When to start a textbook after kana
Check random recognition and short-word reading while gradually reducing romaji.
Test recognition outside the chart
Recognise a few random kana and read short familiar words from the lesson. If shapes and sounds are accessible, begin small sentence tasks while repairing slow characters. You need not wait for equal katakana speed. If recognition depends entirely on chart order, first practise a small random set.
Make romaji a temporary cue
Read the kana first, consult romaji only when blocked, then cover it and retry. A romanised edition can offer temporary support, but add kana text or cards. Spellings such as shi and chi do not describe mora timing; check vowel length and doubled consonants with word audio.
Use a short session for one gap
Choose a few troublesome characters and two or three lesson words. Recognise the characters randomly, hear and read the words, then read one learned sentence. Record the confusion rather than copy the entire chart. Prioritise katakana names or objects used in the current task.
Example
Reading task: 「コーヒー」checks vowel length; 「きって」checks the timing of small っ. Use matching audio rather than chart-order recall.
Check your understanding
Read five random kana, then two learned words without romaji.
Explanation
Record whether shape recognition or sound is blocked. Continue short tasks when recognition is slow but available; repair inaccessible shapes directly.
Find your question
- I can recite the kana chart but cannot recognise characters out of order. Can I start Minna Lesson 1?
- I read the katakana words in Standard Japanese Lesson 1 slowly. Must I master all katakana before starting?
- I rely on romaji to read passages and get stuck without it. How can I move to kana?
- I confuse long vowels and doubled consonants and have only 15 minutes daily. Can I practise them alongside a textbook?
- I bought a romanised Minna edition. How do I move toward kana without suddenly losing access to every sentence?
- I read shi and chi in romaji but mishear long vowels. What should I practise alongside the first lesson?