#textfugu

[studyblrima]

I’ve started using WaniKani to learn Kanji, as well as finished their guide for learning hiragana! I intend to begin Katakana soon, and am currently checking out TextFugu!

[studyblrima]

Did you know?

Katakana and Hiragana consist of the same sounds! Katakana tends to be more angular and rigid, and Hiragana has more curves! Katakana is used for writing words that came from other languages! Kanji originates from china, and each symbol represents a word instead of a syllable!

[zhong-er-bing]

Does anyone else use (or has used in the past) Textfugu/WaniKani to study Japanese? I’ve just started working through it and I’m a fan so far because I really enjoy the fact that it’s geared towards self-studiers and that Koichi keeps a very conversational tone throughout which makes it less intimidating.

I definitely plan on continuing to use Textfugu, but I like a multi-pronged approach to language learning. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts about Textfugu and/or recommendations about other resources to use in conjunction with it? 

[korilinguistic]

[8] Getting Started

“The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started.” - Dawson Trotman

Believe it or not, just getting started is the hardest step. Luckily, you’ve probably made it easy on yourself. You know why you’re studying, you have a great place to study Japanese, and you’ve kept everything a secret. Also, you’ve set up your language log and you’ve come up with all possible excuses ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about them later. Really, not much should stand in your way.

So, enough “set-up.” It’s time to actually do this thing! We’re going to start off by learning about the different Japanese “alphabets” available to you, as well as a little more information on how we’re going to learn them in the coming chapters. I’m really excited for you to get started! It’s going to be a lot of fun and I think you’ll be surprised at how quickly you are able to learn using TextFugu.

By finishing this chapter, you’ve made preparations for your Japanese learning that will greatly increase your chances for sticking with it! Now it’s just up to you to put in the work, but if you want it, surely good things will end up happening!

Alrighty, the next chapter is waiting for you!

OKAY! LETS DO THIS!

[korilinguistic]

[6] Not Telling People About Your Intentions

“Our intention creates our reality.” – Wayne Dyer

Believe it or not telling people you’re going to learn Japanese isn’t the best thing you can do. This page used to be about “hey, you should tell people that you’re learning Japanese so they keep you accountable.” Now, however, it’s the exact opposite. Just a good example that shows how things change on TextFugu as I learn more about learning (this change was made with the help of a member who sent me a bunch of info on this, actually!). Point is, TextFugu isn’t a doorstop that never gets updated :)

Want the long (only 3 minutes, actually) version? Watch the following TED Talk (TED Talks are amazing, by the way).

Want the short version? Here it is:

Don’t tell people your goals (at least not right away).

Why? Because it tricks your mind into thinking that your goal is already partially complete, making you less likely to follow through with your goals.

If you talk, it becomes part of your “social reality.” If it becomes part of your “social reality” it feels like you’re farther along than you are, and you end up thinking you don’t need to work as hard (and I want you to work hard, please!).

Really, though, you should watch the video, It’s quite good.

So, there you have it. Keep your secret (for now) and surprise everyone with your skill later. I know it might seem odd, but every little thing helps, especially early on (when little things make such big differences!).

This page used to have a “Tweet it” button to encourage you to tell the world. Now it doesn’t. That being said, you should feel free to say hello to us on Twitter or Facebook because we like it when people say hello! Makes us feel all warm and fuzzy, you know?

TextFugu On Twitter TextFugu On Facebook

After you’ve kept your mouth shut, move on to the next page. You’re almost ready to get started with Japanese… moments away, really! Just think of how ready you’ll be, too!

Task Can you keep a secret? Good. Keep that secret as long as you can until “Learning Japanese” actually becomes a part of your identity!

Alright, only one more thing to do. Let’s get it done!

[korilinguistic]

[5] Setting Yourself Up For Success

“For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” – Unknown

What does your work / study / desk area look like? Does it feel open and relaxing? Or, like the image above, does it feel kind of crowded (and stressful?). Is there even an area in existence that you would consider to be a “work-only zone?” Do something really quick for me. Take out four pieces of paper and put them together (in any combination… square, long ways, etc). Using any layout, can you put these four pieces of paper together in any one area of your desk? If not, then it’s probably time to do some cleaning (or, your desk is really really small, which is okay too). I used to have a pretty crowded desk, and without me knowing it my productivity suffered. Each and every piece of “debris” is a distraction (no matter how little it is). How many distractions are on your desk?

One thing you should do before you start learning Japanese is create a great environment for learning / working. Like I keep saying – I don’t want you to quit, no matter how you end up learning Japanese. The first thing you have to ask yourself is “where will I study Japanese?” For the most part (unless you need to mix things up a bit, but we’ll get into that at some point later on) you’ll want to create a great study space for yourself, and associate “getting things done” with that space. For example, sitting in front of the television might be a tough place for you to study, because your brain has already associated that place with watching television.

Task Decide what space is your “Japanese Study Space.”

