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…and I’m really disappointed in myself for slipping.
I got TextFugu in January this year, for my birthday, as I’ve always wanted to learn Japanese, and because no-one around where I live teachers it. Plus I’m on the computer a lot, and none of my friends really want to learn Japanese, so TextFugu is basically exactly what I need. But I’m mad at myself for not keeping it up, the last time I updated my notes was May this year… and I’m still on Season 1!Which is why I’m so annoyed that I just can’t get into a routine! I’m really horrible with routines. I can say to myself: “Luke, every day of this week, you are going to sit down and do at least 30 minutes of TextFugu study”. And I probably will, for the first couple of days. Then, if I miss out on one day, I’ll miss out on the next, and on the next, and pretty much give up altogether.
I was really into it at the start of the year, but then college started again in February and I had to do studying for school instead. However, that’s a pretty lame excuse, and I should have kept going, regardless of my homework. In all honesty, I’m an extremely lazy person. But I really do want to learn Japanese, and TextFugu is definitely the best way.
I’m really sort of getting back into everything now; I don’t know if it has to do with the weather or something (it’s nearing the start of summer here in Australia), but I’m getting back into all kinds of stuff that I gave up when the school year started, so I decided I’d do the same with TextFugu. Because holidays are starting soon (for me, anyway) I’ve decided now is definitely the best time to start getting back into it. I guess what I’m really asking is, can anyone give me some advice or tips for keeping a good routine and for maintaining self-discipline?
Thanks in advance for any replies!
I really don’t know so I’ll just say this without any evidence it would be good or better.
You seem to be streaky, meaning you have some big motivation time and you do a lot and after it is completely dry for a long time.
My advise would be to intentionally stop you during the days you want to study a lot to keep some for tomorrow and don’t burn yourself out. That’s more for the lesson.
As for Anki or anything you use to practice or revise, you just have to put the time. Take a watch, tell yourself, I’ll do 30 minutes. You must have 30 minutes free somewhere in your day… Study and after 30 minutes look at what you have done. I’m pretty sure you’ll be happy and then keep up with that.Not really sure it should help, just trying some things here ^^
http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/japanese-is-useless-and-a-waste-of-time-stop-learning-it
http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/desires-and-decisions
Personally, I’m a shit lazy person too. When you say lazy, I cannot believe you because I mean in it every word that I am the laziest piece of shit that I know. I must have skipped a total of 7 classes this semester and skipped all my classes today including a Chem lab which I’m not supposed to skip. But hey, I’m there for it (Japanese).
Howdy,
Reiden had some good advice. I do the same thing with stuff: super motivated, crash and ignore, super motivated, crash and ignore…
I found I had to take the time when I was motivated and carefully make sure to NOT do as much as I wanted to. Make the amount you allow yourself very small (like a treat) and don’t let yourself do more until the next day. I found that, while frustrating, it keeps my interest much longer.
It might not work for everyone, so you’ll have to decide whether you can use it or not.
Z-man
Try jumping ahead and reading Season 3 Lesson 10: Keeping Up With Everything.
It might not all be relevant but you might find the bit on making a “Keep the Streak” calendar thing helpful.Maybe just making sure you use Anki every day will help. I find that every time I go through the Anki questions I’m excited to do the next lesson, but I force myself to wait until Monday every week so i don’t overload my brain >.<
Carly
If you’re not able to study for more than a few days in a row, it’s obvious that you don’t *want* to be doing it it, that it’s somehow a “chore”. If you actually wanted to study Japanese you’d be looking forward to each day’s study session and all the new knowledge it brings. You just gotta step back, have a think about why you want to learn Japanese and decide whether it’s worth it. If you think that studying every day is a hassle, then just give up and use your time more productively. If you want this enough though, you’ll stick with it. It’s a little different for me though – Japanese is not the most important thing in my life but I study every day because it’s a damn awesome language and I really enjoy it! :D
I really hope you stick with it, though :) Try this: if you get to a point in your studying for the day where you’re feeling pretty good about it, that it’s interesting or exciting, stop. Leave it for tomorrow. The more you’re enjoying what you’re studying, the more likely you’ll *want* to return to it the next day; you’ll be so excited you’ll not be able to wait! :D Might help you get into a routine more easily.
Thank you all for your advice. I did 30 minutes yesterday, and I’m doing my 30 minutes for today, and hopefully I’ll keep this up. Meanwhile, I’ve set a reminder for every day of the year on my iPod and on this alarm clock thing I have on my computer to tell me to do it everyday. College is over in less than 3 weeks, so I’m putting a lot more effort into my Japanese now. Our year had a motivational speaker who came in to talk about striving for what you desire, and I feel really motivated and inspired thanks to him.
Thanks Reiden for the tips, and I’m going to try your advice and see if it works. Thanks missingno for the links, they convinced me to keep going. Thanks Z-Man, for suggesting the Anki, which I will do from now on (back in May I don’t think there was anki, but that was probably just me slacking off). Thanks for the lesson Carly, it helped a lot. Thank you Michael for the wake up call, because Japanese is an awesome language, and thank you for encouraging me to stick with it. And thank you Koichi and everyone else involved in making TextFugu, I cannot tell you how grateful I am that there is other self-learners out there willing to share their knowledge.
P.S. I suggest checking out that motivational speaker we had today, Sam Cawthorne. He really is an inspiration.
http://www.samcawthorn.com/Just think logically and rationally.
I believe Stephen King once said, that if you do any one task for at least thirty minutes a day, in a number of years you will be a master of said subject.
Think to yourself, “If I am serious enough about this, I WILL be a master in my own time.” Take your time, but don’t leave large intervals, of time in between. Practice, at least enough to make yourself happy.
That’s what it’s all about right? :D
Soon enough, you’ll look back on this and laugh with much gusto, as you are on your last JLPT/Kanken and owning that which you are most capable.
Keep up the ‘lence, yo.
Sinister T.
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