Posts Tagged ‘Japanese’

I have been in a formal Japanese class for about four to five months now. With only one class a week, we are only going to finish the first Genki book on our next one or two classes. Then we’d go to the second book.  Though the sensei told us that our pace of learning is pretty good despite our one class a week, I still feel as if we aren’t going as fast.  But considering that it is difficult to find a Japanese class conducted in English along with a class mate, I’m grateful for the class.

Besides that there is also one site that I found recently to help me with my Japanese studies when I’m at home.  Especially for my Kanji. Check out japanese-language.aiyori.org. Aren’t you glad that you are a language learner living in the internet age? I know that I am in a better position learning Japanese compared to my father who had only the short wave radio to tune in to NHK radio for Japanese lessons. Heh, the net really does open the borders all over the world. I can read about Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina plans even when I’m not even living in North Carolina. Learning Japanese without going into classrooms is easier too.

Check out the website! I highly recommend it.

Two weeks, no Japanese class. I either have to catch up on my own or try to make time for extra classes. With school out, I don’t think the second option is viable.  I have whole of Lesson 10 from the Genki book to learn on my own. It isn’t that hard but with all the going ons right now, sure is tough to pick up the book and study.

We did spend time in Nograd for a few days. Although I brought all my books, hoping to be able to sit and study, but it turned out we were either going around visiting places or I have to wash, clean, and cook. Only time I could sit down and open a book was when we had one last evening there. However, I was too tired from all the walking and working that I couldn’t concerntrate. Not an excuse, a reason, a reason. Good thing I had the ‘Let learns Japanese’ on my media player so that I can’t watch some Japanese lessons few minutes before I go off to sleep. Vacation supposed to be relaxing and all that, but seems like we were all tired out by bed time.

Nevertheless, the short holiday was nice. Saw some people setting up a large portable pool which gave us an idea. Perhaps we will get ourselves our own portable pool for next summer. Those pvc pools and pool pumps are becoming more affordable nowadays.

Being consistent is one of the keys to success. That I was told and I noticed from those who are good at doing something. Even if one has 20 minutes of free time a day and he/she utilizes it for doing an ab workout, after some months I suppose it wouldn’t be dangerous to say that the person would be guaranteed a slim flat tummy.

However, consistency is a discipline that many of us do not possess. Including myself. I started learning Japanese for a year now, more or less. But I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t been consistent. Well, that is one reason I enrolled myself in a Japanese class. At least the routine would make me study consistently. I have been in the Japanese class for 4 months now. I have to say I have made more progress in the 4 months than the other 6 months that I studied alone. Was it because of the class or coaching? I don’t think so. Because we follow Genki I, 100%. It’s consistency.

I am a the pc game Sims fan. One of the features in the game is being able to buy traits for your Sim after you’ve collected enough happiness points. I just wonder if only in real life it is something like that. I would buy myself the consistency trait.

Other than being sick, and feeling down in the dumps for the past 2 weeks, the other reason for not blogging for some time now is because there is also a Japanese language test coming up this Friday. It wouldn’t be as easy as the last couple of tests we had as this time our knowledge of Kanji will be tested as well this time. I kind of suck in Kanji for now.

We’ve finally completed lesson 9 of the Genki I book and entering lesson 10 this week. Although I feel that we are going pretty slow, I was told that we are actually doing pretty well compared to other classes that are doing Japanese lessons twice a week or more. Well, what do you know…

But for that reason too I’m feeling a bit pressured to do well for the coming test. Pressure or stress, for me works better than Hoodia, Alli or Lipofuze cause I would lose appetite when I’m worried. Not really complaining as it is better than eating when I feel stressed or pressured right? So for me a little pressure, a little stress is good. (For weight loss… LOL)

Japanese tutor is going off on a holiday for 2 weeks. However the next class we will be having a replacement tutor. A man tutor who would be teaching us in Japanese as the teaching medium. I’m okay with it since we will be going off on a 2 weeks holiday sometime next month, so it’s okay to learn as much as we can now. We’re only in Lesson 9, 4 more lessons to go to finish the Genki 1 book.

