Aiming where exactly

Lately I've been thinking a lot about what exactly it is I aim to do. The more I study kanji, the more the gap between what I can recognize and what I can actually pull out of my brain and put to paper widens. In the scheme of things, though, writing by hand is not a very important skill. Really, it's sheer vanity. It's something to brag about. Of course, things like your address are probably good to know, things like your friends names, maybe, if you like to handwrite letters, but the truth is most of the time you want to write (not type!) something, you can just look up the characters on your favorite (no doubt electronic/web) dictionary and copy them. Which yes, at that point it would be good for you to know the procedure for writing them, but then I'm sure there are also people who are able to do away with the entire writing thing entirely and just focus on recognition. It would be typical to point out that even Japanese people have trouble remember exactly how to write some of the characters they certainly KNOW, but it would also be true. Even my pro Japanese tutors would look stuff up.

And then there's just the whole challenge of projecting your personality on a mindset that is so different. The image gets distorted as you manage to acclimate to different bits of etiquette more elegantly than others. Being polite is a full-time job; if you can only do it half-way then you still feel inconsiderate and rude half of the time, or at least concerned. And it's harder if there are certain things you just don't agree with, sort of like attending church as a non-believer. I'm attending Japan as an American. It's not like we can't get along; we do, of course. I have so many cool friends here; it's really not so bad. I'm just trying to explain the fringe anxieties off the top of my head. Do you study Japanese in an attempt to become Japanese or in an attempt to show them who you are?

I think working on faster, smoother, more accurate consumption will not be hard. Producing is the hard part. Sure you have to commit to both, since it's always easier to do anything in your native language. Doing anything a foreign language is like walking up a steep hill when the next block over is flat. What makes it worth while? I actually like walking uphill, for the exercise. I guess foreign language is the same.

In Japan

This blog is sad now, because it has nooooo attention.

But this blog is happy: beyondthepuddle.blogspot.com

or at least happier.

I'm happy because I'm in Japan. Going to try to learn a lot while working at the same time.

JLPT Study so far

Well, I'm trying to get caught up on kanji, mostly. That and vocab is where I hurt. I retain grammar the best, although it's been a while since I wasn't straight up reviewing, so we'll see how I fare. I think I can do it.

Also, the choice to go with N3 is the right one. I did example test questions for N5 (which I never doubted was too easy) and N4 (which I figured would be doable) and they were both a piece of cake, pretty much. I think the only times I messed up were times where I just hadn't paid enough attention.

One thing I need to be careful of is to not get too sucked into Anki. Flashcards are great, but in the end, flashcards are going to make you good at flashcards, and not Japanese. (Of course, people say that about the JLPT, too, that studying for the test only really makes you good at taking the test, or that it only tests your ability to study for a test...)

I have a LOT of textbooks. They all have example sentences and some of them have drills. Cross studying (out of order, heavens!) goes totally against my "chonology tic," but in this case the most important is really to just cover material. I definitely err on the overly systematic approach, so it's time to just study whatever is relevant.

Also, it's time to study. This blog has been giving me some grief lately. Some of the posts are super valuable (to me, at least) but some of them are just drama or boring. I might clean it up. I don't really want to start a new one just to "get serious." I think I can do that here :)

世間体

This word means "appearances."

From the dictionary on my Macbook:
for the sake of appearances 世間体のために
that would look bad/be bad for my reputation それでは世間体が悪い

But these kanji readings seem kind of crazy to me. せけんてい
せmakes sense since it's the same as 世界
but けん is pretty different from かん like 間 is more commonly pronounced
and てい is different from たい like 体 is usually pronounced.

It's almost like the vowels for the whole word shifted to match the first one.

Anyways, it's hard for me to remember, but then I realized that if you get a little philosophical it's not so hard, based on the meanings of the kanji.

Think of 世 as world, 間 as a length of time, and 体 as body/phyisical.

So appearances are only valid in this life, the brief time your physical form (appearance) is on this planet.

あの世ではどうなるかな。

#makingshitup

Anyways, I hope that taking the time to write this post will help me remember the word.

I've been trying to think of what I can do to make this a little more functional for other people, since it's called How to not suck at Japanese, but really, as I think I have said, the key is just to take the time. Me writing whatever I write in here is meant to show that. Of course, I don't update all that often, but I'm working on it :X I HAVE been studying kanji and vocab in Anki. Semi holding off on grammar until I get the N3 books I ordered (textbook junkiiiiiie).