So, why are we doing this? Do you know the difference between “productivity heroes” and “everyone else”? Honestly, it’s not much. In general, most people (believe it or not) have a similar amount of self-discipline. Let’s think of the amount of self-discipline you have as “SD points.” Let’s also assume everyone has approximately 100 SD points. If you use all your SD points in a day, then you have no more self-discipline. You can no longer do things you’re supposed to do (surprisingly, this is actually really close to how it actually is… think about it next time you use some SD points out there in real life!).

Now, the difference between productivity heroes and everyone else isn’t that they have more SD points. It’s that they don’t use the SD points they have when they’re doing a lot of things that normally use those SD points up. How do they do that? They make things into rituals and traditions. To apply this concept to Japanese and this chapter (which is about your work space), someone who is a productivity hero would say “when I sit in this space, I study Japanese.” Or, they might say “when I get home, I study Japanese.” Take note how it’s slightly different from “when I get home, I will study Japanese.” It’s something you do… no, it’s something you always do. It’s not a task, it’s a ritual. Rituals and traditions don’t take up SD points.

So, when you’ve decided on your “Japanese Study Space” (wherever that might be) I want you to start thinking about traditions as well.

When you sit here, you study Japanese.

When you come home, you study Japanese.

When you finish dinner, you study Japanese.

No questions… no ifs… no buts… it’s what you do. Decide right now on one or two traditions like this. It won’t be a tradition today, but if you do it enough it will become a tradition. It will also make Japanese studies a hundred times easier, especially on days where you’re running low on SD points :)

Also, a side-note. In your special space for learning Japanese, you should avoid other distractions as well. It’s best to:

Avoid music, movies, etc., while you’re studying. I don’t care who you are, multitasking isn’t a good way to learn something (quickly).

Try to only study Japanese here. I understand if it’s a multi-purpose area, like a desk, but the more you can associate Japanese learning with this area, the better!

Don’t allow yourself to get on Facebook, Twitter, Farmville, etc., while you study. At the very least, wait until you’re between things!

Turn any notifications off on your computer / phone (this includes e-mail, Twitter, text messages, and so on).

Finding a great place to study is going to be easier for some of you and more difficult for others. The main thing is that you try to pick a nice spot to study at. This spot might even be at a particular coffee shop. Feel free to be flexible. Just try and be consistent!

And remember… make that spot part of your ritual. Your SD points will thank you for it!

[korilinguistic]

[4] Question #2: What Excuses Hold You Back?

“No one ever excused his way to success.” – Dave Del Dotto

Maybe absolutely nothing is holding you back (and that’s why you’re here right now), but chances are there are a few things that you’re either afraid of, or you have a few excuses on why you shouldn’t study Japanese (I know, right! Blasphemy!). But, we’ve all been there, myself included. Anytime you’re making a big change or decision in your life (get used to Japanese language learning as a big life decision, because it is!), “why I should / shouldn’t do this” thoughts start popping in your mind, totally out of nowhere. No matter how rational (or irrational) you are, they’ll come up sooner or later, so it’s best to do a preemptive strike while you’re still excited and ready to go go go.

Here are some possible excuses that could hold you back, though you’ll be figuring out your very own here in just a minute. I just want to give you a little taste of the excuses I hear a lot. If you prevent them before they even pop up, you’ll find yourself in a lot better shape a few months from now when life starts getting crazy and you’re looking for something to cut from your schedule (even if it’s temporary).

1. I’m Too Busy: Boo-hoo-dee-doo. This is probably the most common excuse out there, and I think it’s a terrible one. If you don’t have time, it’s only because your priorities tell you that you don’t have time. If you want to study Japanese, then you’ll make time for it. If you don’t want to study Japanese, then you’ll make time for other things. This is one of the reasons why you thought about your reason for learning Japanese. If you have a reason, and a goal you can work towards, it is likely that your priorities will shift towards studying Japanese. Just by knowing that this excuse exists (and that there’s a good chance it will pop up) will really help you to avoid it later on. Tell yourself right now: “Time isn’t the issue,” and then think about how you’ll make sure that Japanese is a priority (and therefore you can make time for it).

2. I don’t have the money: This is another common excuse. Okay, TextFugu isn’t “cheap,” necessarily, but considering what you can get out of learning a language, it’s not all that expensive either. Even if you can’t afford TextFugu, if you want to learn Japanese you should use something else that is free or you can afford. It won’t be the same… but money shouldn’t be something that holds you back. Here’s some ideas for making some moolah, though, if you need it:

You can make enough money by using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk to complete small jobs for people.

Sell stuff on Craigslist/eBay. I did this recently too. Simplifying your life by getting rid of your “things” is a great way to clear your head, too. It’s difficult at first, but you’ll feel so much better once you get all this stuff off your hands. “Stuff” is distracting and not worth the headache, in my opinion.

Ask a friend or relative for an investment (not a handout). If they really care about you, they’ll be excited to help you succeed – just be sure you don’t let them down! (This is also a great way to stay motivated, because you want to show your investor(s) that you’re achieving great things!).

