日本語を聞くのと話すのはぜったい下手だ。 練習はたしかに大切だけど相手を見つけるのは難しい。 じゃあー、たぶんお尻が重い。
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Two of my favourite Japanese culture resources
Aside from the language, the culture of Japan also fascinates me. That’s why I want to travel there and see some things up close and in person. Two online resources help to both quench and fuel my desire to learn more: Unseen Japan https://unseenjapan.com/ A lot of it is member only/Patreon access, but still enough free stuff to make it worthwhile to have a look. For example, Homegrown Terror: The Birth of the Japanese Red Army – Unseen Japan Shocking, maybe at least as shocking as the way Canada treated indigenous children in our residential schools. Mulboyne Seems to be Twitter-only, as far as I can tell. Mulboyne (@Mulboyne) /… Read More
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「なるほど」というのは「分かりました」というのは同じではありません
今朝のクラスで先生に「なるほど！」と言った。 先生は少しびっくりしたと思う。将来に気を付けて！
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Zoom classes are weird
I’m taking a Japanese class with lessons over Zoom, and I don’t know how school children put up with it for a year. It is just plain odd. You get some, but not all, body clues on how someone is thinking, and there is this pervasive sensation of being disconnected to people that you feel you should be connected to. Still, it’s the only game in town if you want to take any kind of class. Except for exercise classes where people gather in the alley behind my house while their instructor shouts at them.
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最近学校が始まりす
今月日本語の学校が始まる。すきし怖いだの。「Zoom」のクラスは未知だから、心もとない。 コロナなので日本に飛行機旅行のが難しいと思う。じゃぁ、なぜ日本語をまなんでるか？ いい質問だな？
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ビギナー
So I had my verbal placement test. It took two teachers to give their fair opinion that I belonged in the next level of the beginner class. I put in an intermediate writing test two weeks before, which I didn’t notice at the time. I just picked one that didn’t look too easy. So they were gentle in telling me that I wasn’t intermediate level material, but I sure did fit in as a next level beginner. Four years, and still a beginner. But isn’t that true of many of life’s endeavours? No? Frankly, and don’t tell them this, but frankly, after my verbal skills test, I was expecting to… Read More
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しゃべましょう
So Monday, I have to do a conversation with a Japanese teacher to see where I should be placed in a Japanese school. I’ve taken classes at this school before. It’s going to be embarrassing if I have to repeat a level. It will be crushing if I get put back by a level or three. Makes me want to find a language partner.
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Life Goes On
So, since late January. I’ve had not only the pandemic to deal with, but other personal issues to deal with. I am one of the lucky ones who experienced pandemic plus. But now my energy is back to normal levels, and with a brand new psychological mindset to boot! Watch out, Japan! Seriously, though, having no energy to do anything extra leaves you time to reflect on how much time one wastes when you have lots of energy and sit around, not doing anything extra. This is overused, but 頑張りましょうか？は！
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Virtual Japan Tours
So the Internet is full of big rabbit holes to fall down. Some pleasant, some not so pleasant. And then. others…a virtual Japan tour, a new dialect, and…well… As we all know (right?), Japan doesn’t have a single language. It has a bunch of regional dialects, with foreign students mostly learning 関東弁, the language of the capital, Tokyo. I think the dialects are interesting, and I really find it interesting that 関西弁 is the dialect of comedians. And then, we come to Tajimi in Gifu prefecture, home to a virtual tour of Japan. And you book your virtual tour reservations courtesy of Hans, who is the white guy in the… Read More
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Why Aren’t You More Guilty?
I mean, really. Oh, you don’t have time, you say? Well, yes, but… I mean, you can reach enlightenment if your search for it becomes like a hot stone, that you can neither swallow nor spit out. Japanese learning is 100% the same. Right? Anyway, I feel the need to study Japanese. Feeling guilty, for some reason.
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