This semester

The speech project was very nice. I talked about my childhood and how I always wanted to talk to my grandparents to learn about their history, but the language barrier prevented me from doing that. So it was sort of a sad essay b/c I talked about how my grandpa has Alzheimer's disease and how he just lays in a bed at the retirement all day. He can't remember his history so he can't teach it to me. So I thought it was a sad, but pretty darn good essay, so I was hoping for some good questions about my family. Instead it was so quiet



...Chirp chirp...



so I couldn't tell if it was b/c the students didn't understand my essay or b/c it was hard to come up with good questions. haha. I thought it was pretty funny.

The speech project was a good conclusion to the semester.

What makes a good blog?

I thought that peer reading was pretty helpful. I had the opportunity to pick out changes that I would make on my partner's paper, which made me more aware of the kinds of changes that I should make myself. For example, instead of make choppy sentences that demonstrated my knowledge to apply a grammar structure I now think more about making my sentences complicated with a combination of grammar structures. And my peers caught things that I didn't. (I forgot to change some of my words to kanji. I am dummy sometimes...actually most of the time.)


I think that one of the things that I've become more aware of is how to present your criticism in a tactful way. Instead of stating your opinion on the paper, provided examples and reasons for why you said what you did. I don't take criticism very well. I find it discouraging, but I find it to be less or more discouraging depending on how it is presented.

Reading Jonathan's and Eric's paper also helped me improve the content of my paper. I thought that Eric wrote about some sentimental stuff (I won't give it away) and that made me want to add more sentences about how I felt about the topic of my speech. Jonathan talked a little bit about the asian student association that he partakes in (in the first draft, that is) and that made me want to talk a little bit more about my desire to learn about my mommy's culture and language.

Overall, I thought that this was a pretty good assignment. I think it's encouraging to see how students incorporate all the Japanese grammar, vocabulary, and cultural points they learned and fashion them in their own creative ways. Well, I can't wait until I get my video of my speech. I'm going to send it to all of my family members.

私のおじいさん

私がこどもの時は日本語は分かりませんでした。たいへんでしたから、私のおばあさんと　おとうさんのおとうさん、私のおじいさん、は日本語をはなして、えいごを分かりません。だからおばあさんとおじいさんにあまりはなしませんでした。私がこどもの時におばあさんとおじいさんがうちのそばのこうえんに行きって、ばんごはんをたべましたでもしずかでした。かいわはたいへんでした。よく、おかあさ んに「日本をおしえてください」と、ききましたでも私とおかあさんはとてもいそがかったです。だから今日本語をべんきょうします。

今、私のおじいさんは八十五さいです。リタイアメントホームのベッドでねて、アルツハイマーがあります。たいへんでしたから、私のおじいさんはおもしろいれきしがあります。ウォールドウォーIIに日本に行きましただから。おじいさんはれきしをわすれて、おじいさんのれきしを私におしえてはいけません。

今たくさんわかって、おばあさんといっしょに日本語をたくさんはなします。おばあさんとおじさんのこどもの時とれきしをきいて、よかったです。

I think my word count is over 500...bleh

私のおとうさんは中国人です。私のおかあさんは日本人です。でも私がこどもの時は中国語と日本語は分かりませんでした。私の中国人のおばあさ んとおじいさんはウォールドウォーIIにワルドヲア２日本に行きましただからにほんごをはなします。メリーランドにいますでも日本語をはなしませんでした。私は日本語が分かりませんでしたから。たいへんでした。私のこどもの時に私とおばあさんとおじいさんがこうえんに行きましたでもしずかでした。私のおばあさんとおじいさんのこどもの時のれきしはわかりませんでした。今、私のおじいさんは八十五さいです。リタイアメントホームのベッドでねています。アルツハイマーがあります。

まいとし五月に私のおかあさんは私の日本のおばあさんとおじさんにでんわを かけて、ちょっとはなします。おばさんのたんじょうびですから。ちょっとこわかったです。かいわはたいへんでした。よく、おかあさ んに「日本をおしえてください」と、ききました。でも私とおかあさんはとてもいそがかったです。だから今日本語をべんきょうします。

