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[shanshan310]

You could always do it with conjunction with vocab, or do something like I'm a expert's method and for every kanji you also put ~5 words that use this kanji and study them together. You don't need to do it by itself. It's quite complementary.

I agree with this. Using a spaced repetition system to learn rtk and associated vocabulary and readings, and combining that with reading in context after daily study, seems to be the most effective way to learn. It's how I did it anyway. Rtk was really helpful for remembering radicals etc which I generally had real trouble recalling just using rote method writing over and over. There are way more efficient ways to learn and rtk had a lot of good ideas for recalling information using memory and stories/images.

 

[I'm an expert]

Probably worth getting rid of the current OP, regardless of who makes the thread.

the op is so atrociously bad.. can i read kanji? no lol! but i can tell some japanese guy the right stroke order lolol!!!

 

[Resilient]

are you trying to tell me that a study method from the 1970s has become ineffective

No fkn way!

 

[Porcile]

Anyone here know Donald Richie? Old school film historian/protoweeb. There's an interesting segment in this lecture/interview. Just a little insight into what Japanese learning was like back in 1953. Go to Section 28 "Q18: What it's Like to be Illiterate in Japan".

http://library.fora.tv/2009/04/21/Life_in_Japanese_Film_Donald_Richie

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Anyone here know Donald Richie? Old school film historian/protoweeb. There's an interesting segment in this lecture/interview. Just a little insight into what Japanese learning was like back in 1953. Go to Section 28 "Q18: What it's Like to be Illiterate in Japan".

http://library.fora.tv/2009/04/21/Life_in_Japanese_Film_Donald_Richie

This is really interesting stuff. "The only religion in Japanese is being Japanese."

So true.

 

[shanshan310]

the op is so atrociously bad.. can i read kanji? no lol! but i can tell some japanese guy the right stroke order lolol!!!

I agree the OP is super bad, especially for beginners coming in to learn, but RTK does teach readings eventually. I was pretty dismissive of it for a long time but I don't think we should throw the baby out with the bath water, so to speak.

are you trying to tell me that a study method from the 1970s has become ineffective

No fkn way!

... I mean, aren't you learning by rote?

 

[Cranzor]

I seem to be one of the only proponents of RTK in this thread and even I would agree the OP is really bad.

EDIT: Actually, looking back at it, it isn't as bad as I thought. For some reason I remembered it being entirely about RTK. But I do think leading with RTK is a little silly.

 

[Porcile]

Off-topic but watching I'm an expert out in the wilds of OT-GAF among the masses is pretty lol.

 

[I'm an expert]

This is what I did for years. I'd get banned every couple months and the reason would be 'just be nicer.' Once shit got a bit a too real and I was skirting a perma, I came to these J-threads to hide out. As you can see though I go back every once in a while. I think nowadays the flavor of the forum has changed a bit that my kind of posts are tolerated more now that people figured out how deep the millenial epidemic goes. Funny thing is people set me off in these threads too lol. Had a guy in the J-living thread the other week be like UGH THE J-DRIVER'S TEST IS BULLSHIT and I'm just like.. no, it isn't, you just fucked up. But of course it's always the economy, or the system, or the man that gets the blame.

 

[Porcile]

I'm not saying anything, I've already been on the receiving end a couple times lol

 

[Resilient]

lol, it's pretty funny. some serious smackdowns have been dealt in those OT threads.

I'm not saying anything, I've already been on the receiving end a couple times lol

the first time i posted in a J-thread, dude jumped me. I was like...tf...is this guy seriously going in on me?? looking back I definitely deserved it lol.

just want to shout out to some recommendations Kurita posted a few days back, 家、ついて行ってイイですか is pretty good for learning how people talk - most are drunk or finishing a late shift. shit is raw.

 

[Darksol]

Off-topic but watching I'm an expert out in the wilds of OT-GAF among the masses is pretty lol.

What's entertaining about watching an asshole be a dick to people?

 

[I'm an expert]

 

[Kilrogg]

This is what I did for years. I'd get banned every couple months and the reason would be 'just be nicer.' Once shit got a bit a too real and I was skirting a perma, I came to these J-threads to hide out. As you can see though I go back every once in a while. I think nowadays the flavor of the forum has changed a bit that my kind of posts are tolerated more now that people figured out how deep the millenial epidemic goes. Funny thing is people set me off in these threads too lol. Had a guy in the J-living thread the other week be like UGH THE J-DRIVER'S TEST IS BULLSHIT and I'm just like.. no, it isn't, you just fucked up. But of course it's always the economy, or the system, or the man that gets the blame.

