Time to work

The past week in Japanese class has started to seem more difficult. I think that is due in large part to the fact that I haven't been studying as much!! Sometimes I feel so bored just sitting and saying things to myself while the computer bleeps out generic statements (I also hate that you have to open a new tab every time you listen to a new question). Eventually I will have to find someone in class who I can sit and practice with because it would make learning so much more fun. I mean...think about it! We could tell each other what time it is every minute, introduce ourselves as if we had never met over and over, and even pretend like we are at a shopping mall instead of sitting in a corner of the library while our levels of vitamin D drop to an all-time low! Yay!

Anyways, besides my poor study habits from last week I have really enjoyed class. It is pretty neat to think about how much we have learned in three weeks. I mean, we can read hiragana! After katakana I will be able to write letters to my grandma (even though I will not be able to share how intellectually well-rounded Columbia is making me with my child-like vocabulary). I have also realized that everyone in our class really struck gold having the sensei we do. She is always up-beat, reassuring, and keeps the energy level up in class even though I think everyone has begun questioning why they signed up for a 9am language course. If we are lucky she will be teaching Japanese 2 because I would love to remain with her.

Hopefully everyone has been having as much fun as I have. Even though there has been a lot thrown at us in the past few weeks, I couldn't be happier learning my native language at Columbia with all the great students in our class. Their ability to learn a completely foreign language honestly inspires me to work harder (which I WILL be doing this week). Good luck with your studies everyone!

Nani?

Hello everyone!

Learning how to speak Japanese for the past two weeks has been an immensely rewarding experience. I have chosen this particular language in large part because of my grandma. She is 89 years old! Although she is still doing well I know that she will not be around forever and, consequently, I feel as though I would be doing both of us a great disservice if I never made the effort to really know who she is before she passes away. To accomplish this, I must learn to speak Japanese. Hopefully, someday in the near future, I will eventually be able to speak to my grandma without saying "nani??" quite so often.

The most difficult part of class for me so far has been attempting to smoothly read lines of Hiragana characters. Identifying individual characters is not so bad but, after attempting to peer-edit my classmates introductions, I realized that rows of them look like hieroglyphics! After fumbling through this first reading (or attempted reading) of blog entries I know that I will have to study for a long time this weekend. No Sapporo and football for me!

-Nakasan

Introduction

はじめまして！

なかうちです。にじゅさんさいです。Columbia だいがくのがくせいです。さんえんせいです。Seattle からきました。

どうぞよろしく。