Graded readers are perfect for building grammar intuition and reading stamina. Keep the difficulty slightly below your edge so you can read more, out loud, with fewer lookups.
Routine (one session)
- Skim pictures/headings; predict the plot.
- Read aloud; mark particles and endings.
- Summarize each page in one sentence (Japanese).
- Add only high‑value cards (collocations, not every word).
- Re‑read the same story once for speed.
Leveling up without fatigue
- Start one level below your max; increase length before difficulty.
- Alternate easy and slightly‑hard stories to keep momentum.
- Limit dictionary checks; batch unknowns at the end.
Drills that transfer
- Connector hunt: highlight でも、だから、そして、それで and say their function.
- Pronoun resolution: who is 彼/彼女? verify by underlining referents.
- Paragraph roles: background → event → reaction → outcome.
Pitfalls
- Stopping for every unknown word; flow matters more than perfect coverage.
- Choosing texts that are too hard; frustration kills volume.
- Adding low‑value cards (rare words) that never recur.
Metrics
- Pages per session; unknown words per 1,000.
- Time per page (steady decline across a re‑read).
- Summary quality (one accurate sentence per page).
How Kanji Koi helps
- Component‑grouped kanji refresh before reading smooths recognition.
- Collocation‑friendly cards capture useful phrases from the story.
- Offline mode ensures consistency for daily reading.
Use Kanji Koi to tag cards with the story title. When they resurface, you’ll remember the scene and the phrase together—accelerating recognition on new texts.
A quick 10‑minute kanji review before reading makes the session smoother.