As for our holidays, it is still not confirmed yet where we would go, even though we already have in mind a few places worth going to. I’m already looking for information on these places. Checking the hotel rates on quotation sites just like one of those insurance quotes websites. Checking out tripadvisors for things to do and places to visit.

Scouring information about our trip has already put me on a holiday mode and less mood on studying and classes. But classes continues, so I must keep myself focused on my studies.

This Friday we will be finishing lesson 8 of the Genki I book and enter into Lesson 9. Usually it would take us about 2 classes to complete a lesson, but lesson 8 seems to be a wee bit longer than the other previous lessons. Anyway  this coming class will be our last class till the sensei comes back after her two weeks holiday in Australia.

Eventually I get to relax a bit I think… Forget about learning Japanese for 2 whole weeks and take afternoon naps whenever I can and get rid fo this dark circles under eyes that are forming due to the lack of sleep. But we never know, she may even leave us with loads of homework to do like she did other times. Huh, so much for relaxing. But it’s fine though cause I shouldn’t be not studying Japanese for that long anyway.

Although I plan to get an electronic Japanese dictionary sometime end of this year or early next year, I decided to get another paper dictionary for my Japanese studies. At the moment I am using ‘Oxford beginner’s Japanese dictionary’. It’s a good dictionary. But I find that I need to have a better dictionary with more vocabularies. Without a good dictionary it can be really difficult to learn Japanese efficiently.

At first I thought Kodansha furigana dictionary would be good for me, but thinking  of the bulk and size I decided not to get that one. I decided that the random house Japanese<–>English dictionary is for me. If not mistaken it has about 20,000 more words than the Kodansha. I just don’t like the romaji in the dictionary.

I wish just like buying weighloss product or facial night cream , there would be more choices when it comes to getting a good Japanese <–> English dictionary but unfortunately there aren’t. But at least since there are only 2 for me to choose from, I don’t have to read reviews after reviews. Well, there are pros and cons.

Just let’s see how well this dictionary is going to serve me.

I’m taking a break from doing some Japanese studying so here I am blogging . I’ve read so much of information that I am not sure that it will even stick in  my memory long enough till tomorrow.  (-_-) Wish my brain is like a catalog printing machine that can print out important imformation into my memory box permanently even by reading something once.

I take a Japanese book that is small enough to fit in my bag everywhere I go nowadays. So that I can take it out and read when ever I have time. On the bus, tram, train, waiting, etc. I even have only Japanese music on my mp3 nowaday and watch all the Japanese related programs. What I’d do to be able to speak Japanese…..

I’m downloading a Japanese language video course that was broadcasted by the Japan Foundation in the 80′s. It’s called ‘Let’s learn Japanese’. There are 2 seasons that consist of about 52 videos.. This time it isn’t only for myself, but also hoping to get my husband to learn some Japanese as well.

Some couple I know share the same love for Formula 1, atv racing,etc. Some share the same interest in travelling. For my husband and I, so far we haven’t found the same hobby that we both enjoy. Well, except the occasionall football watching. But that’s just about it.

So I’m trying to entice him into seeing the beauty of the Japanese language. Would be lovely to have somebody else in the house to study Japanese together.

These past few weeks I have been actively practicing my Japanese with a few Japanese people I found through lang-8 and sharedtalk. Writing short essays about daily life and thought, using what ever Japanese I’ve learnt. Althought there are times when I find it a little difficult; having to check the dictionary a lot, and not knowing how to express myself more than what I’d like to, can be a little frustrating, but I suppose it is all worthy in the end.

I even bought myself a set of  hiragana keyboard stickers so that I can type  kana.

So after a week of short Japanese essays and emails, I thought I deserved a movie tomorrow. But I forgot that tomorrow is the general elections here and we don’t have anyone to baby sit our daughter. Right now I do wish we had a home theater. Guess, I’ll be watching some Japanese dramas online again tomorrow.