今たくさんわかって、おじいさんとおばあさんと日本語をたくさんはなします。おばあさんとおじさんのこどもの時とれきしをきいて、よかったです。

さくぶん

私のおとうさんは中ごく人です。私のおかあさんは日本人です。でもわたしがこどもの時に中ごく語と日本語は分かりませんでした。私の中ごく人おじいさんとおばあさ んはアメリカにいます。二十ねんにアメリカにいましたでもえいごははなしませんでも中ごくごと日本語をはなします。だから一しょに日本語をちょっとはなしました。「こんにちわ」と「お元気ですか」をわかりましただけ。たいへんでした。まいねんの五月私のおかあさんは私の日本人おばあさんとおじさんにでんわをかけて、ちょっとはなしました。おばさんぼたんじょうびから。ちょっとこわかったです。あとで、私のおかあさんにきいて、たいへんでした。よく、おかあさんにききました、「日本をおしえてください」でも私とおかあさんはとてもいそがしでした。だから今日本語のクラスをします。今たくさんわかって、おじさんとおばあさんに日本語をたくさんはなします。おばあさんとおじさんのこどもの時とれきしをきいて、よかったです。

私のおとうさんは中ごく人です。私のおかあさんは日本人です。でもわたしがこどもの時に中ごく語と日本語はわかりませんでした。私のおじいさんとおばあさんはアメリカにいます。にじゅうねんにアメリカにいましたでもえいごはなしませんでもえいごをはなします。ちゅうごくごとにほんごをはなします。私えいごをはなしました。

日本語のクラス

まい日九時五十五ふんにクラスに行きます。ときどき日本語ぶんぽついてはなします。ときどきドリルをします。しゅくだいをたくさんあります。たいていワクボクのページはしゅくだいですでもさくぶんとスキトをかきます。日本語のクラスはむずかしいですだからまいばんうちで一時かんぐらい日本語をべんきょうします。
日本語のクラスのがくせいはとてもたのしいです。リンさんとファンさんはおもしろい男の人から。トランさんはとてもやさしい女の人です。

きょうは木曜日です。

こんばんわ。きょうは木曜日ですね。じゃあ、わたしはなにをしましたか。ごぜん七時におきました。九時に日本語のクラスにいきました。スキットをしました。それからかがくのクラスにいきました。うちで一時かんべんきょうしました。わたしのパアトナアはエルエンでした。それからかがくのラボにいきました。あそこで五時かんいました。七時にかえりました。バーギニアだいがくでわたしのおかあさんがいませんだからこんばんはばんごはんをたべませんでした。それからべんきょうしました。十二時にねました。

What makes a good blog?

In class today we talked about what makes a good blog. I think that this will be helpful for future blogs. I surely do not want to write a blog of complaints because I learned that that makes people sad and is not the preferred reading genre. I learned that pictures enhance the aesthetics and that too much writing is torturous. It is these kinds of suggestions that will make me the superior blogger. Thus to make this blog entry more organized and thus easier to read and more appealing I have outlined points that can help you become the ultimate blogger.

The Ultimate Blogger Guide

1. Pose a question to your readers about the chapter or anything really. This will make them think.
   
2. Post relevant information on the current Chapter and Japanese culture.
   
3. Use useful pictures that really enhance the reader's understanding of your feelings.
4. Don't talk to much. I mean, don't write too much.
   
5. Write in Japanese. This will help you write better and the reader read better.
   
6. Write about your day and your interests. This will help you make friends.

Well, here is my Japanese student friend. This is what a lot of young children wear too school, so when they are together they look like a bunch of little ducklings. My friend has his yellow thinking cap on and is ready to learn. So yea, if I've forgotten anything above, please let me know. I'll add it and give u credit because I'm an honor student and I have honorable samurai Japanese blood in me.

later taters.
vero

Thinking of food

Hello, I'm at work right now. My stomach is gurgling and I have no access to food. I was thinking about it so much that I have dedicated this blog entry to pictures of my favorite Japanese food.

