I often see beginner posts like “I want to be fluent in 6 months,” and honestly, I think that kind of optimism is great. But after studying for a couple of years myself, I’ve realized that the goals you set at that stage start to look a bit different.
So I wanted to ask people who’ve been studying for around 2+ years or are somewhere between N3 and N2: what’s your 6-month challenge?
I’m not talking about long-term mastery, which might take a decade or more. I’m more curious about what feels actually attainable within half a year – the next “low-hanging fruit” in your learning journey.
Here are some things I’ve noticed as my own 6-month focus areas, and I’d love to hear whether you think progress in these areas is realistic, or what yours look like in comparison:
Listening: Understanding 100% of a group conversation, like a dinner with two overlapping discussions (2–3 people per topic).
Reading: Relying on zero English when reading a Japanese newspaper.
Testing: Passing my next JLPT—shooting for N1 in July.
Literature: Reading 1–2 books—Sunset Sunrise, 国宝, ババヤガの夜, 六人の嘘つきな大学生.
Accuracy: Reaching near-zero grammar or typo mistakes in both speech and writing.
I’m genuinely curious how others at a similar stage approach the “next step.”
Do you still set tangible goals every few months, or do things start to feel more like long-term maintenance and refinement?
(And if you’re a beginner reading this, please don’t worry—this isn’t meant to discourage anyone. I just wanted to hear what the mid- to advanced-stage learners are working toward next!)
by neworleans-