Reading like a First Grader...

[khiemtran]

One of the many advantages for Japanese learners over Chinese learners is the quality of the electronic resources available to them. I was quite impressed with the Pleco Chinese dictionary on my iphone until I downloaded the freeware Kotoba! for Japanese.

Kotoba seems another generation ahead. Besides offering a host of different entry methods, you also get stroke ordering and composition for each kanji, Korean and Chinese pronunciations as well as the On and Kun readings in Japanese, and different forms of grading, including grouping characters by Japanese curriculum.

I was amused to find I know almost all of the eighty characters listed under "1st Grade 6 years old". So, I can safely say, I can read almost as well as a first grader...

Writing is a different matter of course...

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Writing's a lot harder for everyone now because it's so easy to just type something phonetically into the computer and then pick out the right kanji compound--you don't get the chance to develop the muscle memory that you get when you're actually physically writing the characters.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

That's true. I've noticed that even in English, my handwriting's been getting worse and worse, because the only time I use it is for shopping lists and whiteboards.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Heh--mine too.