I'm right with you, buddy. Everyone knows it's YOUR fault.

Spoiler

Kidding, I don't mind your straightforwardness most of the times... But you could be nicer, or should I say more tactful.

 

[Kurita]

just want to shout out to some recommendations Kurita posted a few days back, 家、ついて行ってイイですか is pretty good for learning how people talk - most are drunk or finishing a late shift. shit is raw.

Glad you like it, too!
One of my fav episodes is this one, with the girl saying any guy who can't fuck 3 times a day isn't worth it.

 

[Resilient]

Glad you like it, too!
One of my fav episodes is this one, with the girl saying any guy who can't fuck 3 times a day isn't worth it.

this was the first ep I watched. shes crazy. she started talking about her vibrator like it wasn't a thing. i had to ask for help on this ep, particularly at the section where she was talking about how she didn't want to regret not telling people how she felt, and worrying about what would happen if she died and didn't say anything. it was really good for non-typical stuff. i highly recommend it.

 

[Porcile]

haha, that's great. He's offending people by proxy now as well.

I've been on the end of it, Go back a few pages lol. Except it doesn't like offend me, I don't call him and asshole or condescending, maybe a troll, but a troll in a lighthearted way that makes me laugh that people can get so offended by the innocuous shit he says.

Maybe if more film graduates spent less time watching Netflix pretending they were doing something, instead of actually going out and you know making something like a film then maybe, just maybe, they'd be able to create a little corner for themselves in this huge world. How fuggin easy is it to buy a digital camera and make a film or video these days, and even better actually have like multiple places where you can find audiences. In a world where Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, Youtube, self-publishing or whatever exists its never been so easy, yet the way some people act on here, if you didn't know any better and believed their bullshit, you'd think that life has never been so hard for a bunch of middle-class white dudes in first world countries.

It's not like I'm immune from criticism. I'm going to teach English in Japan for godsakes. Except I treat what criticism and advice comes my way constructively. I don't expect the things I want to achieve to be handed to me on a plate with the most minimal amount of effort just 'cause. When I leave here, I'm going to put my Wii U, 3DS and Amiibos in the bin where they belong because that shit is a waste of time. Some people, especially on NeoGAF, just can't leave that crap behind.

Flip burgers by all means, do a damn good job if you want to go above and beyond, except when you go home at the end don't moan on the internets that you have to flip burgers for living and then proceed to do nothing with your time but play your shitty videogames and watch Hulu. Use the time you would've spent playing videogames and make a videogame instead, or doing anything that would be more beneficial to you than just being a passive consumer of mindless entertainment.

Some people are willing to let their "failures" self-imposed or otherwise, define their entire existence, yet seem completely unwilling to do anything about it, and then get offended when some guy tells them they're wasting their time collecting anime figurines and should do something productive with their life. Nagh, just an an asshole being a dick I suppose.

 

[Resilient]

haha, that's great. He's offending people by proxy now as well.

I've been on the end of it, Go back a few pages lol. Except it doesn't like offend me, I don't call him and asshole or condescending, maybe a troll, but a troll in a lighthearted way that makes me laugh that people can get so offended by the innocuous shit he says.

true, it's all pretty lighthearted and it is just an Internet forum. it's funny. if you can't take criticism here, you will probably react poorly to criticism in a real social setting.

Maybe if more film graduates spent less time watching Netflix pretending they were doing something, instead of actually going out and you know making something like a film then maybe, just maybe, they'd be able to create a little corner for themselves in this huge world. How fuggin easy is it to buy a digital camera and make a film or video these days, and even better actually have like multiple places where you can find audiences. In a world where Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, Youtube, self-publishing or whatever exists its never been so easy, yet the way some people act on here, if you didn't know any better and believed their bullshit, you'd think that life has never been so hard for a bunch of middle-class white dudes in first world countries.

uh yeah, all true points. i don't know many film makers so i can't really comment, but there are a lot of ways to be creative these days, many of them floating around in your pocket! i'm still with ya.

