#if clozemaster could figure out how to do Spaced Repetition Radio Mode? they'd have a better product than glossika

[rigelmejo]

glossika japanese app course: 2000 sentences so far, still A1 level category

Okay well. I'm 2000 sentences into glossika japanese app course, it's still A1 level. My guess is... 2500 sentences in A1, 2500 in A2, 1000 sentences in B1, 600 sentences in B2, 100 sentences in C1. Since glossika has 6700+ sentences supposedly. This is me totally guessing with no actual idea, so keep in mind they might actually distribute the sentences in a more 'even' way. But I heard some glossika app courses had barely any sentences in the upper levels, and that makes me guess glossika's japanese course may be similar. Based on the vocabulary taught... I very much am predicting I'll mostly only be learning the basics.

I'll be happily surprised if it ends up covering MORE than the (free) Japanese core 2k anki deck. I'll be incredibly surprised if it covers most of what's in the free Japanese core 6k anki deck. In fact I'll congratulate glossika for making a japanese course that Actually teaches some intermediate level stuff, because if I can bridge from this into reading I would be THRILLED.

However, from what I've seen so far, all 2000 sentences so far, they are indeed 'A1' sentences and vocabulary. From what I've learned so far, I could not pass a N5 test. And I'd say I'm aiming for like an N3 level ish area of knowledge if I'd like to read/listen more comfortably than I currently do (although still with difficulty).

The two praises I'll give glossika: I like the listening mode structure and deeply wish more resources had this option, and I think despite being BRUTAL on true beginners - the random grammar in every sentence is making me (an upper beginner/mixed bag self learner) much better at interpreting the meaning of sentences more quickly and intuitively. The flip side of this is: free japanese core 2/6k anki deck would also have this benefit eventually (once you see ENOUGH varied grammar), clozemaster app has this benefit immediately just like glossika (and their sentences are around the same quality as glossika), reading a lot would give you enough grammar exposure to help with this (if you prefer reading), just listening a LOT would give you enough grammar exposure to help with this, and of course OLD glossika cd lessons you can get from a library for free or find mp3s of online has this same benefit. So the listening mode structure of lessons is glossika's... only unique plus.... and even then, many audio-only options are available, I am just so fucking lazy I don't want to figure out my review times and stuff, so glossika is just that Bit more convenient with it's app figuring out scheduling for me... versus japaneseaudiolessons.com (free) or old glossika cd course (easy to find free) which have the same audio benefit you just have to schedule when to study new/review yourself.

So yeah. In short, do I recommend glossika? Not for japanese. Unless the listening lesson structure is 1. really really worth using to you, and helps get you to study more since you don't have to plan as much. 2. you're not a true beginner, so you can figure out the sentence grammar yourself. 3. you're still enough of a beginner that learning the first few thousand frequent words is useful. 4. the price point doesn't deter you. (because there are free alternatives).

Now, the longer thoughts?

I'm a stubborn fucking person. And now that I'm 2000 sentences in I want to force my way through all 6,700 so I can give a full review. But if things go how I am guessing they will, glossika probably will not be of use to intermediate learners... but hey, maybe I'll be happily surprised. I'll try to be moderately optimistic.

Mostly, I like that I am making myself do it. I can see how many hours I've done it on glossika, and seeing my hours of study time is motivating. It has gotten me into studying chinese listening skills too (on my own with audiobooks and audio dramas) so that's been a nice side perk of motivation. I'm also bitter that there's no glossika FULL app japanese course reviews... so no one can warn people like me if it's too slow, or too mistake ridden, or too little material taught etc.

It's also kind of a fun 'experiment.' In that I can see: if I brute force expose myself to 5000 new words, 6700 sentences of varied grammar, will those 5000 words push my comprehension UP enough to feel it's easier to read/listen to japanese? My bet is on yes. Even if I half ass it, even if glossika might only truly teach 3000 unique words. (since that's what their old cd course taught so I know for sure they at least should have 3000 unique words in this new app course if they took the old sentences and added them to the new course, and if they inflated the 'new' app course word count with stuff like 'Mike' 'London' 'New York' and each verb conjugation as a separate word). Even if I'm only half paying attention. Because to be real... I've studied 2000 words before, so even if doing all of the glossika course only improves my listening skills, quicker comprehension of words I know and kanji pronunciations, that's still enough benefit to noticeably make listening to japanese easier to a significant degree. Not super easy lol, but noticeably easier than where I currently am.

I mean, I can already see how it's improved my listening comprehension speed. When I practiced by listening to a few audios in japanese earlier this week. (that said - you can get the same benefits with tools other than glossika).

So yeah... I'll keep trying to brute force get through the glossika sentences for another month. We'll see if at a certain point I give up, or if I get through all 6,700 sentences.

Also, regarding glossika chinese: I'm not going to try it out. I can confirm, from the japanese course, that glossika's course is a Little too slow for me. Too few words introduced at a time. I can handle a faster pace. Free chinese options go through words at a faster pace, while still providing repetition of words in multiple sentences: like Chinese Spoonfed anki audio (which I KNOW has more words than glossika), and just regular audiobooks. I'm at the point where I can follow the main idea of at least SOME scenes in any audiobook I press play on, on bilibili, and can follow the main idea of MOST scenes in the audio dramas I click in, so I'd rather keep listening to the much more entertaining audiobooks and dramas. Also, audiobooks introduce much more new words for me on a regular basis, which helps me learn.

Some suggestions for total beginners: Comprehensible Japanese youtube channel is a good intro to japanese if you want to listen to a lot of japanese (much more beginner friendly and correct japanese compared to glossika), Comprehensible Chinese is a good youtube channel for beginner chinese learners if you'd like a listening heavy approach. Nihongo Con Teppei (on youtube and spotify etc) is a good listening option for upper beginner japanese learners, if you know enough vocabulary or kanji (with the japanese captions turned on) to follow what the guy is saying.