Here is a picture outside of a restaurant with yummy food. How do they get the bowls tilted without spilling the food?

http://www.photopassjapan.com/images/img%201633%20tokyo%20ebisu%20shokuji%
20washoku%20-%20japanese%20restaurant%20storefront%20plastic%20food%20menu.jpg

Here is some yummy sushi. If you do not like raw fish, please refrain from making faces or else
meet me at the back packing lot and I will make you into raw fish.


http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/10/13/Megumi_051013113803812_wideweb__300x375.jpg

Sometimes I'm afraid I might become this man because I like so much food.

http://www.usj.com.my/LifeStyle/getdata.php3?table=LifeStyle&id=328

This is my favorite desert, banana tempura (and tempura ice cream). So if you want to take me out on a date, please make sure they have banana tempura.

http://foodpages.ca/itemimmgs/114411_1_6_TempuraBanana_1144897109.jpg

Often times the food come on beautiful dishes. Sometimes I have to tell myself not to eat them.

http://www.in.emb-japan.go.jp/Friendship_Year2007/Friendship-Year-07/images1/Food.jpg


ok, my stomach is growling the more I write so I will stop.

For the sake of discussion, what is your favorite restaurant and why? Do they have banana tempura?

Grammar Sheet?

whoa! Yesterday I began to do the grammar sheet for Japanese class. I had soooo much trouble! The particles de, wa, ga, can be used in so many ways. And when we are supposed to explain how a group of sentences vary in meaning, I think they all mean the same! Ek, if this is what JAPN 101 is gonig to be from now on, someone help me please.

omg! blogs are cool

So in my last entry I asked for suggestions how to improve reading speed and a lot of blogs now are written in japanese like Quyen's (Tran san). It's new reading material using the words that are specific to our chapter. So, I think I'll spent the next hour reading blogs. Actually, how about the next twenty minutes instead?

Hey, when are my Japanese senses going to kick in?

konnichiwa,

The material for Japanese class is getting harder. But I think it's pretty cool that we're starting to write in kanji. Sometimes when I am doing my homework and I've just written the kanji for "ji", I pat myself on the back and treat myself to a soda pop. Actually, no I don't really, because I don't have any money for a soda pop. I actually blame the inferior economic status that this educational institution puts us under. I study all day and have no time to make money, thus forcing me to become ever more dependent on the financial support of my demanding parents. Actually, that's not true either. I work at the language lab on mon, tues, and wednesday mornings. If you would like to start your day with a bright smile from yours truly, please do come see me. And my parents are not that demanding. They love me. They told me. oh, back to what I was saying. (Sorry for the rant, I tend to go off like this when I've only received 3 hours of sleep. Yes, I'm very tired.) I think that writing kanji is pretty neat. My favorite is the one for "ji" and I think the weirdest one to me is the one for "ichiman". I don't get how that right leg with those two awkward corners.

Anyway, I am having some challenges with Japanese. Now that we've learned more particles and there are many ways to use them, there are different sentence structures that we can create. The possibilities are truly mindblowing. So in class, I will use one sentence structure and then someone will come up with another one and I will be in awe. I also am very very slow at reading. I mean, I thought that since I am half japanese I would know the characters, like it was in my blood. Nope. I was wrong. Any suggestions? I'll gladly consider them.