It's not like I'm immune from criticism. I'm going to teach English in Japan for godsakes. Except I treat what criticism and advice comes my way constructively. I don't expect the things I want to achieve to be handed to me on a plate with the most minimal amount of effort just 'cause. When I leave here, I'm going to put my Wii U, 3DS and Amiibos in the bin where they belong because that shit is a waste of time.

wait what? at least sell that shit dude, come on. that's money lost.

Some people, especially on NeoGAF, just can't leave that crap behind.

hang on now, why you talking shit about videogames? video games are cool as shit. why you hatin bro?

Flip burgers by all means, do a damn good job if you want to go above and beyond, except when you go home at the end don't moan on the internets that you have to flip burgers for living and then proceed to do nothing with your time but play your shitty videogames and watch Hulu. Use the time you would've spent playing videogames and make a videogame instead, or doing anything that would be more beneficial to you than just being a passive consumer of mindless entertainment.

Some people are willing to let their "failures" self-imposed or otherwise, define their entire existence, yet seem completely unwilling to do anything about it, and then get offended when some guy tells them they're wasting their time collecting anime figurines and should do something productive with their life. Nagh, just an an asshole being a dick I suppose.

Spoiler

i love this thread and i'm just playing, you know i got you Porcile

 

[Porcile]

lol. I like videogames, but if I bought Xenoblade Chronicles X now then it would consume me, and I've got gaijin-friendly soaplands to visit.

I don't know who I was talking to. I'll probably get called out again by expert, oh well. ¯\_(&#12484_/¯

 

[I'm an expert]

cant believe teaching in asia came up on that thread. i prolly got baited, time for another ban. film student.. life fucked up.. teach in asia! i can be something! lol got me good.

I'm right with you, buddy. Everyone knows it's YOUR fault.

Spoiler

Kidding, I don't mind your straightforwardness most of the times... But you could be nicer, or should I say more tactful.

anyone in the real world would talk like i do here. the issue is the mods want this forum to not be the real world, and i understand why. the average poster's skin is thin. but when people fuck up or are fuck ups, they need to be told, not coddled. i never insult people or call them names, i just word the truth in a way that makes them think about it rather than gloss over it. is the delivery all people care about?

studying japanese with video games and anime is not productive and a massive waste of time.

vs

studying japanese with video games and anime is fucking stupid and only people not giving a fuck about learning would do it.

which one gets the other poster to probably think and respond? simple as that. it's not tact lol. i manage gigantic client work in multiple languages and cultures for a living. obviously i know what tact is. but fluffing everything you write on the internet with rainbows and sprinkles so the guy behind the name 'xxlolipopeva03' doesn't possibly take it the wrong way is not tact.

 

[Resilient]

ohhhhhh that's what you were talking about.

nah you didn't get baited, that dude was being legit. sad that the line is that blurred these days. baited is something like replacing the letter S in words with whatever the fuck this thing is ſ with the justification of bringing back The Real English. the fuck? why even long s bro.

 

[shanshan310]

Maybe if more film graduates spent less time watching Netflix pretending they were doing something, instead of actually going out and you know making something like a film then maybe, just maybe, they'd be able to create a little corner for themselves in this huge world. How fuggin easy is it to buy a digital camera and make a film or video these days, and even better actually have like multiple places where you can find audiences. In a world where Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, Youtube, self-publishing or whatever exists its never been so easy, yet the way some people act on here, if you didn't know any better and believed their bullshit, you'd think that life has never been so hard for a bunch of middle-class white dudes in first world countries.

This is totally unrelated to the Japanese thread, but as someone whose partner is a film graduate I know a lot of people in the industry and this is bugging me >< I don't see this as being the case at all unless you're talking about 'film studies' and not production. Film production requires a lot more work than being just one person with a shitty camera :/

 

[I'm an expert]

Yeah porcile have some fuckin tact

 

[Kilrogg]

Yeah porcile have some fuckin tact

Now you're just rilin' me up.
But it's cool. I'll just go back to playing Dorakue in J-go .

 

[I'm an expert]

It's cool. I'm just countin my millions over here.


