It’s now just over a month since I began learning Japanese! Today I want to review my goals I set for myself and also share a little progress video I’ve made. Some time in the very near future I will share a post packed full of resources I’ve used along the way to help me with my Japanese progress too!

Ok, firstly, let’s review goals. There’s no point setting yourself a challenge if you don’t look back and see how far you’ve come right? In fact, earlier today I watched myself in my italki Pledge video for Japanese that I made at the start of October. Wow! I wanted to shout the corrections at the screen! Don’t get me wrong – I still have a loooong way to go but I’m really happy with how far I’ve come in just a month. Anyway, back to those goals. Here were my goals for the month of October with added notes I’ve included today!

October

I did this! The only thing I haven’t “learnt” is the katakana with the extra bits but I can figure them out with a bit of time.

If you include numbers then I’ve definitely done this! I didn’t focus much on kanji in October in the end though but I’ve begun now and just finished this Memrise course so I’m well on track!

I haven’t really focused on this as it turns out. I can ask where something is but I don’t remember doing ‘how much…?’

Done! Boom!

Almost every day! Sometimes life just got in the way! I really enjoyed this though as it kept me on the ball with learning at least a little something new and putting together at least one sentence each day. I haven’t done it yet in November but I might do some occasional ones…I think these two are my favourites!

A video posted by Lindsay Dow (@lindsaydoeslanguages) on Oct 10, 2014 at 1:50pm PDT

A video posted by Lindsay Dow (@lindsaydoeslanguages) on Oct 10, 2014 at 9:10am PDT

And what about November? I think it’s important to re-evaluate goals as you progress to keep you motivated and fresh. Besides, I’ve learnt a lot of new things I didn’t know – for example, I read it would be better to start with the kanji radicals rather than jump straight into the kanji, so I’ve adapted that goal slightly.

November

• Learn at least another 100 Kanji.

I think I can definitely do this – although I’m going to change it slightly to ‘kanji radicals’

• Read a short article in Japanese each day.

Realistically, I don’t think this is going to happen. Right now I just haven’t had time so far – and with moving day getting ever closer I don’t think November will be the time for this one!

• Have at least 1 italki lesson per week.

I’ve had 2 weeks off but I’ve booked a few more today!

• Make a one month progress video.

Done! See below!

Did you do the italki October Language Challenge? How did you get on?. Let me know in the comments!