Learning Kanji by grade level or JLPT level?

Question:

I am trying to learn a some kanji (just for general progress in my Japanese study) and was wondering which would be better, the JLPT seem to increase difficulty based on the stroke order/number and complexity, while the grade levels seem to increase in difficulty of the vocabulary word, not the complexity of the character itself.

Is one better than the other to begin studying? Any other suggesttions?



Thank you.

Answer:

If you're just doing it for your own interest and not for the JLPT, you might be better off going by grade level. I have noticed that the kanji learned earlier on aren't just basic kanji in their own right, but often pop up later as radicals in more complex kanji. Another method might be to see how textbooks like the Genki series (or whatever series you prefer) arrange kanji for study. Adult learners often have different needs than young children learning the language, and if you go by the grade level approach you might learn some really useful kanji (like the ones for the days of the week) later than if you followed the course outlined in a textbooks meant for adult learners.