Comments on: Knowing your limits: learning a language, among other things http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/28/knowing-your-limits-learning-a-language/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/28/knowing-your-limits-learning-a-language/#comment-1660 Doug Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:11:08 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3304#comment-1660 Actually I am not a developer, but more like a system admin. I couldn't write computer code to save my life (or to get out of paper bag). As for Anki, I noticed the same trend in myself when memorizing things before, in that short-term cramming, no matter how much I did it, wouldn't work. I noticed that when I could recall something two times over the long-term (weeks, months later after learning it), it usually "stuck". Anki functions on the same model where long-term memorization is emphasized rather than short-term drilling, and that's why I like it. :) Actually I am not a developer, but more like a system admin. I couldn’t write computer code to save my life (or to get out of paper bag). As for Anki, I noticed the same trend in myself when memorizing things before, in that short-term cramming, no matter how much I did it, wouldn’t work. I noticed that when I could recall something two times over the long-term (weeks, months later after learning it), it usually “stuck”. Anki functions on the same model where long-term memorization is emphasized rather than short-term drilling, and that’s why I like it. :)

]]> By: Victor http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/28/knowing-your-limits-learning-a-language/#comment-1659 Victor Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:51:12 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3304#comment-1659 iKnow! is now smart.fm, and it looks like they are experiencing some problems migrating their web operations :( Actually I'd value your impressions, given your experience as a developer and learner of Japanese! The allegedly "cognitively enhanced" aspect of iKnow! and Anki look interesting. They are certainly onto important cognitive principles of memory and learning. iKnow! is now smart.fm, and it looks like they are experiencing some problems migrating their web operations :(

Actually I’d value your impressions, given your experience as a developer and learner of Japanese!

The allegedly “cognitively enhanced” aspect of iKnow! and Anki look interesting. They are certainly onto important cognitive principles of memory and learning.

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/28/knowing-your-limits-learning-a-language/#comment-1657 Doug Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:19:31 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3304#comment-1657 Hi all, Sorry for the late reply: <strong>Matthew:</strong> Sadly, after taking a prep mock test though, I failed pretty miserably. Most of my online stuff is possible through good dictionaries and such, not because I actually know the words. I do know the URL you mentioned and dumped all their vocab into Anki for practice, and that helps. :) Still need to work on listening and grammar among other shortcomings. <strong>Marcus:</strong> Yeah, my wife keeps discouraging me from doing that idea. Since I have a nice job in an IT company, she doesn't like the idea of me trading that for something risky and inconsistent like a teaching job, but on the other hand it would get me to Japan. Ah well. <strong>Victor:</strong> I haven't looked at iKnow yet, but will definitely give it a look. I certainly welcome your input given your background on the subject. :) Hi all,

Sorry for the late reply:

Matthew: Sadly, after taking a prep mock test though, I failed pretty miserably. Most of my online stuff is possible through good dictionaries and such, not because I actually know the words. I do know the URL you mentioned and dumped all their vocab into Anki for practice, and that helps. :) Still need to work on listening and grammar among other shortcomings.

Marcus: Yeah, my wife keeps discouraging me from doing that idea. Since I have a nice job in an IT company, she doesn’t like the idea of me trading that for something risky and inconsistent like a teaching job, but on the other hand it would get me to Japan. Ah well.

Victor: I haven’t looked at iKnow yet, but will definitely give it a look. I certainly welcome your input given your background on the subject. :)

]]> By: Victor http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/28/knowing-your-limits-learning-a-language/#comment-1654 Victor Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:25:31 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3304#comment-1654 Doug, Do you know anything about the iKnow! Japanese language learning platform? (Recently became smart.fm.) FYI, I work as a researcher in second language acquisition at a US university center, and we do consulting and research projects for large USG institutions with major interests in language learning and technology. Best wishes, Vic PS My 2nd language is Russian, which I learned as an adult. Difficult but definitely not as difficult as Japanese! Doug,

Do you know anything about the iKnow! Japanese language learning platform? (Recently became smart.fm.)