IN JAPANESE

wanu, tuu, surii

 

[Porcile]

This is totally unrelated to the Japanese thread, but as someone whose partner is a film graduate I know a lot of people in the industry and this is bugging me >< I don't see this as being the case at all unless you're talking about 'film studies' and not production. Film production requires a lot more work than being just one person with a shitty camera :/

I've made a bunch of short films, all of them on a £400 laptop. My ten year old nephew made an animated stop-motion short film on his ipad, it was terrible, but somehow he achieved more in an afternoon in terms of filmmaking than what 99% film graduates ever achieve in their lifetime after they graduate from university. That's how spectacularly low the bar is for film students.

The fact is that video content can be made and distributed on pennies these days. All you need to make a film of any length and any kind, is a video camera and some editing software, but still the myth exists (probably perpetuated by terrible film graduate wannabes) that it somehow requires something more that. It's not like I couldn't link you to a trillion amateur youtube videos with hundreds of thousands of views proving this point.

I don't I expect all arts grads to become the next Damien Hirst or JJ Abrams, but so many dumb, un-creative people do creative degrees, and once they're done, don't even fulfill the basic function of being a creative, you know, being creative. Even if you're not going to pursue a career in it, at least do something as incredibly basic as buying a sketchbook and drawing something. You'd be amazed at the amount of people that won't even do that.

 

[Kilrogg]

It's cool. I'm just countin my millions over here.


IN JAPANESE

wanu, tuu, surii

"Wan", you weeb. Do you even Hepburn, bruh?

 

[I'm an expert]

I dont even know what that is, no lie.

 

[Kilrogg]

I dont even know what that is, no lie.

Given your history with the language (i.e. you actually learned it), I'm gonna assume you're being serious, so just FYI: it's the most common way of transcribing Japanese into rômaji. So basically, it's completely useless.

 

[Resilient]

I'm an expert
Banned
(Today, 02:23 AM)

if you get offended by what expert posts, you're probably not looking past the first quarter of what the dude is saying. if you look past that you have a lot to gain when reading an answer he gives you. he did say he worked at Walmart once so i actually don't know if the things he says are true though.

 

[Porcile]

Only two times I've ever been banned are when I strayed too far into OT lol

He's been gunning for it for a while though, you don't just start going rogue in OT without having a deathwish. I'm surprised he lasted as long he did in those threads.

Let's get back to Japanese, sheeple.

&#12354;&#12354;&#12354;&#12289;&#26085;&#26412;&#35486;&#12399;&#38627;&#12375;&#12356;&#12356;&#12356;&#12391;&#12377;&#12397;&#12360;&#12360;

 

[shanshan310]

I've made a bunch of short films, all of them on a £400 laptop. My ten year old nephew made an animated stop-motion short film on his ipad, it was terrible, but somehow he achieved more in an afternoon in terms of filmmaking than what 99% film graduates ever achieve in their lifetime after they graduate from university. That's how spectacularly low the bar is for film students.

The fact is that video content can be made and distributed on pennies these days. All you need to make a film of any length and any kind, is a video camera and some editing software, but still the myth exists (probably perpetuated by terrible film graduate wannabes) that it somehow requires something more that. It's not like I couldn't link you to a trillion amateur youtube videos with hundreds of thousands of views proving this point.

I don't I expect all arts grads to become the next Damien Hirst or JJ Abrams, but so many dumb, un-creative people do creative degrees, and once they're done, don't even fulfill the basic function of being a creative, you know, being creative. Even if you're not going to pursue a career in it, at least do something as incredibly basic as buying a sketchbook and drawing something. You'd be amazed at the amount of people that won't even do that.

Lol, what's with your weird vendetta against film graduates? Curse them and their technical skills and industry connections! I don't know any film grads who fit your description, basically everyone from my partners graduating class has gone on to work in the industry, often together, with great results. working in the film industry is a totally different beast to making films in your free time. If you want work you gotta have a specialisation and the equipment to go with it. Even in the case of YouTube videos, you know most people who make any amount of money generally have a team of people working on them right? Even the ones that are just one guy on screen.

 

[Aizo]

Given your history with the language (i.e. you actually learned it), I'm gonna assume you're being serious, so just FYI: it's the most common way of transcribing Japanese into rômaji. So basically, it's completely useless.

Use a damn macron, Frenchman.

 

[Kilrogg]

Use a damn macron, Frenchman.

I am undone!
Macrons are a pain...

