Reddit reviews Title: KANJI LOOK+LEARN-WORKBOOK

While it reads like a really long advertisement for Wanikani, I think it's still a useful method to learn kanji. I have a lifetime membership to Wanikani, and I like it, but I'm fairly lazy and slow to progress.

There's a not-so-well-known book that ties in with the Genki series (Kanji Look & Learn and the workbook) that tries the same technique, but with slightly different radical names and different mnemonics. It starts out fairly difficult (teaching you to write 曜 right away...), but I kind of like it.

If you want to study beginner kanji for Japanese, you can use this: http://www.amazon.com/Kanji-Look-and-Learn-Workbook/dp/4789013502/

That book will only get you about 500 kanji. You don't need to buy the associated Kanji Look and Learn index book as you can find the readings elsewhere. But the two do go together so the other book will point out key readings that are tested in the workbook.

> Grammar is recommended to be done last.

Uh, no never. You're not going to make it through 2000 kanji before learning any grammar. You should start on grammar immediately after you are comfortable with kana. Think of grammar, kanji, and vocabulary as the three pillars of Japanese. Each one is equally high. You need to study and practice all three simultaneously.

> How much grammar/writing knowledge is needed to form basic sentences as I would feel better about the lack of readings in RTK if I could make some sentences out of what I'm learning.

First you're not going to be able to form sentences with only kanji. As for a basic sentence, I'm not sure. I just crossed into the "intermediate" level and I still feel some basic stuff is hard to express.

To put it into perspective, the textbook Genki I usually takes 2 semesters at community college. You can say basic stuff like "my name is teek" and "I like to play tennis" and even "I am studying Japanese because it is fun." But the common pattern here is you're severely limited in expression. The conversation would dry out pretty quickly (about 5 minutes) with a native speaker.

The following book, Genki II rounds you out so you can start talking about more complicated things and situations. But again, this book usually takes another 2 semesters. At the end of this book, you can say some pretty complicated stuff, but still have trouble making reasonably simple expressions. For example I can say "I don't know if the person you met yesterday is coming to the party tomorrow." But then ask me to write detailed cooking instructions for making curry and I wouldn't be able to do it simply because I lack vocabulary. So for general conversations with a native, you could probably keep them entertained for a good half hour. But for repeat visits and more specific conversations, you would still struggle.

Be sure to get the textbooks. You WILL be using them. Especially the workbooks.
These are what you'll need:
https://www.amazon.com/GENKI-Integrated-Course-Elementary-Japanese/dp/4789014401/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501126453&sr=8-1&keywords=genki

https://www.amazon.com/Genki-Integrated-Elementary-Japanese-Workbook/dp/478901441X/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=478901441X&pd_rd_r=9T6QJ16NYXTG8SS140AV&pd_rd_w=Rs3eV&pd_rd_wg=AzzaO&psc=1&refRID=9T6QJ16NYXTG8SS140AV
https://www.amazon.com/Kanji-Look-Learn-Eri-Banno/dp/4789013499/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501126506&sr=1-1&keywords=kanji+look+and+learn
https://www.amazon.com/Title-KANJI-LOOK-LEARN-WORKBOOK/dp/4789013502/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501126506&sr=1-2&keywords=kanji+look+and+learn

I also suggest getting little things like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Vocabulary-Quickstudy-Inc-BarCharts/dp/1572229195/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1572229195&pd_rd_r=9T6QJ16NYXTG8SS140AV&pd_rd_w=Rs3eV&pd_rd_wg=AzzaO&psc=1&refRID=9T6QJ16NYXTG8SS140AV
https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Grammar-Quickstudy-Inc-BarCharts/dp/1572229128/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1572229128&pd_rd_r=1R88XNVSTEQ0BSSQ6J78&pd_rd_w=lbplP&pd_rd_wg=hbKyk&psc=1&refRID=1R88XNVSTEQ0BSSQ6J78

1. I really want to learn Japanese! I've taken it for two semesters in school and have been working on it on my own, but I'm just not great at languages. I want a job where I travel a lot, so knowing another language would be fantastic. I also want to learn German and Russian.
   
   
2. I'm really bad at Kanji, so this book would definitely help!
   
   
3. Tommy Heavenly6's new version of "La Soldier" is so good.
   
   
4. This is cute and funny! It always cheers me up.