Study New Languages Resource directory · word-roots method · tools

Japanese · B1–B2

Plateau path — denser vocabulary, weekly speaking, and media that steps up without restarting A1.

By Avery J. Parker · Last reviewed

A1–A2 B1–B2 C1–C2 Resources

Intermediate path (on this page)

B1–B2 Japanese stalls when recognition outruns production. Fix with denser vocabulary, weekly speaking, and graduating media — not another A1 restart.

Four-week plateau block

  1. Density — First 500 + topic decks; invent two work/school sentences daily.
  2. Output — two short emails or voice notes; compare structure with a model when you have one.
  3. Media step-up — slow/graded news → one harder clip; 90-second retell.
  4. Integration — tutor or exchange on this month’s topics only; 120-word opinion with three connectors.
やさしいニュースを聞いて、三つ事実を自分の言葉で話しました。

Japanese plateau traps

  • Politeness chaos (desu/masu vs casual)
  • NHK Easy without retells
  • SRS larger than speaking practice

Tools: First 500 · topic decks · listening picker. Next: C1–C2 path.

A solid practice day

Finish one listening or reading piece you can actually complete. Invent three new sentences from today’s words. Record a short spoken retell. If the input is too hard, step down one level — don’t open another app. Repeat on three weekdays before stacking new resources.