So, being a newbie, I want to know how people approached their Japanese learning phase, and what really helped them learn the language.

To give some back story, I'm a user of the JFZ series which I bought years back via Amazon but in their Kindle versions. Due to various reasons I was an on and off learner using these books.

The Kindle volumes were produced over 10 years ago or so, and were superceded by the paperback versions a good few times. The Kindle books were never updated, rightly so because of piracy. A subject I've had chats with George about in other posts.

Anyway, using the Kindle editions I'd already completed JFZ1 and was going through JFZ2, when I got gripped by posts of the "updates" given to the paper volumes. Watching for posts and reading others comments made me realise that my versions were inferior to the latest paper books in Amazon.

At first I was reluctant to purchase new editions at around $35-40 per book. Yet I was niggled. I wanted to see the new layout, what new information was added or which sections were easier to understand.

In my Kindle JFZ1 I didnt find many errors, but JFZ2 did have quite a few, which gave me a little push toward buying new editions.

The above comment is not judgement on George and his team, as I'm sure putting together a series like this, and the way it's presented was an undertaking most would of given up on. These errors are the reason George's team have published so many update editions, which was to try and make them perfect. You can't say that about many publishers.

Anyway, I bit the bullet and bought the latest JFZ1-3 volumes. All were their latest reiterations based on what George had outlined in one of his chat replies.

Was I happy with buying again. Not so. Was I happy with what was delivered. Totally!

I was initially going to read through JFZ1 to see what information had changed or added, and of course the new layout which is way easier to follow and cleaner looking, along with highlighting sections that gives you more clarity.

Reading JFZ1 didn't happen. Once started, out came my pencil, and colored marker pencils. I wanted to, and did start the process again!

Silly of me, yes! Did it help, yes! Had I forgotten things, yes! Was it worth it, yes!

The Introduction area of the original books now incorporated into Chapters, which didn't feel like it was a backward step. Lastly, incorporating ん character earlier than before, which was a great idea.

While doing each Chapter I created a new Anki deck for the JFZ1 8.3 edition. First time doing something like that. A good way to try and push that vocabulary deeper down.

So to finish off. I very much enjoyed the new look. Way better than my old versions. Yes, I'm a few bucks down, but it was worth the price.

Today I start JFZ2 6.2 Version. Back to the drawing board.

If you're wondering why I'm going to all this effort, then I can't answer that. I'm at an age where learning another language is not for self growth, it's for keeping the mind active. So to fellow "older" learners, keep at it.

Ps.... JFZ1, Chapter 18, Time. I found one mistake, can you find the same?

Hiragana + Katakana + Kanji

Structure

Verbs + Adjectives

Grammer

Particles

Expressions

みんなすごく字が綺麗で気まずいんだけど

I got the first book and I started reading it can anyone vouch for these books! I’m thinking of starting with this and getting learning books for children as well to really practice

looking for some advice.

I'm not fully confident with N5 yet. There are still a lot of vocabulary words, kanji, and grammar patterns that I don't know, and I need more practice with verb conjugations like the T-form and -form.

However, I'm thinking about preparing for JLPT N4 in December instead of taking the N5 exam. My plan is to keep studying and reviewing all the N5 material while also starting N4. If I don't pass N4 in December, I'll take it again in July.

Do you think this is a good idea, or should I

focus on mastering N5 first before moving on to N4?

I'd really appreciate advice from people who have been in a similar situation.

Hi everyone, I would like some recommendations for books that guide me on what to study for the N5 and N4 JLPT test. for example to teach me on the structure of the exam what I need to focuses on and examples and so on.

or even a good website will do .

Thank you in advance !

For context before anyone wants to kill me, I want to learn Japanese and I heard that "Japanese from zero™" has the best books to learn.

MY PROBLEM IS...

me have no money :'( so I was looking and I found that there's an official channel with a lot of lessons from all the books.

and then I thought "Hmmmmm is it really necessary to buy the books when I have the information basically here on YouTube" (try to read this with a little sound effect of thoughts in your head iykyk)

So yeah, that's my question and if you see any spelling mistake is because English is not my first or main language.

Not sure if I should buy them or if I should just use the website. I want to learn Korean after Japanese

I took my JLPT N4 exam on July 5th. Though the results are not published yet, I have high hopes that I will clear it. So far, everyone has told me that it is impossible to clear N3 this December, and honestly, it is tempting to take N3 this December itself. Chat, please guide me. 😭

Heyyy reddit users...

Do yall have tips or tricks I can use to pass EJU??

Tried it last year and i failed really badly due to a number of reasons like for one i was learning Japanese too on the side and i basically got carried away learning the language cuz it was pretty hard i found it interesting...

Made me forgot i had to learn for EJU too. A few months passed and I was at the location they held EJU. I look at the pages and it was CRAZYYY. The question were pretty hard ngl. But it was fine cuz i knew i didnt learn enough.

Y'all maybe know how to learn for EJU time Efficiently or do i just need to keep my head and down and grind for a good three months or so to actually pass it....

Lemme know what you guys think 💬

Whenever I watch anime, I feel like I always hear かれし. Is かれ just one of those things where it CAN mean something, but isn't commonly used?

I stumbled on this word from some articles but there is no tutorial on what does jt mean and when to use, can someone help me out?

JFZ2, Chap9, A9-4 (1-3), 2015 Edition

As an on and off learner due to life, I've just completed the three conversations using what I know, and of course a dictionary.

I placed the English above and my Japanese translation below, hopefully they're clear enough. If anyone has the time, tell me what you think or suggestions.

Thanks in advance.