April 10, 2002
I grew up in the generation where nothing was learned unless one could demonstrate that it had a personal meaning. Learning was all about relevance. This generation rebelled against memorization, especially when things were memorized without understanding.
I was fascinated with the idea in Farenheit 451 that people would or could memorize entire books, in the process, become that book. I couldn't even remember the lyrics to a song I heard 100 times. Yet, as recently as my parent's generation, students memorized long poems, passages from Shakespeare, the Preamble to the Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address.
Recently, I read a blurb in A Common Reader for the book A Poem A Day. "To memorize poetry is to construct one's own museum of contemplation, a private gallery of reflection and repose in which words coalesce into a sixth sense that informs our apprehension of the world ." To carry it with you always--reason enough for memorization. Meaning can come later. Then, too, there is the motivation of mental calisthenics; we must exercise our brains just as we do our bodies to keep them supple, limber, and strong. Yes, push-ups are tedious, but they are necessary.
Instead of poetry, I've decided to memorize the 1945 basic kanji. I've dabbled in learning kanji for years--too many years! I'd learn some and forget others. I didn't want to move forward until I really felt I understood. I never really progressed.
So, I've made a new plan. In order to memorize all 1945 by the end of 2002, I would have to learn about 200 a month, or 50 a week, or 10 a day. That is my goal. Even if I don't learn a kanji perfectly, I go on. The ones that confuse me go into the review stack. So, eventually they get learned. Once a week I have a test. The ones I had learned and forgotten go back to the review stack.
I've been at this for 5 weeks now. I'm up to 250 kanji (that I know the meanings and readings of without thinking). It's getting harder. But I've tried so many systems. I'm determined to make this one work for me.
August 4, 2002
Now four months into my new study plan, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that I've learned only 450 kanji so far, far below the mark that I set for myself. The good news is that I've kept up with the program. I study a little every day. I carry kanji cards I've made (on the back of old business cards) with me everywhere and review those odd moments waiting in line at the bank or waiting for friends at a restaurant.
The key to success has been in making my own cards and reviewing them daily. Making my own cards is laborious (and one reason I'm not learning ten new kanji a day). But the advantage is that I put compounds that mean something to me...ones that I've discovered and that I can connect to something else I already knew.
The kanji cards make it easy to implement a test and review system that has worked much better for me than any system in a book. I have three stacks of cards. In the daily stack are new cards, or cards that I didn't recognize in the review. Each morning I go through the daily stack and kanji that I can recognize without thinking go to the weekly stack. On Sundays, I test myself on the weekly stack. Cards that I miss go back to the daily stack. Cards that I recognize go to the monthly stack. On the last day of each month, I do the same on the monthly stack. Often a discouraging percentage are sent back to the daily stack, but I'm equally amazed at how quickly they come back to me after a couple a days of review. And that's the real secret to success. The constant review of the entire set of cards.
Posted by M Sinclair Stevens
August 04, 2002
Comments
M Sinclair, gambarimashou!
I really like your kanji review method, with the 3 stacks, to say nothing of your idea of using old business cards (argh, how many of those have I tossed away over the years that would come in handy right now).
I'm not sure I necessarily buy into the idea that meaning hinders learning, although I suppose most Japanese would prove me wrong, since rote memorization is how they learn kanji (and English as well, although with English it certainly hasn't improved their collective English speaking ability). I suppose I prefer to get caught up in the meanings, even if it means it'll take me years to know all 1945 basic kanji. I find that I make more connections that way, that certain kanji resonate more deeply with me, compounds start to make more sense, certain kanji readings and meanings refer back to my non-kanji Japanese studies, and that in the longer run, my Japanese will be the better for it. Who knows, I suppose we'll have to just wait and see which way is better, won't we?!
One thing I would caution however, is that certainly while reading kanji is important, it's really only one-half of the equation, and that I think you'll find that rote memorization won't be of as much use when it comes to writing in Japanese. I know this myself, that I can instantly recognize many kanji, give you both the on and kun readings, yet if someone said "okay, write the kanji for 'netsu' (fever)," I wouldn't be able to do it (though I could pick it out easily enough from a kanji lineup).
But this productive skill problem is not limited to us non-native speakers. Japanese themselves, especially younger generations, have similar experiences. But it's not a hindrance in daily life because most writing these days is done on a computer or cellphone and as long as one knows hiragana, most software will produce kanji options to choose from so that one can comfortably fall back on their receptive skills.
Comment by: Kurt. Posted August 9, 2002 09:13 AM.
I didn't mean to imply that I'm ignoring meaning completely. I'm just not waiting for a perfect understanding of one character before forcing myself forward with new characters.
In fact, I'm very interested in meanings, of the individual kanji, of the radicals and component parts, and of the compounds a character is in. In fact, my monthly stack is arranged in order by radical (based on the numbering system in the Spahn Hadamitzky kanji dictionary), which helps me compare and contrast kanji with shared elements.
You are absolutely right about writing kanji! You don't really know a character until you can write it, although you might be able to function through context clues and recognition. I've become woefully spoiled by the word processor.
My guess is that writing kanji engages another section of the brain (like drawing). Maybe that's why when you've really learned a kanji it conveys its meaning as unforgettably as the shape of a stop sign.
Comment by: M Sinclair Stevens. Posted August 10, 2002 08:10 AM.
Do you think that if one memorises the kanji cards, one will be more intelligent/capable/have better memory/be prodigal/genius/etc etc in other subjects? It is mere curiosity.
Comment by: Depinder. Posted February 23, 2003 06:45 PM.
I don't think memorizing kanji increases one's intelligence necessarily. But like physical training and stretching of the body, I think it helps keep the mind limber and supple. Also, it trains you to focus on what you are learning, and to discipline yourself to pay attention and learn. I would think that these skills, not learning the kanji themselves, would help in other areas. It's learning how to learn, and practicing learning, and keeping mentally "in shape" that might carry over to other subjects.
Comment by: M. Posted February 23, 2003 10:07 PM.
Greetings: My question is...I have been told that my strongest IQ ability is Rote Memorization. I cannot find any straight forward answer to what that means specifically. Should you have any feedback in response to my curiousity I would greatly appreciate it. Sincerely, Kimberly
Comment by: Kimberly. Posted March 3, 2004 09:43 AM.
Share Your Thoughts
To carry it with you always--reason enough for memorization.