Stage 1 All together or step by step

[terse yarrow]

Hi, this question has probably been asked a lot but using CTRL F, I haven't been able to find the exact answer (so it's probably obvious just I'm oblivious). I know that stage 1 is split into ABC, but not sure exactly how to allocate time for each substage.
Do I do all parts of stage 1A (Immersion + Passive listening), 1B (Phonetics + Writing System) and 1C (Comprehension) together at the same time to a sufficient level before moving to stage 2? I know 1B is fairly quick to go by as I've learnt all hiragana and katakana and will move onto kanji soon. I can see 1A being relevant throughout the entire process of learning, so is 1C just done at the same time and does it have more or less or equal priority as 1A if I'm limited to maybe 1 hr a day currently? (I still do passive listening during commutes while I can)

[thorny walrus]

The way stage 1 is split up in the roadmap is kind of overkill. That's not your fault though. In stage 1, all you need to worry about is a couple of things:

1. Get comfortable with the kana. You don't need to be a pro. Just get good enough to where you can read it, even if it's slow and you still make mistakes. This usually takes just 2-4 weeks for both hiragana and katakana.
2. Completing step 1 is necessary to move on to step 2, which is learning vocabulary. To learn vocabulary, you need to be able to read how the word is pronounced when given the reading. To jumpstart learning vocab, grab one of the recommended anki decks. You can ask the bot in #methodology-questions
3. Simultaneously while learning vocabulary, you want to start immersing. Especially with Japanese subtitles, when available. This will start helping you connect the written form of the language with the kana and kanji to what you're hearing.

A couple notes:

• We do not recommend studying kanji in isolation. That advice is very old at this point and not necessary for 99% of people. Just learning vocab and reading is enough to learn kanji naturally.
• You don't need to worry about phonetics. Just listening and paying attention to the sounds of the language while immersing will go a long way.
• Active immersion is the priority, not passive. Passive is just a "better than nothing" activity when you have gaps in your day where you couldn't do active immersion. Don't worry about having a goal in mind for passive. It's totally skippable. Just do it as you feel like it. In stage 1, you want to be building a solid immersion habit with active immersion. Being able to immerse for at least 1 hour per day by the time you finish stage 1 would be really solid. But don't worry if that sounds like a lot to you right now. It's better to start low and work up.

[terse yarrow]

Thanks for the response had a busy week but will check it now Ty

[terse yarrow]

So for active immersion, I have one question, should I do that once I have a good level of vocab learnt, because idk how it works fresh from the start where all I know is hiragana and katakana and some words from listening to Japanese content over the years with subtitles

[thorny walrus]

So, most beginners have this mindset. That they need to "learn" vocab before they're "ready" for immersion. But it's actually a sort of catch 22 situation.

You actually learn vocab by immersing. If you don't immerse, you will never feel ready for it.

It's really important that you start immersing as soon as you have gotten the hang of kana and start learning vocabulary. It starts building the infrastructure and web of knowledge for a whole new language into your brain. Rote memorizing vocabulary in a vacuum without any context is frustrating at best and useless at worst.

I actually have a recent example. A few months ago, I was doing a premade deck for some backup vocabulary that had the word for "cooking" in it. But I failed the card every single time because I never saw it in immersion until that point and I had no context to latch on to for the word.

Fast forward to yesterday and the word clicked for me. Why? Because I am currently immersing in something where people actually use the word often and in many different contexts. Your brain needs exposure and context to actually acquire the language. The plan of trying to learn vocab before immersing so that you're more "ready" simply does not work.

I can also tell you, as someone who also has years of history watching Japanese content with English subtitles, you will have more of a leg up than you think when you start immersing. The language is already somewhat familiar to you. This makes a big difference compared to someone who has no exposure to the language and is starting from scratch.

I'll leave you with one last thing. This video from another server admin Brett emphasizes the point of immersing from day 1 and how important it is. I urge you to give it a watch because many people have found it helpful for making sense of this mindset. https://youtu.be/m0GfLNQeRvI?si=xYJ1R2OOFvM7h8vt

[terse yarrow]

Ok so what I got from this video is ofcourse immersing immediately is best but they go on to talk about intensive and free flow and that being more to do with stage 2. How would I personally begin immersing, with JP subs/no subs on?

[thorny walrus]

As a very beginner, I would not worry about those distinctions too much just yet.

If you don't have subs, it's going to be pure freeflow anyway since you can't look anything up. That's easy.

For content with subs, you want to try to look up words that jump out at you. That could be because the word feels familiar, important, or interesting. Noticing these words is the first step to eventually learning them. And the noticing step must come first. Don't expect to understand words right away. Just notice them. Go grab Yomibaba and some dictionaries so that you can easily look up words in Japanese subtitles. Specifically follow the Brand New User instructions where I have linked you https://github.com/forsakeninfinity/yomibaba#brand-new-users

What I described in the second paragraph is Interactive Immersion, which is in between freeflow and intensive. But like I said, you don't need to stress about these terms this early on.

The most important thing is just getting into an immersion habit.

[terse yarrow]

having one problem with this yomibaba dictionary import, downloaded the first file, and then I click this on yomibaba site but whenever I try import it doesnt work

[thorny walrus]

Hmmm I never imported dictionaries using the JSON method. I would try importing the individual dictionary zips or make a post in #1028069532893466664 for help if that still doesn't work.

[terse yarrow]

nvm found it had to scroll down to the backup section it seems

also, so the aim for immersion is to understand words in the contexts they're in? and using JP subs that will help if I want to look smth up?

just still slightly unsure what I should be immersing, is just watching the content without english subs considered the immersion I want to be doing?

Thank you so much for all the help so far btw! Everything else but setting up the immersion has been going smoothly, just need to sort that last part out

[thorny walrus]

Yes, exactly. Check out #1023440478475141180 for some recommendations that other people have found to be easy.

As a beginner, the aim for immersion is to just notice. Understanding comes after that. The more you notice things in context that feel familiar, interesting, or important, the faster you will start to understand. Using Japanese subs makes it easier to look things up, but it also helps you start to make the connection between the written language and the spoken language, which is very important. Seeing the words increases comprehension because you don't have to rely on your listening. Listening is difficult. Reading is much easier because everything is spelled out for you.

[terse yarrow]

Ok will give it a shot today and try to get to at least an hr of immersion a day if possible