I always feel more compelled to study while out of town

Somehow the change of scenery drives me. Or maybe I feel like I have something to prove.

Anyhow, I've been studying from NJ. Working from/on Anki flashcards from/for Kanji in Context vocab. So, not much to report, except that I'm trying to get on track. I can't decide if I'd like to study in the morning or after work, but I'm beginning to think mornings. The only thing I don't like about studying first thing in the morning is that I don't want to stop. When I get tired, or I feel like I have accomplished what I would have liked to for the day, then I stop; stopping to go to work, as much as I love my job (literally, not sarcastically), is sort of depressing.

For this week I think may try out studying in the evening, though. I have been on the East Coast, so I feel like my potential for getting a swim/work-out in early in the morning is high. If I can get in that habit and make it work, I think it will be a good thing. If it's not ideal (which it may not be, food-schedule-wise) then, I will switch back to studying in the morning. Gotta give it a shot.

I'm back, finally + JLPT goals revealed

God, what was wrong with me anyways? I'm trying really hard. I decided to take a look at what exactly I have to learn and make a more long term view. Basically, I think I can pass the N1 exam after three years if I actually apply myself and quit slacking like a poser. In fact, I know I can pass the N1 exam after three years if I actually apply myself and quick slacking like a poser. So that is great. It's also very empowering to think that way. After all, it's me who is running this show.

I think in order to be properly prepped I might as well take the other exams, too, with the exception of N5. N4 I could probably pass now, but I'm not sure if I could do N3 by December. Level 2 was ~1,000, where Level 3 was ~300 as far as kanji goes. So if it's really right between there, I might actually be EXACTLY ready for N3 when the test happens in December. In fact, if I signed up to take that one, it would be pretty hefty motivation. Better to challenge myself? I would hate to sign up and then fail : / Theoretically, I could start with N4, skip N3, and do N2 the next year, the way the old schoolers did it; that might fit my schedule better, but by December, N4 will be really easy for me.

I guess I have until at least July to figure this out. I can see how I'm doing by then. I should be way further along so I can see how I want to split it up. It's funny, I've never much been interested in the JLPT, but somehow now I feel like it's the right thing to do.

Anyhow, I think the next three years, I will take an exam each year. That is the executive summary. N4/N3, N2, N1. That means that by 2012 I should be pretty freaking awesome at Japanese, but anyways, it's day by day here so I gotta get studying.

Being a quitter

I've decided I've had enough of both of my Japanese classes, which is unfortunate, but also....if you haven't noticed I haven't been studying lately. It's really awful to feel like you have to cram homework rather than enjoy yourself just...working through things and having fun.

It's making me feel like a quitter, especially in light of all the other things I've started and stopped over the past several months. It's not like I'm quitting Japanese, I just need to keep trying till I find a method that is what I want. I was settling into something really good right before I decided to try these classes, so I'm going to just keep exploring on my own.

I need to translate some more songs!! My guitar lessons are going well, so I need to make sure I can still sing はっぴいえんど!

I dunno. There is so much I want to do and I feel like spending six hours a week in class is keeping me from them. If I quit I just have to promise myself I will spend my time wisely and I think I can do that.

Another weekend goes by with no new translation : /

It has been a busy one. And I did do all my kanji homework for tomorrow.

Mrrf.

Homework

Mmmm as it turned out this weekend was exactly as busy as I thought it would be so I'm not sure if I'll get a translation in or not. I need to make sure I am taking the time to properly completely and study my homework for the classes I am taking or there is no point, right? Thus we'll be studying kanji this afternoon...

Translation: 朝 ー はっぴいえんど

This is one of their songs that get me every time. Original lyrics.

Morning

Morning leaks in from a gap in the curtains
and gently wraps you up as you lie there.
The light plays on the white wall and you're so sleepy
it makes you look beautiful. Now inside me
morning is passing through. I hang my head and
lived alone. I didn't see anything.
I didn't hear anything. I have the feeling that
the times up to now are like ancient history. Your awake but sleepy voice; you open your eyes a little, smiling. Without replying, I breathe in.
I'm warm. Outside the window, there is winter.

There are some little doubts about the above. I waffled a bit on the subject, like always. I don't want to get into it, though; just want to listen again.

Update: Actually, I know that 顔をそむく can't possibly mean what I said it does, the way the particles are. Got a little glib. I dunno what it should be, though. Do you betray your face? I wonder if it's just a difference in the figure of speech. If anyone knows I would be interested to find out. Ok wait I just updated it. I found the verb 背ける and it makes WAY more sense. Glad I looked that up. The kanji is the same as 背くbut it seems like the character has changed since the time the song was written (one of those).

