This is the beginning of it all. I can see it now, the long treacherous fun yet challenging path ahead! It is time to take the first step and begin Phase 1 of Operation: Complete Immersion(like something out of a movie 
).
The very first thing I started doing when I first began learning Japanese, which was only months ago, was to begin collecting Japanese “resources”. A resource to me isn’t defined by something that is meant to teach you, though it might be something that teaches, but it is something that you learn from directly or indirectly. What do I mean? Well, Khatzumoto from AJATT summed it up best:
Anyway, as I see it, language is not an act, nor is it a skill; it cannot be possessed. Language is a habit. You don’t “learn” a language as such, you live it. You don’t need to get “good” at language, you get used to it. You don’t become fluent at a language, you become it.
Therefore, even though the NDS is for Video Games and enjoyment, it actually falls under “Edutainment” which is a term I use referring to things that are entertaining yet educational. Same goes for Japanese Manga, Movies, Music, etc. Now that I’ve explained this all to you, let me go ahead and list off some of the items I’m starting my journey off with, so you have an idea of what you might want to buy, as well as an idea of what all I’m using “behind the scenes”.
Note: Some of these items are not in the picture, I can’t fit everything in there!
Also, I have way more books than this but this is what I plan to use for now. 
(Need I say more?) )That pretty much covers most of it. Anything else I’ll end up posting about another time. In fact, I’ll probably post more in detail about a lot of things in the future anyway, so don’t sweat it.
Just remember, the main idea of this goal is to be doing something in Japanese at all times. That means that if you’re working(like most of us have to do), you’re listening to Japanese with your Mp3 Player if at all possible, you’re using your flashcards every time you go to the bathroom(yes, I really do this), etc.
Remembering the Kanji is a book published by a man named James Heisig. Most of you out there that have already done any sort of self-study in Japanese have most likely heard of this book and know what it’s concepts are. However, for those of you who haven’t, here is a brief explanation:
So essentially the idea of how to “best” learn Kanji according to the Heisig method is to:
Study Kanji in a particular order (Learn Kanji that are similar to each other and use mostly radicals or other Kanji you’ve already learned)Now for what I am going to do:
So there it is, that is my current path! Essentially I’ll be finishing RTK in a total of 3 months. That means I need to do roughly 23 Kanji a day, but instead I’ll be attempting to do 25 a day or so in case I need a few days to take a break and simply go over what I’ve already learned, without learning any new material that day.
Immersion is something that never ends, while I may eventually learn all of the Kanji in RTK and move onto others(Kanji learning shouldn’t stop either ), I won’t ever say “Well, that’s it, I’m done immersing.. go me..”. It just doesn’t work like that, so I’ll be adding new Japanese music to my collection, watching more Japanese movies, reading more Japanese manga, etc until my brain gives out.
