Video: The 214 traditional kanji radicals
by shape for JLPT N3
Studying for the JLPT N3 in 2015?
This video will help you get your head around the basic radicals you need to memorize before you start your serious kanji journey toward the JLPT N3 test
I wrote my ebook
for two reasons, firstly, as a guide for myself (so I didn't forget
what I did) and secondly, as a guide for others. Yes, I have
self-studied using a range of textbooks, yes, I have attended classes
with Japanese tutors, yes, I have studied at KUMON, yes, I have studied
at a language school in Japan and yes, I am still confused trying to
learn, study and memorize kanji, grammar and to clearly understand
Japanese language. Yes, I have spent thousands of hours just like you
self-studying, looking up words on an electronic dictionary, attending
conversation classes, looking for a good teacher who can explain things
to me in a simple unjumbled way and yes, just like you, I continue to
search for good resources to get me closer to my goals!
Personally, I hate studying random words, random, sentences and looking up the readings for kanji I haven't even learnt yet. Sound familiar? Unfortunately if you are a non-Japanese like me and are trying to learn, it often feels like putting together a puzzle, a puizzle with too many missing pieces, no instruction booklet and no customer service support. You feel like you are a warrior, alone and fighting a battle of information. Search for a way, a method a way to tame the beast! If your like me you want to cut through and quickly discover: what is important?, what do I need?, how is the best way to learn this? and where are some good resources to help me and not twist my brain inside out and make my head hurt. Know the feeling?
So with this background, I set out to write my JLPT N3 Study Guide in a format, I could easily use. I could learn content in grades that split the content into: Adjectives, i and na adjectives, adverbs, giseigo, grammar, katakana words, nouns, verbs and set phrases that you come across in everyday life.
Using 100% Japanese content from each study grade that Japanese student's learn at school. Namely: Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 and Grade 4. But I also realized that you need more than this and so added video that shows content in the same format that includes Grade 5 and Grade 6 because you can never get enough content when you are preparing for a Japanese language test. As there are always surprises, (words you don't know, kanji you have never learnt, new set phrases,etc). So to be fully prepared these extra two grades have been added.
Then I wrote the content in four formats: romaji, hiragana, kanji and an English meaning. So you can see visually what each word looks like. This format also allows you to cover content and force your self to memorize. Like Japanese students do.
I find video to be a great learning tool, as I get the material visually, can pause when I want and it forces me to concentrate. Maybe this might also be useful for your learning! With this in mind I added all the content from Grade 1 through to Grade 6 onto video. I split the learning into steps - shape and meaning, on readings and kun readings. So you learn in a structured systematic way that doesn't overpower you. Small steps, logical and clear. No chaos here!
Personally, I hate studying random words, random, sentences and looking up the readings for kanji I haven't even learnt yet. Sound familiar? Unfortunately if you are a non-Japanese like me and are trying to learn, it often feels like putting together a puzzle, a puizzle with too many missing pieces, no instruction booklet and no customer service support. You feel like you are a warrior, alone and fighting a battle of information. Search for a way, a method a way to tame the beast! If your like me you want to cut through and quickly discover: what is important?, what do I need?, how is the best way to learn this? and where are some good resources to help me and not twist my brain inside out and make my head hurt. Know the feeling?
So with this background, I set out to write my JLPT N3 Study Guide in a format, I could easily use. I could learn content in grades that split the content into: Adjectives, i and na adjectives, adverbs, giseigo, grammar, katakana words, nouns, verbs and set phrases that you come across in everyday life.
Using 100% Japanese content from each study grade that Japanese student's learn at school. Namely: Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 and Grade 4. But I also realized that you need more than this and so added video that shows content in the same format that includes Grade 5 and Grade 6 because you can never get enough content when you are preparing for a Japanese language test. As there are always surprises, (words you don't know, kanji you have never learnt, new set phrases,etc). So to be fully prepared these extra two grades have been added.
Then I wrote the content in four formats: romaji, hiragana, kanji and an English meaning. So you can see visually what each word looks like. This format also allows you to cover content and force your self to memorize. Like Japanese students do.
I find video to be a great learning tool, as I get the material visually, can pause when I want and it forces me to concentrate. Maybe this might also be useful for your learning! With this in mind I added all the content from Grade 1 through to Grade 6 onto video. I split the learning into steps - shape and meaning, on readings and kun readings. So you learn in a structured systematic way that doesn't overpower you. Small steps, logical and clear. No chaos here!
As self-studying is such a big job, I
also added tutorials on how to use a paper kanji dictionary, an
electronic dictionary, how to look up kanji using an onkun index, how to
use a form index to also look up kanji and how to use a stroke index to
look up kanji. Important skills you need to know and master before you
start your JLPT N3 journey.
Then I looked at the 214 radicals you need to know before you start to seriously study kanji, the guides that help you discover, find and look up Chinese characters, quickly and easily by shape and by meaning.
As new kanji were released before I sat my test, I included detailed guides for these new 196 Joyo kanji.
Then I looked at the 214 radicals you need to know before you start to seriously study kanji, the guides that help you discover, find and look up Chinese characters, quickly and easily by shape and by meaning.
As new kanji were released before I sat my test, I included detailed guides for these new 196 Joyo kanji.
In my ebook you have links to over 40
videos, old practice tests, what is in the test, my review of sitting
the test, book reviews of Japanese language books, study tools, online
resources, official JLPT links and much more.
Studying Japanese is not easy, that is official, but if you can make it more logical, structured and the ability to see where you are going clearly before you start, then the whole process becomes just a little bit easier to bear.
Hope my guide does this for you!
Studying Japanese is not easy, that is official, but if you can make it more logical, structured and the ability to see where you are going clearly before you start, then the whole process becomes just a little bit easier to bear.
Hope my guide does this for you!