Update: As I'm singing I realized I totally whiffed on 冬. Heh, it's "winter" not "snow." Fixed.

One week of class down

I guess I should've have written this sooner, but my second week of class starts tomorrow. LET'S REVIEW:

Kanji 2

I think I'm going to like this class. When I went last week there were 5 people (including me) all doing our best to remember the kanji we were supposed to have learned in the last class (which I did not take, but one would freaking hope that after a B.A. I would know SOMEthing, for the sake of our higher education system, if not for me). As it is, there were some that I did not know, and although I thought I had reviewed up to the point where we would be in 2, I missed about...6 chapters. Ugh. So I'm going through them. Luckily it is a lot of stuff I recognize, even if I can't necessarily pull it out of thin air with a pencil. Good review is good after all.

Intermediate 4

I have some problems with this class and they don't stem from what the 3 of us (including me) did as far as material (easy grammar, though it maybe—I really need the vocab work), but as far as learning to pronounce things. Not to say I'm not happy I signed up, but I'm just really worried about picking up horrible pronunciation habits. They teach this super basic elementary-reading-speak that just irks me. It feels like the equivalent of spoken romaji, honestly. Let's see if I can demonstrate in writing.

We worked on あげる、くれる、もらう and the honorific/humble equivalents. A sentence like:

お母さんは妹に本をあげました。

turns into:

お母さんは？ 妹に？ 本を？ あげました。

NOTE THE QUESTION MARKS AND SPACES.

Not that it really sounded like a question per se, but it was the easiest way to indicate the annoying upswing in pitch on the end of every particle with a little pause as if the grammar had to digest. I understand this might be the way you teach 5 year olds how to read, but we're not 5 and we want to sound like really human beings. Japanese 5 year olds speak it alllll the time so they even out. We mostly speak English and come to school to speak Japanese, so give us the real deal and don't baby us.

/end vent

I dunno. Maybe it's selfish and I don't mean to sound like an arrogant jerk, but one thing people have always noted about my Japanese is that I have decent pronunciation, so I really don't want to mess it up by getting this drill-speak in my head. In fact, I'm a little terrified of it. Hopefully if I supplement with lots of native exposure I'll be ok.

*worryworry*

Translation: かくれんぼ ー はっぴいえんど

This weekend I decided to do かくれんぼ, but next time I'm definitley doing 朝. I realized I should have probably done them in the reverse order after I started, but all these songs are so great that it doesn't matter too much. This one will be harder to learn to sing because the melody is so meandering, but that is part of why I love to listen to it, so I'll do my best :) Japanese lyrics are here.

Hide and Seek - HAPPY END

The cloudy sky's early twilight
I'm making a cloud of smoke puffing on a cigarette [1]
Unfortunately the wind has completely died down
I'm drinking hot tea.

I'm trying to say "I want you" or something
A lie like a sigh slipping out the back [2]
is like a flower petal.
I'm drinking hot tea.

There was no thawing of snow etc.
The left over time in a ovalish warped coffee cup shivers. [3]
I'm drinking hot tea.

Oh, don't say anything. Yes, if you just be quiet it's better.
Because I can't hear your words.
The snowy landscape is outside. Inside the two of us are playing
hide and seek.
You smile as if it's painted on. [4]
I'm drinking hot tea.

[1] The parallel is so much more beautiful in Japanese.

[2] 滑り落とすis a tricky word that doesn't seem to want to come up in any of my dictionaries. Obviously the line after this one is very connected to it, but I'm not sure I got this metaphor right. And as usual, it sounds horrible in English. Luckily, no one expects you to (god forbid) sing or even really think about these songs in English. This is just a reference and it helps to sing the song if you have an idea of what you're saying.

