You rock Mark ! I'm pretty you'll pass the JLPTN3. I'm studying Japanese as well and plan to pass the N4 next year. Your videos inspire me and help me to motivated. So, thank you !

Now this is the tougher N3 (NNN)

Pass that test and let's go chill in Japan! Book collection seems like it's coming along nicely haha Leveling up is no joke. I thought I was N4 level since I knew most of the N5 stuff until I actually started the deck and boy was that a mental setback (or reset of expectations?)

Triggered that you don't have the #1 DVD for the boxset on your shelf

Agh you *do* have #1, all is forgiven,

No need to rush dude, just try to enjoy the process! I've finally made it to an IT job in japan and am struggling everyday just to get by... I like to use the voice rooms on hello talk for speaking practice so if I were to suggest anything it would probably be that. Also if you like reading I suggest you read non fiction stuff about your hobby of choise, it's alot easier to understand when it's something you already know. Also non-fiction in general is usually easier to understand in general. Anyways, good luck!

Have been stuck on N5 for 3 months lol, the mock tests that is.

Great video Mark! I was able to follow I and I understand where you are coming from! I really enjoy having these conversations. Personally Im always curious to see how other people studying! RTK can very a dull and drawn out process. It took me 6 months of study to finish RTK. I did quit twice mind you XD! ( Wani Kani was not out / not fully functional when I started RTK it dit come out a few months after! ). I used a anki to learn the kanji from RTK. Front of the card was English Keyword(Kanji meaning ) It was my job write the kanji form the English keyword. I pretty much learn how to write. (I have lost a lot of this now because I start writing less and typing more )Setting up Anki was not too bad but it can be a huge time suck. I have fallen into the trap of spending to much time in anki instead of immersing. Wani Kani is WAY more beginner friendly and less up ramp time this allows its users to not worry about everything all at once. If I could do it again I probably would pick Wani Kani at least to learn Kanji. I have a few gripes. Wani Kani forces you to learn all of the vocab before moving on the next lesson. I understand that is in place to prevent burnout/ overwhelm and to reinforce the kanji that you learning. But what if I know this word or this word is of no importance/ interest to me. Wani Kani does not allow you to skip those words. It forces you to stay on their learn path (I hear it takes 2 years to finish). Which Im personally not a fan of because I have my own method of learning vocab. SideNote: I am aware of the community scripts that allow more customization but that can be a hassle keep up when a scripts stops write when there is a new update to wani kani. Although I dont think updates happen often. I really did not mind that RTK did not teach me the Japanese reading. I learned most of that through context. Right after I finished RTK I allowed my reviews to die down then I started going through the genki text book. (Here is where I think the magic of RTK comes in!! BTW this is my opinion and so take it with a grain of salt XD) Because I could recognize most of the the kanji in Genki 1 and Genki 2(I say most because I am human and not perfect) I was able to quickly learn the grammar in those books and move on to real content books, manga video games. I added a few sentences that I liked from genki 1 + 2 into anki and study that everyday. What help me remember and retain that grammar from was immersion. I would try and immersion when I had the free time. I didn't track it so I can't give you any numbers. I would watch shows that I have ready saw in English dub just in Japanese. DBZ, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, etc. Since I new the story I would try and focus what was being said. When I would recognize some of the grammar patterns that I learn in the textbooks come up in shows I was watching it was like RUSH of dopamine hit my brain! This made me want to immersion. I did start to branch out to new shows and some were way to hard and my comprehension suffered but that is comprehensible input comes into play. steven krashen has a lot of information on the subject! Again great video!! If you made it this far thank you!

Hey just to clarify, how long has it been since you did your N5? Seems like you've progressed super fast, cool to see. Should try and get in as much native youtube/podcasts as possible imo, it makes listening to simpler/different things like anime a lot easier.

WHERE IS THE KIRBY SWEATER 😡😡😡😡

You know people don't need as much water as it is suggested right?

Hey buddy? How you exam go?

how old r y ? and why r u learning japanese ?