Mastering Japanese-Lesson 3-The 5 by 2 system

Dear reader, assuming that you have chosen which textbook with CD you'd
like to use, this lesson clearly specifies how to break down the
conversational contents for maximum learning and absorption.

As I mentioned in the last lesson, utilizing the text you purchased,
you will be progressing at the rate of 5 conversations every 2
weeks. However, before you begin your Monday thru Friday morning
and evening listening sessions, you will have to undergo a brief study
session so that you will be able to comprehend the contents of what
you will be listening. Obviously, it's not going to do you very much
good if you can't understand what you are listening to.

Hence, this lesson is going to focus on the preparatory groundwork
that MUST be laid down before you switch over to automatic pilot
repetitive listening. In a nutshell, to start off, you need to study the
contents of the first five conversations of the textbook you purchased.
The following are the basic steps I go through when studying a conversational
text for the first time.

FIRST STEP:
Scan through the conversation once without worrying about
stopping at parts or words you don't understand. This first
reading is just an initial skim-through in order to get the general
idea, the gist of what the conversation is all about.

SECOND STEP:
Read it through again but this time do not skim but read it
slowly and carefully with pen in hand. During this second
reading make sure to mark or highlight any words or phrases
you do not understand. Be meticulous here. Leave no
stone unturned. All words and/or phrases that you don't
understand either underline or highlight.

THIRD STEP:
Meticulously look up those words and phrases that you
highlighted utilizing the following. If you decided to
purchase one of the texts I recommended in Lesson Two,
on the opposite page of the printed conversation, you'll
notice that there is a simple explanation page or glossary
of sorts for certain anticipated difficult words or phrases.
See if you can understand the explanations already given
there.

A) A Japanese-English Dictionary （和英辞典）

B) Ask a Japanese friend

FOURTH STEP:
Finally, with your newly armed understanding of the
words and phrases of the text, give it a read through
again. This time you should be able to understand
all parts of the conversation thoroughly.

FIFTH STEP:
Repeat Steps One thru Four for the next four conversations
so that you will have studied all five. Remember one set
equals five conversations.

SIXTH STEP:
Again if you're using one of the texts I recommended, pull
out the CD and listen to the conversations with the aim
of answering the problem questions, one each that are posed
to you at the end of each conversation. This is the frosting
on the cake that will really sharpen your understanding.


SEVENTH STEP:
Review your answers to the CD's problem questions
to see how many you got right. For the ones you
got right, CONGRATS! You possess a solid understanding
of those conversations. For those you missed, no
sweat. Just review with the text so that you know
where and why you messed up. No need to listen
to the recording again for those you messed up. Just
go over the text so that you're aware of how you
misunderstood the contents.

(Skip steps six and seven if you're using a text and
CD other than the one I recommended.)

And THAT'S IT!
NOW YOU'RE READY TO START LISTENING TO
THE CONVERSATIONS FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING.

QUICK NOTE:
The whole process of studying a set of five conversations
should only take about an hour, sometimes substantially less
if you are already quite familiar with the vocabulary and sentence
patterns of a given conversation.

*******NEXT HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT********
Adhering to the seven steps outlined above, study the first
five conversations of your chosen textbook.

I hope this doesn't sound all too confusing. For the time being,
here is your study schedule for the next couple of weeks.

1st weekend
Study the first set of five conversations.

2nd week (mon-fri):
Twice a day(morning and evening) everyday, listen to the
first set of five conversations five times each(10 times a day total).
Each listening session should take only about 15 minutes.

Following Weekend):
Relax! No assignments.

3rd week (Mon-Fri):
Again twice everyday(morning and evening), listen to the first set
of the five conversations that you studied the first weekend
five times each. Give yourself a pat on the back on the Friday
of this week, after you finish your evening listening session. You will
have just listened to your first set of conversations 100 times
dude! AWESOME! Bruce Lee! Go and get a soda and celebrate
or do something.

The third weekend:
Sometime during this weekend, find a spare hour to study
the second set of conversations (conversations 6 to 10).

The 4th week:
Twice everyday(morning and evening), listen to the second
set of five conversations that you just studied that last
(3rd) weekend five times each.

-----Ad infinitum towards greater and greater fluency.

So go ahead and tackle learning the contents of the first
five conversations. And remember, if any questions or concerns,
please comment below.


p.s. For a little extra inspiration, tap on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBBygQJJNDQ