Recently someone asked me for some Japanese study tips so I made this handy list.  It is a work in progress.  So here is my list of Dos and Donts of learning Japanese:

Do:

• Study every day
• Study as much as possible.
• Utilize SRS
• When drilling sentences, only add one unknown word at a time.(n+1)
• Use comprehensible input
• Use Japanese mnemonics rather than english mnemonics whenever possible.
• Ditch as much English as possible.
• Plan in advance to avoid running out of study material.
• Study during/after exercise (an excited heart rate increases retention).
• Immerse yourself in Japanese language (music, tv, movies, podcasts, travel to Japan).
• Focus on vocab as much as possible (especially when first starting out)
• Study reading, writing, speaking and listening concurrently (they reinforce each other)
• Use Native Japanese study materials as soon and as often as possible.
• “Shadow” native Japanese speakers. (repeat what they say on TV, radio…)
• Make use of every possible minute of study time. (study while waiting in lines, at the doctor…)
• Make use of passive study methods(hang japanese texts around the house, use katakana names on your computer folders…)

Dont:

• Don’t even think about studying using romaji.
• Don’t force learning difficult words or kanji (suspend them and come back to them later)
• Don’t study too long in a row (6 30min sessions are better than a 3 hour session)
• Don’t study when you are tired(not as effective as being well rested)
• Don’t Focus on studying grammar (at least at the beginning)
• Don’t use study materials that use too much English.
• Don’t use study methods that use only one skill(reading, writing, speaking, listening) to the exclusion of others.
• Don’t focus on studying on-yomi & kun-yomi (you will learn this by reading and listening)
• Don’t spend too much time finding the perfect study method.
• Don’t spend too much time reading blogs and forums.