FYI, I work as a researcher in second language acquisition at a US university center, and we do consulting and research projects for large USG institutions with major interests in language learning and technology.

Best wishes,
Vic

PS My 2nd language is Russian, which I learned as an adult. Difficult but definitely not as difficult as Japanese!

]]> By: Marcus http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/28/knowing-your-limits-learning-a-language/#comment-1632 Marcus Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:58:35 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3304#comment-1632 Hi, "English teaching jobs pay poorly and vary widely, as well as a contingent immigration status. Not the kind of thing you want to risk putting a family through." You are so right. Please, consider teaching English only as a very very last resort. (This from someone with 13 years in the industry). See you in Japan some time! Marcus Hi,

“English teaching jobs pay poorly and vary widely, as well as a contingent immigration status. Not the kind of thing you want to risk putting a family through.”

You are so right. Please, consider teaching English only as a very very last resort. (This from someone with 13 years in the industry).

See you in Japan some time!

Marcus

]]> By: Matthew 真秀 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/28/knowing-your-limits-learning-a-language/#comment-1631 Matthew 真秀 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 08:20:14 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3304#comment-1631 Hey There, I was coming over to link your site to one of my posts and got sidetracked as I read your latest. I'm no Japanese wizard, in fact my skills are pretty mundane. I have however, read one of your posts in Japanese and you are leaps and bounds beyond me. I just took the JLPT 3. I won't say it was easy... But based off your knowledge compared to mine... You'll do fine. I scored 1.5 % away from passing, I'm confident I'll ace it next year. Two things for a sure win - 1 - Go to this web-page, print the vocab, practice what you don't know and run through the grammar. http://www.jlptstudy.com/3/index.html 2 - get the 04/06 JLPT lvl 3 study guide from the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services. Its a white book with a green 3 on the cover, includes a CD. It covered the 2004-2006 tests. They were very similar to the '08. You should do fine with the lead time you are giving yourself. Helps to have a buddy to study with too! Ganbatte! Matthew Hey There,

I was coming over to link your site to one of my posts and got sidetracked as I read your latest. I’m no Japanese wizard, in fact my skills are pretty mundane. I have however, read one of your posts in Japanese and you are leaps and bounds beyond me. I just took the JLPT 3. I won’t say it was easy… But based off your knowledge compared to mine… You’ll do fine. I scored 1.5 % away from passing, I’m confident I’ll ace it next year.

Two things for a sure win -
1 – Go to this web-page, print the vocab, practice what you don’t know and run through the grammar. http://www.jlptstudy.com/3/index.html

2 – get the 04/06 JLPT lvl 3 study guide from the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services. Its a white book with a green 3 on the cover, includes a CD. It covered the 2004-2006 tests. They were very similar to the ’08.

You should do fine with the lead time you are giving yourself. Helps to have a buddy to study with too!

Ganbatte!

Matthew

]]> By: Jeannie http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/02/28/knowing-your-limits-learning-a-language/#comment-1630 Jeannie Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:05:12 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3304#comment-1630 Hi Doug! Glad that you and your family are reunited. I can imagine how hard that was on everyone. A classmate took JLPT 3 back in December. He found it easy but he has many years experience with the language. Another friend took it too- one whose background is like mine in that he has studied Japanese in school for two years. He found it very difficult. And another friend, who lives in Japan and took JLPT 1 says that to pass 2, you need to live in Japan, or at the very least, use Japanese everyday and often. Good luck to you! P.S. If my hubby spoke Japanese, I would insist that he'd use it primarily at home in order to help me learn. Just a suggestion. :) Hi Doug! Glad that you and your family are reunited. I can imagine how hard that was on everyone.

A classmate took JLPT 3 back in December. He found it easy but he has many years experience with the language. Another friend took it too- one whose background is like mine in that he has studied Japanese in school for two years. He found it very difficult. And another friend, who lives in Japan and took JLPT 1 says that to pass 2, you need to live in Japan, or at the very least, use Japanese everyday and often.

Good luck to you!

P.S. If my hubby spoke Japanese, I would insist that he’d use it primarily at home in order to help me learn. Just a suggestion. :)

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