ともだちにてがみをかくます。

サンクスギビングの休みにうちでかえりませんでした。ワシントンDCにいきました。とても立派ですでもたかいです。わたしはかぞくにばんごはんをたべました。わたしはべんきょうしませんでした、とてもいそがしかったですよ。でもとてもたのしかったですね。どようびにえいがを見ました。そしておいしいアイスクリームをたべました。わたしもホワイトハウスにいきました。とても大きいですよ。ワシントンDCにおいしいの日本語のレストランがありました。わたしはりょこうがすきですよ。

When I initially sat down to write this post-midterm reflection, I realized exactly how much we have learned over the course of just six weeks (it makes the last half of this semester and even next semester seem very exciting)! Of course, there have been significant challenges along the way, particularly with trying (through trial and error) to find a comfortable and correct speaking style. Interestingly, I thought that the goals I set in the beginning of the semester were quite doable. But with all the time constraints of an active student life, including classes, clubs, etc., it was actually a little more difficult to complete my goals than I thought. However, I will still keep the same goals and activities I initially set out to do, because each week I actually got a little better at implementing everything more consistently. In addition, I will make more of an effort to go to office hours at least once a week, because the most important challenge for me right now is speaking. With consistent effort this semester, I hope that with practice I will see more progress.

ビデオブログ ！  

Japanese Literature

こんにちは！

This semester I am taking a course that focuses on Post-War Japanese narrative (にほんぶんがく). The course is offered by うえだせんせい, and I find her to be a wonderful せんせい. Each week we look at a text (or texts) that centers around a specific theme for the week. So far, the course is quite interesting, and I'm excited to see what texts we work through next.

On that note, I've decided that because this blog is dedicated to learning more about にほん and the にほんご, it would be an excellent opportunity to use this blog to reflect on the other aspects of Japanese culture I am learning outside the JPN 101 classroom. So henceforth, I will reflect on the different weekly readings from my other class, and hope that someone finds it as interesting as I do!

This past week we read a work entitled The Setting Sun (1948) by Dazai Osamu. The analysis of this text was focused on the shifting idea of class and democracy in post-war Japan. The novel is undoubtedly experimental, and tells its story through a series of flashbacks, letters, and poignant memories. Interestingly enough, it is not, perhaps, striking in its portrayal of war time and post-war life, but rather expresses its views through the deeply rooted internal shift in the role of Japanese aristocracy. The narrative is quite complex, and in many ways, the narrator is quite unreliable. However, it lends to a certain outlook for the reader that allows a comprehensive view of the multi-faceted experience of navigating a world that is in some sense, no longer your own. There is undeniable tension between the life of the aristocrat and the "revolution" that manifests itself in the main character, Kazuko. The novel is quite wonderful, and I look forward to reading Dazai's other popular work, No Longer Human.

Fun fact: Last spring, I started watching an anime called Bungou Stray Dogs (it's really good), and I noticed that all of the characters are named after a famous Japanese author, and have corresponding 'abilities' that are named after their most famous work (for Dazai it was No Longer Human, so I'm really curious about what that work is about). I thought it was a really cool and original idea, and I had a lot of fun watching. However, I was not thoroughly familiar with many Japanese authors, so I could only really appreciate the names and their works within the context of the anime. I was then surprised to see that the book I read this week was written by Dazai Osamu, a character (one of my favorite characters too) in Bungou Stray Dogs! After reading his text and learning more about his life, I was able to understand the subtle nuances of the anime and its characterization of Dazai even more (including the several suicide attempts I did not really grasp in the context of the show). I think it's really fun to slowly pick up pieces of Japanese culture that allow us to better understand subtle nuances and references we might not normally pick up on!

こ(^0^)ん(^_^)ば(^▽^)ん(^_^)わ(^○^) 

In this journey of learning Japanese, it's always important to set some (achievable) goals! I think it's a good idea to record them here (plus it's required), seeing as they will be a constant reminder as well as a good motivator to keep sticking to it! So here we go!

1. Confidence

• One thing I definitely notice when speaking Japanese is my lack of confidence. Sure, I've looked at and studied the words, but when it comes down to facilitating a semi-normal sounding conversation, I just sound like I'm mumbling incoherently (probably). 
• Second, I noticed when I am called on in class to speak, I freeze up and suddenly forget how to read/say what I'm supposed to. I think I'm just nervous that I'll make a mistake, but we're learning a new language, so that will inevitably happen (I should chill out). 
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2. Building the (good) habits of paying attention to grammar and focusing on reviewing constantly

• I find that each day in class we constantly review, but we also simultaneously add new content daily. I think sometimes that can feel overwhelming when we're still trying to grasp the previous day's lesson. Often, I find myself forgetting a grammar rule, the definition of a word, or how a certain sentence is supposed to sound.
• The point of focusing on grammar and reviewing words boils down to my goal of being able to clearly articulate what I need to say in Japanese in the most correct way possible, not only speed wise (sounding natural), but I want to reduce the amount of time I spend hesitating about my speech while I'm talking (too many pauses sound awful and make for bad, broken speech).

3. Intonation, Long Vowels, and Double Consonants 

• When I practice Japanese slowly, I find myself being able to distinguish between these things (intonation, long vowels, and double consonants), but quickly find myself frazzled when listening to Japanese at a normal speed. Sometimes, I find it hard to detect subtle sound changes, and the difference in words with long vowels.
• Intonation is not as troublesome, and I regularly can identify correctly what is meant, but the trouble comes when I myself am speaking (sometimes it's wrong). 
• I notice there are often very (very) subtle differences in how a word is pronounced (especially with pitch), and sometimes I'm still a little confused when it comes to determining exactly what those are (high/low, etc). 

So after writing all those out (with some cool gifs from The Office), I have a few strategies in mind to accomplish these goals!

1. I am going to go to the Japanese table AT LEAST once every other week. I think it's very important to interact with people outside the classroom and hopefully also practice some elementary Japanese.

2. As an active anime fan, I will keep watching (and probably re-watching) some of my favorites to practice. I want to start shadowing, and will probably switch the subtitles from English to Japanese in order to keep immersing myself as much as possible. Though our schedules can get quite busy here, I will try to do this at least three times a week (I'm also in Anime Club so that will probably help). 

3. I also listen to a good deal of JPop already, but I think it will be more effective as a learning tool if I try to sing along, shadow, and attempt to read the lyrics. I think this will help with speed, intonation, and overall confidence with listening and speaking the language. 

4. Spend AT LEAST 30 minutes a day just doing a review (this is separate from daily homework or other assigned exercises) of grammar, speaking, and writing. 

5. Make time for office hours twice a month with grammar questions, possible pronunciation corrections, and just general practice speaking with せんせい to really build confidence and fluidity. 

Maybe eventually by following these strategies I will be able to become a little better (hopefully)!

Well, that's all for now!

じゃ、また！

（￣0￣)こ(￣ｰ￣)ん(￣〇￣)ば(￣ｰ￣)ん(￣〇￣)わ

はじめまして。Rodriguezです。どうぞよろしく。わたしわだいがくせい。にねんせいです。せんこうはれきしです。わたしわあめりかじんです。California の San Bernardino からきました。

 あのう。。。どうもありがとございます！じゃあね！