 

[Porcile]

Lol, what's with your weird vendetta against film graduates? Curse them and their technical skills and industry connections! I don't know any film grads who fit your description, basically everyone from my partners graduating class has gone on to work in the industry, often together, with great results. working in the film industry is a totally different beast to making films in your free time. If you want work you gotta have a specialisation and the equipment to go with it. Even in the case of YouTube videos, you know most people who make any amount of money generally have a team of people working on them right? Even the ones that are just one guy on screen.

So you mean your partner and friends developed real skills in specialised areas and found practical ways to develop real connections, which ultimately got them jobs and the experiences they craved? Welcome to the 1%.

Film major, but never had the connections to get any related work outside of my own small projects. I worked overseas in Korea teaching English for some years and then came back to the states for about 10 months unable to find any stable work. Either I didn't have enough experience or I was too overqualified for even crappy part-time jobs (I guess they realize someone with a degree wouldn't stay). So I went back to Korea and I'm self teaching myself some things so I can build a better portfolio and most likely go into business for myself.

This is the 99%.

In the mean time there was some dude filming Japanese people eating marmite with his consumer digital camera, or two guys filming themselves in front of green screen talking about retro games and people lapping up that stuff. For any creative graduate there is no excuse in a world where there's dozens of portfolio sites, specialised communities, meetups and conventions etc That's ignoring even super mainstream websites like Youtube and the like.

As I've said before, I'm going to teach, but it does come from a desire from wanting to teach kids and get some more teaching experience, but ultimately not a long-term desire to be become a corduroy jacket wearing teacher, but maybe I'll change my mind. If I do, then I'll re-adjust. However, I don't think anyone should hang around an industry which is made to exploit both the customers and workers. Do a good job by all means, be the best damn burger flipper there is, but develop yourself in the meantime and get the fuck out of there. If you like teaching that much, then get a proper teaching qualification and become a real teacher. This guy did none of that, had all the opportunity to as well, but who was the one that ultimately got banned for calling him out on it? Maybe he asked to get banned though, I dunno.

Lol I see that Zefah is at too now.

 

[Kurita]

Use a damn macron, Frenchman.

Once you go circumflex you never go back
That being said I often use a macron when I'm writing cause it's just faster.

 

[Darksol]

I'm an expert
Banned
(Today, 02:23 AM)

Good.

 

[shanshan310]

So you mean your partner and friends developed real skills in specialised areas and found practical ways to develop real connections, which ultimately got them jobs and the experiences they craved? Welcome to the 1%.

It's not the 1% is what I'm saying. Maybe US film schools are dodgy but in Australia, and in particular the film school most people I know went to, they teach practical skills, and help build portfolios and connections as any good university should. Several graduate films from the uni went on to be shown at cannes. That is the reality.

As for your statement about "developing yourself to get the fuck out of a shitty job", if you read the comment you quoted the guy is doing just that.

 

[Porcile]

It's not the 1% is what I'm saying. Maybe US film schools are dodgy but in Australia, and in particular the film school most people I know went to, they teach practical skills, and help build portfolios and connections as any good university should. Several graduate films from the uni went on to be shown at cannes. That is the reality.

As for your statement about "developing yourself to get the fuck out of a shitty job", if you read the comment you quoted the guy is doing just that.

I don't know anything about film degrees in oz. Going by what you're saying though, they are probably 1000x better than the film degrees and courses in the US and UK. This is from a few years back (UK):

"Almost 60% of film studies graduates went into full-time employment in 2009. Of those, 12.5% found jobs within the art/design/culture sector and, within the film industry itself, 2.1% became directors, 1.2% video/film recorder operators and 1.4% broadcasters. Some 34% found work in retail/catering, perhaps as a temporary measure and an indication of the competitive nature of the industry."

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/jul/08/film-studies-degree

So literally, 1%. I'd quite like to see the numbers of how many of the 34% who worked retail ended up in the industry. I'd wager probably something like 1-2%.

As for that guy. It only took him what, seven years? He also had multiple opportunities to amend his errors or develop but seemingly did nothing. It's not like he didn't realise it either. Fair play that he's doing it now, I have no beef with that, hopefully he's a good teacher as well.

 

[Aizo]

I'm an expert
Banned
(Today, 02:23 AM)

if you get offended by what expert posts, you're probably not looking past the first quarter of what the dude is saying. if you look past that you have a lot to gain when reading an answer he gives you. he did say he worked at Walmart once so i actually don't know if the things he says are true though.

