がんばって, アシュリーさん！
I really miss studying Japanese.
Even though I lived in China for 6 months, my Chinese is very, very awful. Perhaps the worst Chinese ever spoken by any foreigner ever. True, I don't really work at it (at all), but that's part of a self-defeating cycle of loathing: I hate the language so I suck at the language so I hate the language and don't want to study it.
I know a few phrases (this one, how much, sorry, I'm American and I don't understand, etc.) but I recently realized that beyond basic survival Chinese, I have no desire to learn to be proficient in this language.
Japanese, on the other hand...Japanese I adore. Japanese I love studying, even though languages are inherently difficult. And since that's the case, why fight it? Why not become awesome at one language even if it's not the language I'm living in?
So I've decided to start studying it again, with the goal to be fluent (read a manga cover to cover, listen to a song, or have a long conversation) by the time I'm 30. This time I really think I can do it. I have a work schedule that affords serious indulgence in a hobby or two, plus a knowledgeable live-in tutor who can grade my work or give me quizzes.
My Japanese textbooks are enroute to me even now (eta 3 weeks unfortunately), but in the mean time I've also found 3 great free podcasts (one is even aimed at otaku!) that I'm going to listen to weekly, a list of Japanese blogs I'm going to start reading regularly, and iMemento vocab lists I'm going to update frequently. I'll be happy to share recommendations if anyone's interested.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a language to master.
Even though I lived in China for 6 months, my Chinese is very, very awful. Perhaps the worst Chinese ever spoken by any foreigner ever. True, I don't really work at it (at all), but that's part of a self-defeating cycle of loathing: I hate the language so I suck at the language so I hate the language and don't want to study it.
I know a few phrases (this one, how much, sorry, I'm American and I don't understand, etc.) but I recently realized that beyond basic survival Chinese, I have no desire to learn to be proficient in this language.
Japanese, on the other hand...Japanese I adore. Japanese I love studying, even though languages are inherently difficult. And since that's the case, why fight it? Why not become awesome at one language even if it's not the language I'm living in?
So I've decided to start studying it again, with the goal to be fluent (read a manga cover to cover, listen to a song, or have a long conversation) by the time I'm 30. This time I really think I can do it. I have a work schedule that affords serious indulgence in a hobby or two, plus a knowledgeable live-in tutor who can grade my work or give me quizzes.
My Japanese textbooks are enroute to me even now (eta 3 weeks unfortunately), but in the mean time I've also found 3 great free podcasts (one is even aimed at otaku!) that I'm going to listen to weekly, a list of Japanese blogs I'm going to start reading regularly, and iMemento vocab lists I'm going to update frequently. I'll be happy to share recommendations if anyone's interested.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a language to master.