[3] 瞬間: You can clearly hear him say とき here, so I'm guessing that this is just (now) outdated kanji. In the dictionaries I tried it came up as moment/second/instant, which you could also use here, I suppose. I really like the idea of "dregs of time" which I think is what they are getting at here? This is a really pretty song. I hope I understand it correctly : /

[4] This is a really a key line and it's hard to say whether I translated it right here. It seems like it should be this bitter interpretation, since they are playing hide and seek with their feelings and having a rough time of it (at least the way I'm seeing it). He could also be ADMIRING her smile, though. That said, it might not even be "her" smile. *sigh* Anyways, yes, so you could also say something like, "The very picture of a smiling face..." but I just don't get that vibe. In English you wouldn't really compliment someone by saying their smile looks like in a painting, so I'm not sure how I would translate it if it were a positive thing. If anyone has any insight into this line, please let me know :)

Translation: 暗闇坂むささび変化 ー はっぴいえんど

I sort of want to start a HAPPY END cover band. How cool would that be? These songs are so fun to sing :) This one has been my project for the weekend. On the tribute CD, Happy Parade, this song is sung BEAUTIFULLY by　つじあやの with ukulele :) Lyrics are here.

The Giant Flying Squirrel Monster[1]

The place is Tokyo, Azabujuuban,[2]
just then the early afternoon.
In the dark hills, an outburst of crickets chirping.
To my shining eyes in my black coat [3]
In broad daylight, appeared a monstrous apparition.

Flying squirrel,
Flying squirrel,
Oh-oh flying squirrel.

Butterflies go flap flap flap
Bats go whoosh whoosh whoosh
A suspicious cloud streams by
To my ears in my black hat, from a torn mouth
comes a worn out voice saying, "You never write..." [4]

Flying squirrel,
Flying squirrel,
Oh-oh flying squirrel.

If I try to remember,
in grandma's old stories, since I've met one of these I should say [5]
"Let me hear one or two of your tales of woe"
and take its hand even if it's just a dream [6]

Flying squirrel,
Flying squirrel,
Oh-oh flying squirrel.

Notes:

[1] This is a more or less literal translation. As far as I can tell, though, this song really is about a fying squirrel "monster."

[2] Thank god for name and place dictionaries.

[3] This was probably the hardest line in the song (well and the one about 黒ソフト, but once you decide the first one the second one works the same way. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be more metaphor or he was actually just describing the clothes he was wearing. I mean, I could be entirely wrong. I think it's the に that really through me off, since that should indicate direction, not location. Unless it's with ある, at least. See? It's hard. I'm not sure.

[4]草疲びれる　This was pretty interesting. It took me a while to figure out this word, even though I knew right away what it meant because of the kanji for 疲れた (which means "tired"). Unless the dictionaries I use are mistaken, this: 草臥れる is the current kanji spelling of the word. Another of the dictionaries only seems to register the kana くたびれる.

[5] 以来, here, through me off. It's supposed to mean "since" in a time sense, not a "because" sense. I almost want to assume they botched the kanji, because 依頼 (also いらい) means "request," which totally makes sense, but I would have to change the rest of the verse, too. It'd be something like ,

If I try to remember
in grandma's old stories, the request from one of these when you meet is,
"Let me tell you a tale of woe or two..."
and it takes my hand even though I'm dreaming.

Orrr....something. But you get the idea. It would change from you offering to help it out (to save your skin!!) to it requesting your help (because it's a sad lonely spirit). It's hard because I understand the situation and even have a general idea of how a yokai encounter works, but I just can't get through this grammar.

This sort of runs into point [6] by now, but that も is sort of hard to parse. Normally も is something like "as well" or "too" but in this case I don't think he's been talking about any other "pipe dreams" (which I refuse to translate as pipe dreams because...well...we just wouldn't say it. I could maybe do it as "hallucination," but that seems a little too far from the original.) I guess I just took some liberities in this case and said "even though" because that seems to be the sentiment they are trying to convey. Like, "It's probably a dream, but this is what happened, so...what can I say?"

UPDATE:

This past week a friend from Twitter sent me some notes on this blog post! I was very surprised and excited by this development :)

The main gist is to confirm my hesitations in [3] where I wasn't sure what to do with the black clothing mentions. The context is murky enough that it seems like you could go either way, but this translator went with the metaphor, which maybe does make more sense. Anyhow, I highly recommend checking out the notes!!

Dates and Classes

I had no idea you could write １９８５年　（千九百八十五年）as 一九八五年.

Literally, no idea. How come I haven't come across this before? Was I just not paying attention? Maybe it was rash to be a skeptic of this kanji textbook (Bojinsha's Basic Kanji Book) that we are using for class.

Yes, I tested into Intermediate 4 and Kanji 2, so I did buy MORE textbooks. Honestly, though, Situational Functional Japanese seems pretty great now that I'm spending some time looking at it. Doesn't look like they baby you on the kanji front, either. Going to try and get through at least some of the material they covered in the previous class (the stuff contained in the books I bought, since we are starting part-way through each of them) but I don't think I'll get to it all.

