Although I managed to learn two languages very different from my own to a degree where I can share ideas about almost anything, I’m actually not particularly good at learning languages.
If there is anything I am good at, it’s finding unique ways to accomplish a goal and making it happen.
I have a horrible short term memory and I find sitting down to study incredibly boring and boring information doesn’t stick like when you are having fun.
So I searched for many ways to make it more fun. If I have lots of free time, that's one thing, and there are some methods that allow me to learn a lot in a short period of time, but since I'm teaching and making music and writing stories and trying to keep everything moving, I can't focus as much time on study these days.
So I've developed some habits that make learning mote painless, even when I'm busy. I try to learn as much as I can in short spurts in between other activities so there is no chunk of my day that's set aside for study.
I go about my day as usual but I always have study material on hand, usually in an app that's open and ready, that I can access in about 20 seconds for a minute or a two at a time. Then I keep what I study in my head for a few minutes while doing other things.
I try to study vocabulary in sets of 3 or in context.
Before I put the laundry I try to keep 3 words in my head or a full short sentences with a word or two that I want to learn. Then I choose another 3 words or another sentence and try to memorize. Then I’ll start vacuuming.
After vacuuming half the apartment I’ll move on to the next set and then finish vacuuming. After that I will review everything.
If I play guitar or play a game I’ll learn 3 words first. When i take a shower I try to learn 3 words first. When I get on the train I learn 3 words first. When i go to the bathroom, order lunch, write a hive post or message a friend, I try to learn 3 words first.
I realize this is hardly the most effective way to learn but it keeps the language fresh in your mind all the time.
When the language is new to me I will try to think in that language. I describe what is going on around me.
Doing this constantly will prevent your mind from relaxing, but its no different from keeping a phone on hand and scrolling through social media compulsively. Both really need some downtime where you can just sit and let your mind unwind. I do this separately. I spend a few minutes throughout the day decompressing and being in the moment. Sometimes I use music.
I’d like to get back to some more focused study at some point but for now this is the most realistic way for me since I am balancing so many other things and studying a language isn’t something I can put hours a day into.
That being said, after I finish this post, I hope to spend a good 30 minutes reviewing vocabulary through digital flashcards, review everything I've studied this past week.
Here are some of the words I've been studying:
| Kanji | English | Hiragana |
|---|---|---|
| 根本 | root/source | ねもと |
| 遂げる | to accomplish | とげる |
| すっ飛ぶ | to rush off | すっとぶ |
| ほどほど | moderate | |
| 形無し | to lose face | かたなし |
| 手癖が悪い | have a habit of stealing things | てぐせがわる |
| 暴言 | reckless remark | ぼうげん |
| 下民 | the masses/lower class | げみん |
| 無能 | incompetence | むのう |
| 見苦しい | unsightly | みぐるしい |
| 成り上がり | upstart | なりあがり |
| 独房 | cell | どくぼう |
| ぶち込む | throw someone into | ぶちこむ |
| 難攻不落 | impregnable | なんこうふらく |
| 館 | mansion/palace | やかた |
| 抜け出す | to slip out | ぬけだす |
| ずきん | throbbing pain | |
| 上乗せ | adding/extra | うわのせ |
| 遠出 | trip/excursion | とおで |
| 上り詰める | to climb to the top | のぼりつめる |
| 吹き込む | to blow into | ふきこむ |
| 心外 | regrettable | しんがい |
| ちゃちゃと | lickety split | |
| いっぺん | all at once | |
| なぎ倒す | to mow down/beat | なぎたおす |
| 取り押さえる | to seize | とりおさえる |
| 満喫 | having enough food/drink | まんきつ |
| 惨状 | disastrous scene | さんじょう |
| 目もくれない | indifferent | めもくれない |
| ちょっくら | for a moment | |
| ちょい | a little | |
| 神妙 | meek/quiet | しんみょう |
| ぽっくり | (dying) suddenly | |
| 年甲斐もなく | unbecoming of one's age | としがいもなく |
| 妨害 | disturbance | ぼうがい |
| 厄介払い | driving off a troublesome person | やっかいばらい |
| 繁盛 | prosperity | はんじょう |
| 退避 | taking refuge | たいひ |
| 出し抜く | to outwit | だしぬく |
| 鬱憤を晴らす | to vent anger | うっぷんをはらす |
| 流通 | circulation/distribution | りゅうつう |
| 取り仕切る | to operate a business | とりしきる |
| 飽くなき | insatiable | あくなき |
| 執着 | attachment | しゅうちゃく |
| 真理 | truth | しんり |
| 名答 | correct answer | めいとう |
| 降りかかる | to befall | ふりかかる |
| ジワジワ | slowly and steadily | |
| 這い上がる | to creep up | はいあがる |
| 一晩中 | all night long | ひとばんじゅう |
| かけっこ | foot race | |
| 余裕をかます | to feign composure | よゆうをかます |
| 手際よく | efficiently/skillfully | てぎわよく |
| 腕前 | ability | うでまえ |
| 訳アリ | special circumstances | わけあり |
Recent music video: