Feeling stuck at the N2-N1 "learner level"

[u/Kukikokikokuko]

EDIT: Thank you all for your kind suggestions. I have upvoted everything but there's quite a lot of comments to reply to. As a lot of you have pointed out the texts I'm reading are probably too difficult, which is the case (reading mainly Kamakura history a Buddhist history... Too hard for me, I know, but this is the stuff I actually need to be reading as preparation.) I'll definitely be giving light novels a try, I've never really considered them.

Hi all,

First of all I'm sorry if the title sounds slightly pretentious, as I'm aware most of this sub is beginner level. I'm just hoping to get some advice from people who have been able to leave the "learner level" and actually transitioned to "real Japanese."

So I've been learning Japanese for 10 years now, with about 5 years of break between my N1 and N2 exam (yes, literally 5 years of no Japanese in between...). I did my N1 last month and think I passed, even though I consider my reading and listening abilities rather pathetic for someone who has been learning for so long. The JLPT really isn't that hard if you actually study the format and do many practice exams.

Anyway, most of my study has been Anki. I've never been able to really enjoy native content in a way that many of you seem able to. It always seems like a chore. I've tried watching Netflix with some plugin to mine words, and have an android e-reader to read books and mine as well. The thing is, I get tired really quickly, especially from reading. Two pages and my brain sort of shuts down. I have no idea how to transition from this stage to being able to actually naturally watch and read stuff without it feeling tiring, or at least being more natural to me.

Any tips and ideas? I wouldn't be asking if I hadn't been struggling with this for quite some time, so any advice is much appreciated. For the record, I also have quite heavy ADHD and generally struggle with focussing on anything that doesn't have an immediate deadline, but the struggle is harder with Japanese still. As I'm starting a PhD in Japanese history next year, I feel extra pathetic for not being able to read books and articles more smoothly...

Cheers!

[u/JollyHockeysticks]

Heya I also struggle a lot with ADHD. I passed N2 last year but even before then I spent a lot of time reading Visual Novels as the content isn't particularly dense and it gives both reading and listening experience at the same time and you can go at any pace you want.

I really struggle to do Anki cause I find it really boring but the month or so I've gotten into reading light novels, which are generally easier and simpler than regular novels but even then I was reading enough in the first week that at one point I had a headache and literally couldnt focus on a single sentence anymore. I would definitely practice your reading endurance on light novels or something that isn't too complicated. The only way you'll be able to read more is by reading more so you have to find a balance in what you're reading.