For me, reading was the key to learning
Japanese. A good story would grip me and keep me coming back, even
though the actual process of reading would quickly tire me. As a
college student attending courses full-time and working a
part-time job, it was often difficult to find the time to read. For
some reason I thought that I'd magically find reading time if I just
kept working, but it never happened. The I realized the truth...
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Aug 12, 2012
Jul 15, 2012
How to read Japanese: The Secret Revealed (Part One)
You've been learning Japanese and now
you're ready to start reading Japanese, but there are some things
that you should know. Reading involves a lot more than just
understanding the language used to present a story or information.
Reading
isn't just about the language.
Apr 26, 2011
The Two Styles of Reading
When it comes time to read Japanese, all of the skills you've been developing are tested. Your knowledge of kanji, your vocabulary strength, and of course your ability to read the kana. In reading, you'll inevitably face a wall of words that you don't know – which is where two very different philosophies are born. In order to become better at Japanese, you need to keep reading and learning, but how you go about it is entirely up to you.
Style One: “The Translator”
This style means that you stop at every word you don't know and look it up in a dictionary. You'll learn a lot and make future reading much easier, much faster, but you'll also be slowing down your reading a lot as you look words up and add them to anki.
Style Two: “The Grasper”
This style is all about enjoying whatever you're reading. Instead of stressing about the words you don't know, you take the context and “grasp” the general meaning. Doing this allows you to enjoy more media and experience more Japanese. You'll get tons of reviewing done through this and also add a basic understanding of many new words.
In reading, you'll probably alternate between the two styles a lot. The important thing to do is find a balance between the two, where you can find and learn new words without impeding your enjoyment.
The main point in outlining these two styles is to remind you that you can pick the way you read. If you don't want to worry about every word, you don't have to. If you want to be certain you understand it all, then you can take the time to do so. Set your own pace and find your own style.
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