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 :)

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.