Most of my class has confidence problems in speaking, and we meet three times a week for face-to-face classes. xD I think it's more of the whole I'm-speaking-a-foreign-language-and-am-probably-butchering-it-terribly thing. When you're used to speaking a mile a minute, it's rather daunting to stutter through a sentence at a foot a minute. ;D
My piece of advice (that I've noticed one of my classmates follow through on when I saw him on campus xD) is to talk to yourself in Japanese. In the car, around the house, anywhere you don't feel too embarrassed doing so, hold a little Japanese monologue. Luckily, my family is used to it - when I look in the fridge and ask myself 何を食べよう?my sister answers, "there's some lasagna left - you could have that." xD It doesn't help to much with dialogue, since you have to process what someone else is saying, but at least you can at least get used to spitting out the right words in approximately the right order. ;D [/quote]
I can really relate to that haha. I'm afraid that since I've moved back to the US im going to lose my speaking ability, so I talk to myself in Japanese all the time. It drives my friends crazy ;D. Also, singing japanese songs in the shower is pretty fun (:
I'm Liana. I studied Japanese in college, so around 2002-2004, and studied abroad for a semester in Hikone through JCMU ([url=http://www.isp.msu.edu/JCMU/]http://www.isp.msu.edu/JCMU/[/url]) in 2002. I haven't really studied seriously for the last few years, though, and forgot far too much. So I'm trying to get back into it and possibly take the level 2 JLPT this year. I love studying kanji, but my grammar skills are pretty weak. I hope to read the Tale of Genji in Japanese someday, and I make great vegetarian miso soup. :)
こんにちは皆! I'm Miina from Norway. I've been studying Japanese half assed for 3 or 4 years now, but haven't really gotten any far. Will start studying for real when I start university this fall (studying Japanese of course). So far I've tested out the quizzing section here on renshuu.org and I love it! Nice to meet you all :D
Hi, I'm Amanda. I just finished two semesters of Japanese at my university. Our teacher is really merciless (but wonderful!) and made us learn to write almost every single kanji that came out in Genki I, and even added some that the textbook only gives in hiragana! But it was worth it, and I think everyone managed to pull through pretty well.
Next semester we're starting Genki II, but I'm worried that I'll forget all those kanji during the summer, so hopefully the quizzes here on Renshuu will help. :D
Hi リアナ! I was at JCMU in 1999, and a JET in Shiga from 2001-2004. One of the things i put on my application for JET was that i want to read Genji in Japanese someday. It's been like 7 years in Japan now, and I still haven't gotten there. I started reading one of the modern Japanese translations (the Setouchi Jyakucho one) last year but it was still too much effort to enjoy it. But i'll try again someday! Someday!
Yeah, every so often I dip a toe into [url=http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/japanese/genji/index.html]http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/japanese/genji/index.html[/url] and then remove it just as quickly... yeah, maybe not yet. :)
I never went to either of those places very often, too much of an introvert to really enjoy it. I logged a lot of time just riding my bike around and exploring, and I had a great host family and conversation partner who showed me many interesting places, though! Are you still in Shiga or somewhere else in Japan?
Well, it's proably appropriate that I introduce myself since I've already delved pretty deeply into other areas of the site.
I've been studying Japanese since 2002, which was my 2nd year of college. I spent the following year studying abroad at Konan University in Kobe, then came back to the United States for my senior year. After I graduated I went back to Kobe for the JET program and stayed there for three years.
I'm starting graduate school this fall, so I need to get my Japanese back up to a decent level before I take the placement test for a Japanese language class. So far this site has been of a great help.
I studied (and hope to continue studying) the history and culture of the Edo Period, so one of these days I'm going to have to delve into Classical Japanese. :-\
For the moment though, I'm content to work on the modern stuff. I'm a huge geek for a lot of Japan stuff, especially if there are giant robots... ;D
I'm Andrew from Texas. I've been using the site for a while now, never noticed the forums 'til now though. I'm still fairly new at Japanese so I'm really enjoying how much this site is speeding up my learning of vocabulary. I don't quite understand the grammar lessons yet, but I've only been studying Japanese for around a month so maybe I will soon. If anyone has any advice for newbies let me have it, I'm using Genki and Reviewing the Kanji currently. I use this site for Genki and http://kanji.koohii.com/ for RTK and both are wonderful in terms of tracking progress and keeping me motivated.
I'm half Texan! My mama's from Waco. xD Most Californians look at me weird for watching bull riding (and when they get a taste of the Big Red soda I happily drink whenever relatives bring it for us).
We should set up a thread (or a frappr, maybe) with where everyone's from.
elementc, I'm from the St.Louis metropolitan area (meaning I live in Illinois right by the Mississippi river). Sadly if you wanted to study with me I think it'll have to wait until the end of the summer, since I'm in Michigan right now. ;)
Hey, all. While I'm not exactly a new member, I was perusing the boards and found this little thread, so I thought I might as well say hi!
I started studying Japanese in college four years ago as a second major and just graduated in May. I think this website used to be affiliated with my school (Duke) but now I'm not so sure! The affiliation of course was how I found out about the website, and it really helped when we were going through the basics in Genki I and II. Now I'm studying for the JLPT just for the heck of it and to keep myself from forgetting all the great things I learned in school, when abroad in Nagoya, and when in Osaka for an internship.
I think I bothered Michael about some site issues a while back, so if you remember me, kudos to you! Oh, and before I forget, I'm from Oklahoma City.
Hrm, well, I've been around for ages but never posted in this thread, so figured I may as well introduce myself...
I'm Daniel, from Vancouver. Been studying Japanese (mostly for fun) for going on 4 years now, took some night classes at the Vancouver Japanese Language School but for the most part have taught myself (with the help of 練習.org of course!)
I'm planning to take the JLPT eventually but waiting until the levels are revised. Currently I'm working on 二級 but studying mostly through the 漢字検定 levels as I find the vocab lists way more helpful in learning kanji.
Been to Japan a couple of times, and going back again for a month in November - can't wait! This time hopefully my Japanese will be more intelligible... ;D
I've been studying Japanese for about a year. I discovered this site after looking for sources to help me for the 2級. I never learned formally. I learned from talking to people on the streets, so my knowledge is kind of scattered. Hopefully this site will help me figure out where I need to improve.
Hello everyone. Name's Nick, but I also go by the name Shouri Miyamoto (just Shouri is fine) in Japanese. I've been studying Japanese for 4 years and now I work as an English teacher in Japan; however, I don't really like teaching English, so I plan on becoming a translator as of next year. I'm interested in foreign languages and playing squash.
Hi, my name is Jake, and I'm currently in the second year of a BA in Japanese Studies at the University of Sheffield. I might already know some people here, possibly! My Japanese level is still beginner (in my view, anyway), particularly my spoken Japanese, but I get to spend a year in Japan from next August, looking forward to that one!
Looking ahead, translation seems like an interesting path to follow. I get massive satisfaction when I've managed to translate a scary looking piece of text. I intend to specialise in a certain field of Japanese for my Masters. I'm looking forward to starting a Classical Japanese module in January, and that might dictate where I want to go with this.