I'm really strong in grammar, but weak in kanji/vocab, it seems. This makes me want to just start over every time I study, but I can't do that...have to press forward. I'm really excited to have a completely objective idea of how I'm doing (the teacher's). Just gotta keep trying.

Which class(es) will I take?

Took the placement test today. I FEEL like I rocked it (which I realize is a very un-Japanese thing to say), but I don't want to congratulate myself too much until I know what they think. What I'm hoping for is Practical Communication and Reading Comprehension, but I'm guessing that is too much to hope for given the neglected state of my kanji knowledge.

What I'm NOT hoping for is landing in an intermediate class, just because I'd sort of like to avoid buying more textbooks. I'm almost wondering if I should just really focus on listening and kanji for a while (i.e. this semester) and then sign up for Spring classes. (That way the timing won't interfere with my beginning wushu, but that said, I have a feeling Monday, Tuesday might be a bit much in a row when I'm just starting anyways, and a Monday night Japanese class seems like the right way to start the week.)

I mean, if I could get halfway to 2級 by April, I think I could test into those classes. Halfway is only 500 kanji and I know a bunch already. That said there is always the depth vs. breadth debate. I don't want to cram only to realize I didn't learn much at all. (Something, anything; something, anything!)

Come to think of it, maybe that mantra is the way I should look at these classes, too. So what if I have to buy MORE books and review a bit? If it'll get me to where I want to be then that's what I'll do. Just waiting on their recommendations...

Their kanji courses go

0-100
101-370
371-500

I'm guessing I'm somewhere in the realm of number 2. I'm guessing I could safely sign up for number 2, which is definitely shameful, ugh...(after all these years) but what are you gonna do? Take Practical Communication and Kanji 2, I guess. I just really like the Kanji in Context books that I JUST got. Hrm hrm hrm. Craving classroom interaction while simultaneously craving an empty room.

Know what is more productive? STUDYING. It's been a while :X

Crap, has it really been a month?

I can tell you that for some of that time I was studying.

And then for some of that time I was not.

I did just start this today, though: http://www.murakamiculturemap.com

So that is good. Also, I'm strongly considering (pretty much decided on) signing up for actual Japanese classes. I haven't been in a classroom in just over 3 years, at least not to learn. I was inspired by this blog post, which I heard about via @whiterabbitjpn; as you may have guessed, that is White Rabbit Press's Twitter account—exciting!

Anyways, I e-mailed Sokogakuen about classes today and they responded quite promptly with a link to a placement test type dealie, but the site has apparently gone down. Hoping there is an alternate I can take soon.

This, I think, is the only way I will be able to build speaking confidence. So...I'm gonna give it a shot.

Shadowing Update

それから、韓国語がわかります。

I can say that a lot better than I used to be able to. This week I'm doing the first half of Unit 2, intead of the whole thing. As the sentences get more complex it will be better to do more repetitions...

Man, I was going to attempt another song translation today, but I have a lot of stuff to study. Might be better to do it tomorrow? We'll see. There is a crisis of laundry building. I wish I had a bigger laundry bag so I could just take everything to the laundromat at once and read Haruki Murakami allllllllll afternoon...

Lazy Friday

Not sure if I'm going to have the stamina for 敬語の金曜日 after all...

but I got a lot of other stuff done! And then I read comics ;)

Thanksgiving Check-in

Just had a super productive and wonderful study session. Maybe it's because I had the day off and had the time/energy, but really, I've been doing a pretty good job of keeping at it all week. I feel like I'm improving, which is always good motivation.

Shadowing

Unit 1 is getting a little old, but I've noticed that I can keep up better with phrases like 私は十七日です。(That sentence looks really funny, btw—she's talking about her birthday.) As expected, repetition is the key.

Kanji

I feel like I have the vocab down for this lesson, which is awesome. I guess that means I could add some of the harder vocab to the mix if I wanted. The plan was to go through all the plain ones first and then go back and sweep for the ones marked as not immediately essential or specialized afterwards...

Grammar

Now that I am sinking my teeth into 初級から中級への日本語ドリル（文法）I am lovvvvving it. They give you really important pointers, like how when you're using 〜たまま the person doing both the action that is finished with a continuing state and the current action has to be the same person. This is actually the kind of grammar advice I REALLY need, so I'm thrilled. Also, since they have grammar explanations in Japanese AND English (and Chinese and Korean) it's really easy to pick up vocabulary like 過去否定形 (past negative form [of a verb]).

