Best way to learn vocabulary....

[alejandro]

Hello, I don't know if this is the right place to post, but....

I was wondering if there was some sort of study guide that gives a list of the vocab needed for 1-kyu, 2-kyu, etc.? Preferably, starting from basic to advanced.

I found this. What do you all think of it?
http://www.tanos.co.uk/jlpt/readutf....pt-voc-1-extra

I'm looking to increase my vocabulary. Also, do you veterans have any tips on learning kanji and vocab at the same time?

Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks.

[Nonbe]

If you learn the kanji, you'll be building up your vocabulary as you go.　I'd recommend getting Kodansha's furigana dictionary. Very good investment.

But I think this thread belongs in the Learning Japanese section, doesn't it?　：）

[User Name Deleted]

This thread does belong in the learning Japanese section.

The key to learning vocab is to be exposed to Japanese in as many ways as possible, and not letting an unknown vocabulary item go.

You hear or see it, don't know it, find out what it means.

[starrats]

The key to learning vocab is to be exposed to Japanese in as many ways as possible, and not letting an unknown vocabulary item go.

You hear or see it, don't know it, find out what it means.

i would totally agree with you, J.T.

language is just a comunication tool unless you are linguists, translators, interpreters, etc.

memorizing words doesn't help you very much with improving language ability, which has been a way for the japanese to study english for a long time. you know what i mean?? there are a lot of japanese people who have studied english for 10 years but can't use it well, and me neither.

however, if your purpose is to pass the exam, just memorize words which may help....

[Basic]

I learned my Kanji long before there were any electronic devices for this but I still think it may be a good way to get a long way in a relatively short period of time.

I got a few Fude pens and a big pad of grid paper. The pad was about 50 cm by 70 cm and each grid was 1.5 cm square.

I got the list of Toyo Kanji and wrote the first fifty Kanji from the list with the Fude pen. Each time I wrote them I would verbally repeat the On-yomi and Kun-yomi. I did this every day.

Each week I would add fifty new Kamji from the list. When I got to about 1,200 Kanji I started dropping some of the earlier Kanji to make time for the new Kanji.

I would spend no less than two hours every day writing Kanji with the Fude pen. I really got into the proper form and stroke order - the artistic side of writing Kanji. This made learning it easier for me - getting the motor skills as well as visual, mind, and voice together.

I started this as a New Year's resolution. By September I had them down.

[alejandro]

@ Mods/Admin:
Feel free to move this post to the "Learning Japanese" section.

I really appreciate all of your responses.

Anywho, I agree that I need to be in the enviornment. Right now, I go to Japan every 6 months to visit. I learn more just by being in a situation where I need to feed myself, take the train and communicate with people. But, it's hard to give up a good job to go bartend or bus tables in Japan for 3+ years until I reach a speak/read/write level high enough to get a job that I went to school for. Ah, the benefits of being single!

@ Basic:
I have written a small web app that selects random Kanji/definitions/verbs from an XML file, then I choose the answer and repeat. It helped me to learn Hiragana in a very short amount of time. But, all of this won't help me with writing skill. Although, I do have plenty of magazines, recorded "terebi" shows and music that my friend sends me every month. However, a magazine or DVD cannot tell you when your pronunciation is wrong.

[Layba]

I agree with you basic...I find it easier to learn kanji the "old school" way and write them down everyday until you remember.