Don’t go out to eat once or twice this month. It’s easy to save money if you cook your own food using fresh ingredients, plus it’s healthier too (and when you feel healthy, it’s easier to study!). Put that money towards monthly.

Still in high school? I had a friend who’d go buy candy in bulk, then sell them for 50 cents each at school. Not sure if he was supposed to be doing that, but he’d make way more than $20 a month. Now he works at Google. Pretty smart guy.

Anyways, I’m just saying that money shouldn’t be an excuse. No matter what, you should get started (even if it’s not with TextFugu). The sooner you get started, the more you’ll know 6 months from now.

3. I’ll end up burning out or quitting: I hope you don’t! Like I mentioned earlier, TextFugu was built around the foundation of keeping you motivated. Burning out is the most common problem that self-teachers like yourself face, and it happens so easily. You can see how this first chapter is already tackling a lot of those problems, but what are some things that you can do to prevent it yourself, even before it happens? Even just saying “Burning out isn’t a valid excuse” to yourself right now will help prevent this excuse from doing anything to you in the future. It’s funny how your mind works like that!

4. I’m not very good at learning languages: Yet for some reason you’re here, reading this? I don’t know if anyone is actually naturally good at learning languages. Do you know what’s pretty cool? You can learn to become better at learning languages. Very few people are naturally good at anything, to be completely honest. Everyone practices and gets better. You can make a choice to get better at it. On top of that, I’m sure you’ll find TextFugu to be a lot different from any other textbook you’ve tried. It’s way down to earth, easy to understand, and makes things nice and simple. Whenever I’ve had bad language learning experiences, it’s usually been because the resource does a poor job at explaining things (they’re so good at what they’re trying to teach, they have no idea what it’s like to learn anymore!). I hope you don’t let this be an excuse. Every time you try to study, you are getting better at studying, which means you’ll be pro in no time, as long as you’re consistent!

Now it’s your turn, though.

What excuses hold you back? What excuses can you think of that might hold you back in the future?

Task Write down a list of “excuses” that might hold you back. These can be things you’re worried about now and things you think you might be worried about later. Feel free to use some of the excuses listed above if they’re the same. Stick this list on your wall. Remind yourself every day that the excuses up there aren’t valid excuses, so you might as well not think about them anymore (if you need them, they’re written down, so get them out of your head). For the excuses holding you back now, look at them and figure out solutions. Will it really be that bad? I think probably not :)

Now that you have absolutely nothing to fear, it’s time to move on to the next step. You have a few more prep-steps to go, but once you’re done you’ll have laid a really good foundation for yourself and be ready to study some Japanese!

[korilinguistic]

[3] Question #1: Why Are You Learning Japanese?

“Try and fail, but don’t fail to try.” – Stephen Kaggwa

You’d be surprised how many people decide to do something as big as learning Japanese without knowing the answer to this question. I bet you 90% of people who start studying have no idea why they’re doing it (which… ahem… happens to be the same percentage of people who end up quitting, might I add). Now, when I say these people “don’t know why they’re learning Japanese” I’m also not counting generalities. Answers like “because it’s fun” and “because it’s cool” are okay for a little while, but they won’t hold out when the going gets tough. I’m looking for a specific answer…things like:

I want to be able to talk to my Japanese grandmother in Japanese

I want to travel to Japan and walk the 88 temples of Shikoku

I want to live and work in Japan, doing marketing for Sony

I’m an anthropologist and want to study the Ainu people

I want to appear on Japanese television one day as a comedian

When you know what you’re working towards, you end up having more drive. You also end up having more focus, as well, which really helps. When you think “aw… I don’t want to learn any more today” your reason for learning Japanese will kick in and respond with “but what about those temples!!?” and you’ll keep going (and eventually love yourself for it). TextFugu’s going to help you make nice and steady steps forward, but you need to have something to walk towards otherwise it’s aimless wandering.

Now, I also understand that answering this question can be hard. But, you should really think about it. Maybe you really are just trying new things, and don’t have a reason. If that’s you, just continue and work hard. You’ll figure yourself out soon enough (i.e. you’ll figure out if you want to keep going or you’ll figure out if you want to spend your time somewhere else). Nobody’s judging you here, you should do the things that make you happy :)

But, you should really try to answer this question. I guarantee that those of you who can answer this question will be way more likely to succeed. Those that don’t… well, you still have a decent chance that you’ll figure out your reason later. Just keep thinking about it.

Task: Answer the question: “Why Are You Learning Japanese?”

Once you’ve figured this out, move on to the next question. Are you already a member? If so, head on over to the TextFugu forums and share your reason and post up an introduction to say hello! The forum is full of helpful, supportive people just like you who are happy to help you out if you need help (of course, I’m also here to help you out of if you need it). You’re not the only one using TextFugu, so it’s fun to go and get to know fellow TextFugu-ers as well!

Task: Introduce yourself on the TextFugu Forums. These people will help you out in the future (and you’ll probably help out a Japanese newb or two as you get better too!).

When you’ve answered the first question and (optionally) introduced yourself on the forums, move on to the next question. You’re almost ready to get started here.