Casual Listening

Well, it's casual. I have to say this is the thing that I feel ok about dropping if I'm sleepy or dont' have time, but tonight I did listen to a story about a lady who lives with a crow. Whoo!

That's all. Just a progress report. I'm actually pretty sleepy now, for whatever reason. I kinda wanted to play some videogames, but not sure I have the attn span ;)

An actual study session -- wao!

Check it out—I studied for about two hours tonight. Here is what I did:

Reviewed Unit 1 of the Shadowing book

There are ten lessons with ten SHORT dialogues. That sounds like a ton, but Unit 1 is the most basic stuff. Like I said, I'm pretty happy just confirming the patterns I know, right now. Plus there are some thing that don't exactly roll of the tongue and this is a great way to drill them. 失礼します will never be easy to say : / お先に失礼します。It's too bad, because this is one thing you will say ALL THE TIME if you work in Japan. It's really too bad that the bar to fluency is set so high right off the bat. しつれい is just...difficult as hell. HELL.

That and it's nice to have this book really moving your tongue. Some listening activities are pretty slowly spoken, but this CD just rambles right along, so you have to keep up. Numbers are the other hardest thing. 一泊３５０円です。That's a pretty expensive movie rental!

Got all of lesson 1 Kanji in Context must-learn vocab into Anki and gave it a spin

I did some of this over the weekend, but now all 26 of the easiest kanji in the universe* are in there. It seems there is almost more vocab you didn't know—八百屋, I had no idea, really— plus, of course, tons of vocab that will be nice to see to remind you that you do indeed know Japanese. The plan with this is to do a chapter a week. Once we get through the stuff they assume you know already (which I may...not...anymore) it evens out to about 10 kanji per chapter, which should be feasible as far as learning new things goes, which makes me excited.

*I know, I know. AGAIN? Haven't you been studying these for about 10 years now? (Yes.) It's not like I forgot them all, I know them. How many times do you have to lay the foundations? (Over and over?) I have to justify this somehow in a way better than a personality flaw (yeah, you really do) but I can say that the examples sentences are...really great. Just from the first lesson, I feel like I'm reading at my level in real things that might actually be said. I LIKE the context. I need the context. The context will help me learn. Putting my kanji in it!

Was indecisive about how to proceed as far as grammar goes

I'm eager to get into the blue 日本語ドリル book from The Japan Times, and I think that will do me ok. I'm a little nervous about not having answers available. I guess that is the one nice thing about 文法が弱いあなたへ.

Incidentally, kanji holds you back a lot. This is what the Kanji in Context intro was getting at with the # "sharply rises" thing, but man, it really does. It's very frustrating, esp if you can't keep the stuff you learned already in your head. Gonna try hard.

Gonna wait on the orange vocab book until the blue one is done

I had originally thought of studying these both together, but I think I will be getting as much vocab as I can handle out of the kanji study and just...song lyrics, etc. Randomness. I'm sure there will be vocab to learn in the blue book, too, since I am still so much a nubberduckie.

敬語の金曜日

This seems like a plan and a half, if I can actually find some time. I tend to go out on Fridays (to NEW PEOPLE), so it could be tricky to fit in depending on the timing of whatever I am doing. It can always spill over to Saturday, I guess ;) Actually, I get to go to work later on Friday, so maybe I can study in the morning. That seems ideal.

Casual Listening

As opposed to the hard-working Shadowing stuff, I'm going to use the 50 Days book to just relax a bit. I won't worry about understanding/remembering every word. I'll just chilllllll. Later I can go back and see how much more I understand, maybe. And the readings should be easier once I recollect some kanji.

So the short view of a week is:
Daily Shadowing (Shadowing!)
Weekly Kanji Lesson* (Anki, Kanji in Context Workbook)
Weekly Grammar Lesson (Blue book, with some Tae Kim as necessary) +
Daily Casual Listening (50 Days)
Friday Keigo (日本語の敬語トレーニング, 敬語すらすらBOOK)
Stress-free Saturday (Last Saturday of the month = cooking and conversation clubs.)
Sunday Lyrics (There are so many more songs to sing!)

*spread out over the week
+ Followed by Weekly Vocab Lesson (Orange book...although I half wonder if I should study some basic lists first)

I can't really come up with a more gorgeous study schedule than that. Sticking to it is the trouble, right? Maybe I can't study two hours every night, but if I can do at least one, that is something.