Good.

It's not a perma, right? You two are being silly on opposite sides of the spectrum.

 

[Resilient]

It's not a perma, right? You two are being silly on opposite sides of the spectrum.

the thing is I'm being silly on purpose. like someone else said before. we're just shooting shit over pointless stuff ATM (funnily that's when this thread gets busiest). The posting style of expert is not something that should be debated for.......more than 30 seconds. we should all be studying right now or something.

I mean...I'm pouring one out for a lost homie and the other dude is happy someone got ban hammered? he probably just got a 30min time out and is sitting in the naughty corner.

 

[RangerBAD]

I really don't feel like I get much out of Tobira's grammar workbook. The answers are so specific most of the time that you to look up the answer for it to even make sense. The only time you don't is when it gives you choices.

 

[shanshan310]

I really don't feel like I get much out of Tobira's grammar workbook. The answers are so specific most of the time that you to look up the answer for it to even make sense. The only time you don't is when it gives you choices.

Hm... I haven't used the workbook but I used it at university a long time ago and it really seemed like something optimised for classroom use so that could be why.

I don't know anything about film degrees in oz. Going by what you're saying though, they are probably 1000x better than the film degrees and courses in the US and UK. This is from a few years back (UK):

"Almost 60% of film studies graduates went into full-time employment in 2009. Of those, 12.5% found jobs within the art/design/culture sector and, within the film industry itself, 2.1% became directors, 1.2% video/film recorder operators and 1.4% broadcasters. Some 34% found work in retail/catering, perhaps as a temporary measure and an indication of the competitive nature of the industry."

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/jul/08/film-studies-degree

So literally, 1%. I'd quite like to see the numbers of how many of the 34% who worked retail ended up in the industry. I'd wager probably something like 1-2%.

As for that guy. It only took him what, seven years? He also had multiple opportunities to amend his errors or develop but seemingly did nothing. It's not like he didn't realise it either. Fair play that he's doing it now, I have no beef with that, hopefully he's a good teacher as well.

alright. I'd rather not derail the thread any further with this anyway.

 

[RangerBAD]

Hm... I haven't used the workbook but I used it at university a long time ago and it really seemed like something optimised for classroom use so that could be why.

Seems like it. Really need to find something else.

 

[muteki]

I really don't feel like I get much out of Tobira's grammar workbook. The answers are so specific most of the time that you to look up the answer for it to even make sense. The only time you don't is when it gives you choices.

If I am understanding correctly, for grammar I remember the books generally only offering only one solution as the example, even though there could be a myriad of perfectly fine answers. In classes at school we were generally directed to give a single answer, but that was less of a problem because back then we only knew so many words and so little grammar.

I have the Tobira books but haven't used them in a formal classroom setting. Still haven't gone through the grammar book either, been wasting my time reading other books >_>. But it makes sense to me that for practice they want you to use the specific examples of grammar covered in that particular chapter, how they describe them to be used. Or at the very least, have to put something down as an "answer", and don't have space for every possibility. In self-study however it is more difficult, but you should be able to understand the usage they are showing, as well as your own and if it is correct or incorrect. I wouldn't expect to produce the same sentence verbatim.

 

[Rnr1224]

Hey everyone! So I just finished learning all of the hiragana characters and now I'm a little confused about where to go from here if I am self-teaching myself. Any recommendations?

 

[kiriin]

^Katakana, also have you though about enroll in a class at your local college? I tried self studying years ago and lose focus several times due to motivation. Wasted a year until I finally decided take it more seriously and workout a schedule. Imo it require a bit more diligence in the long run.

 

[LorDjidane]

Hey everyone! So I just finished learning all of the hiragana characters and now I'm a little confused about where to go from here if I am self-teaching myself. Any recommendations?

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=186923177&postcount=8330

 

[Porcile]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=186923177&postcount=8330

Err, I'd only start that once you have about two of three months understanding of Japanese behind you. That method doesn't work for absolute beginners, it works for people that find textbooks too slow, or people who want to build up the knowledge bank to pass JLPT 1-2.

EDIT- easiest answer to his question is katakana and some basic grammar (basic sentence structure, particles and verb conjugation.)

 

[Resilient]

Genki 1 through to Genki 8