones to convey precise meaning and accurately communicate in different situations.

5. Can I engage in conversations with native speakers and follow the flow of dialogue, understanding both explicit and implied meanings? Fluency involves actively participating in conversations with native speakers and understanding the explicit meanings and implied messages, tone, and nuances. It includes following the natural flow of dialogue, responding appropriately, and comprehending the intended meanings beyond literal interpretation.

How'd you fare? Personally, while I still struggle with overall accuracy and understanding keigo, I find myself being able to follow through with conversations more. I am currently thinking of ways to smooth out my grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation studies to allow for more nuanced and sophisticated communication to convey subtleties and nuances of my output, similar to how native speakers do it.

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