Gonçalo Ribeiro

Discovered and started to use #WaniKani this week. Seems like a fresh approach compared with #Anki, which I've used for some periods in the past to learn kanji.

From Mastodon I just learned about #LearnNatively which seems will come in handy.

I'm planning a trip to #Japan later this year and I'd like to learn as much as possible by then.

I feel I should join some classes, but unsure which. Any recommendations? I've heard of #italki.

Any interesting accounts to follow on Mastodon as well? Maybe some with some simple posts in Japanese?

PS: Is #Duolingo worth it? Always seems too slow/easy.

Jan 6, 2024 at 10:40amWeb
Show threadGonçalo RibeiroJan 9, 2024
This morning I completed #WaniKani level 1 🙂
Show threadGonçalo RibeiroJan 11, 2024

After completing level 1 I had around 65 new lessons to complete. Was surprised and didn't feel I could complete that many fast.

But now I've gone through most of them (mostly vocabulary) and nearly all radicals of level 2. And it's not been too bad. I'm learning and I'm enjoying it so far.

Reviews have been going well.

Show threadGonçalo RibeiroJan 15, 2024
Ordered the #Genki textbook as a companion for the #WaniKani study.
Show threadGonçalo RibeiroJan 16, 2024

Completed #WaniKani's level two. My reward? 104 new lessons 😆😅😥😆

#JapaneseLearning

Show threadGonçalo RibeiroJan 25, 2024
Nearly finishing #WaniKani's level 3. Time to pay up.
Show threadGonçalo RibeiroJan 27, 2024

Took a bit longer than I thought, but level 4 here we are 🙂

#WaniKani

Show threadGonçalo RibeiroJan 27, 2024
81 new lessons available.
Show threadGonçalo RibeiroJan 27, 2024
Btw, there's a coupon whose code is "LEVEL4" which saves you 20%. I assume only for the first month, but I don't know.
Show threadGonçalo RibeiroFeb 4, 2024

Completed one month of #WaniKani today. Definitely learning things. Sometimes I see written Japanese and can recognize some kanji.

For example yesterday I learned 気, ki. Later I passed by an Aikido dojo, and recognised that kanji, and I knew that the sound did make sense.

Another example, I saw some chopsticks on a restaurant. They had a sleeve with something handwritten on them. I was thinking "ah, calligraphy is too hard to understand" but then... "Oh, wait! That's the 竹 kanji! These are bamboo chopsticks, it makes sense!"

Show threadGonçalo RibeiroFeb 7, 2024
Just reached #WaniKani's level 5.
Show threadGonçalo RibeiroFeb 11, 2024

Checking some Mastodon posts in Japanese. I can at least grasp what may be the topic of a few.

Trying to follow a few accounts with relatively simple/short posts.

#JapaneseLearning

Show threadGonçalo RibeiroFeb 21, 2024

Level 5 is taking forever to complete, because of the recent introduction of "today's lessons".

I understand why they did it and I kinda like the change and am trying it. But I had so many vocabulary still left from level 4 when the change hit that it delayed radicals and kanji from level 5.

I think the default 15 lessons per day may make sense for radicals/kanji, but for vocabulary maybe it's best to do more. Many are usually straightforward.

Anyway, nearly done with level 5, but a bit worried about the slowness.

#WaniKani

Show threadGonçalo RibeiroFeb 23, 2024

This #WaniKani mnemonic for 弟 cracked me up 😂

"You look at your younger brother. He's a scheming one. He's smiling up at you. Why? Because he's lit a firecracker on your foot. It explodes, sending your toe flying. You yell "OH. Toe? TOE!" (おとうと) as you realize what's going on."

Show threadGonçalo RibeiroFeb 23, 2024

Finally! Level 5 done! Level 6, here we go.

(Still a bunch of vocabulary from level 5 to complete)

#WaniKani

Show threadGonçalo RibeiroFeb 26, 2024
Just reached my first "Enlightened" items.
Show threadGonçalo RibeiroMar 14, 2024

72 reviews this morning! 😧

#WaniKani

Show threadGonçalo RibeiroMar 14, 2024

On the bright side: just reached level 7.

#WaniKani #Yojimbo

Show threadGonçalo RibeiroMar 27, 2024
Nearly done with level 7. That's 12% of the 60 levels. Not bad...
Show threadGonçalo RibeiroMar 29, 2024

Level 8, here I am! One step at a time.

#WaniKani

Show threadGonçalo RibeiroApr 6, 2024

I love some little details in #WaniKani. For example some messages could always be the same, but actually they are different, such as the one below saying the vocabulary and kanji readings for "morning" are the same.

"The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji. Hopefully this means you won't have to wake up too early in the morning to study kanji, now."

Show threadFedor IndutnyMar 14, 2024
@goncalor congrats!
Show threadFedor IndutnyJan 9, 2024
@goncalor yay, congrats! First levels might feel a bit slow, but the pace will pick up soon!
Show threadGonçalo RibeiroJan 9, 2024
@indutny thanks!
Show threadDROP\ TABLE Hacker of EarthseaJan 9, 2024
@goncalor it looks like an anus
Show threadFedor IndutnyJan 6, 2024

@goncalor italki definitely works for me!

As for Duolingo, some people like it, I don't think it is effective for me though. The pace is seems too slow as you said it.