I want to improve my skill in Kanji

[jkid]

みなさん、
I am looking to improve my skill in Kanji from dreadful to a word with a meaning slightly more positive.

I learn Kanji best remembering stories. If people could recommend a good book to get me practicing that would be fantastic.

On a side note how essential is correct stroke order?

[Bueller_007]

[jkid]

OK then, I don't want to use a method that most would consider cumbersome or otherwise not like to recommend. What would you then suggest my approach be?

Thanks.

[Bueller_007]

[jkid]

Buellerさん、
What I meant by my previous post is what method do you use to remember Kanji. My current method clearly does not work to well as my skills in this area are very weak. What is your recommended approach to Kanji learning?

Thanks.

[Belton]

I wouldn't completely rule out learning to write kanji.
I think that the physical action of writing helps you remember and learn.
Also it can be satisfying in and of itself.
And it can be a useful skill so you are not stuck forever using romaji or kana to make handwritten notes.

That said if you are using a computer, reading (or recognising maybe) is the more immediate and useful skill.

I handwrite my classwork, usually needing two drafts to make it neat and get the unknown kanji shapes correct. I use furigana so I can read back what I've written. Eventually I don't need it and I look up kanji less often. Because it takes more effort, is active rather than passive and I look harder at the kanji, I think I remember more than when typing on a computer screen.

The type of stories that help me is using the kanji in example sentences, rather than making something up to remember the shape. Learning in the context of a sentence rather than in isolation. Learning a kanji as part of a compound rather than a single kanji. Understanding the actual components and derivation (rather than making up my own)

The more links you make in your brain the better.

I also find I seem to naturally learn to read a kanji by meaning then kunyomi then onyomi. Rarely all at once.

Learning how components and radicals work is useful. Helping you guess at partially remembered kanji. And also allowing you to use printed dictionaries.

If your listening skills are good, reading a kanji transcript along to an audio recording is a good excercise. Something like Miki-san's blog except slower maybe.

Use flash cards. Read things. Write things. Check your writing! Essentially repetition is the way to learn. If you can integrate it with your other Japanese studies so much the better.

I like Basic Kanji Book Vol1 and 2 by Chieko Kano et alia, Bonjinsha
http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Kanji-Book-Vol-1/dp/4893580914
(dollar price on Amazon looks high to me, it's only 2400 yen)
It's a fairly traditional approach that eases you into reading and writing kanji. Grouping kanji by topic or function at around 10 kanji per lesson. And I think it would be suitable for someone with a beginners knowledge of Japanese in terms of vocabulary and grammar.
_________________
しあわせ

[Bueller_007]

[jkid]

Thanks guys. I ordered Vol. 1 of the series so I will see how it works out.

[mualexander]

Thanks for the recommendation of the Kanji workbook.

I was wondering if anyone knew if there was a Nintendo DS game out there for studying Kanji. My wife and I have been playing Brain Age and Big Brain Academy, and it seems like such a good platform for practicing reading and writing (and speaking) Japanese.

Thanks again,
-marshall

[Derek]

[mualexander]

Hey Derek,

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll start with the ones that you already use and I'll post my own success with them..

Take care,
-marshall

[Derek]

[mualexander]

Hah no problem, I misread your response -- I guess I was too anxious to get to the titles themselves..

Anyways, I'm happy to be the guinea pig. Hopefully my reviews turn out to be useful even though they will be coming from someone at the far low end of the Kanji skill spectrum.

[Derek]