Anyways, if any of you are interested in international development type stuff. My two friends and I are giving a presentation on the project that we did in South Africa this past summer. We did an engineerin project on how to best implement a biodigester, an alternative fuelsource for cooking, in rural villages in South Africa. If you'd like to hear our presentation do come! I'm not sure where it will be, but you might see flyers for it on grounds - Center for Global Health Symposium. The guest speaker there will be Dr. Michele Barry, director of Yale’s Office of International Health. "Wowerz?!" is probably what you're thinking eh? Yea, people tell me I'm psycho like that. I can't promise you free food, but I can promise you a sincere smile from the bottom of my bottomless heart.

jaa, nemasu. peace out

i lov3 japanese class it fulfills my desire to become closer to my culture from which i sometimes feel separated from. I am catching on to kanji. I especially like ichi, ni and san --I have those down. My sakubun is haunting me and I am working ベリベリハード to make it flow. This weekend, I am going home for fall break. I plan on watching lots of anpanman with わたしのおかあさん。

Su Ta Dii

Hey hope y'all are studying hard for tomorrow's test. Ek, I just know that the katakana part is going to terminate me. So I decided to write my blog early because of I thought of something that was worth mentioning. We all know that we work freakishly hard for this class like we sold our souls or something. (just kidding!) But you know, our teacher does too. On Friday night, I was passing through the basement of cabel because I was at a Hindu Student Council seminar on "balanced living". It finished at 7pm, and guess who was still working in her office at that time? Ja ja, you guessed it! Satosensee. So, ya, I just thought I'd throw that out there. Ek, if someone has some magic trick to getting katakana transcriptions correct, let me know.

peace,
vero

watashi no fu-ra-su-to-re-sshon

Hey y'all,

I'm in lab right now, waiting for some RNA samples to incubate. Exciting eh? And for downtime I'm doing more hw! Luckily, this is an assignment that allows me to vent my frustration. I'm exhausted from all of my classes this week. I'm just about to keel over from E-KU-SO-TO-A-SSHON (exhaustion). haha, that was my transcription from english to katakana. I think I probably did that wrong. Does anyone have any suggestions how to stay awake during the day? I think I'm going to start trying coffee.

Let's see .... This week has been very busy eh? 4 quizzes in the past 4 days and tomorrow us troopers will have had 5 quizzes in 5 days. whoa! And I find katakana especially difficult because a lot of the characters look alike. Look at the katakana ku, fu, ta, wa, wo. They are pretty much the same character! But I think what keeps me going is how much I want to learn Japanese. And I'm really glad that I'm taking this class because it's confirmed something that I've only recently realized. It might be obvious to the rest of you, but learning about something you're really excited about really change the rate that you learn things. I'll admit that I'm learning some things that I don't really have a passion for. So I forget why I'm learning about a topic and what is the importance/application of it to the real world (I'm doing engineering). Then everything sort of becomes a blur to me and this is not good. But with Japanese there is a reason for me to learn it. Because I like it so much, I think about it when I am not in the class. I don't force myself to do it, I just do it. Well, not all of the time. And I think that helps me. I find that when I look at something once I can almost assure you that I won't memorize it all such as a bunch of katakana characters. I have to see it again before I can actually memorize it. See, this is why I can never do anything last minute. When I do, I don't have enough time to memorize it. Anyway, let me know what you're best study tips are or what your passion is. I'd love to know.

peacing out,
Vero

Konnichiwa

Hello friends,

When I first walked into the Japanese 101 class, I sort of felt like a grannie. I thought, I'm a third year starting a 101 class! But I quickly got over it, because I know that everyone is always going to be inexperienced at something and I'm a huge advocate of trying new things. Maybe next time when I try something new it'll be like playing bridge with real grannies. That way I won't feel so old. ;P ... But golly gee, this is a tough class. I had no idea about the pace that we're learning things. I know that if I didn't have any exposure to the language, I'd probably be crying in the back of the room or spinning in circles because I'd be so confused. Actually, I wouldn't cry because I'm a big girl now, but I'd be very overwhelmed. So I'm really impressed and proud of the students that are sticking with this class. I can tell some of them have had experience with Japanese and I think that's why the class can go the pace that it is going. But for students that haven't had the exposure, I give u props. And don't ever hesitate to ask questions in class or be afraid of making mistakes. I think it's very noble to be fearless in that respect. I guess I'm lucky because I'm half Japanese and so I've been exposed to the language. However, my mom and I never spoke Japanese to each other. I mean, sometimes we would try and then she would say something like "hetakuso", which I think means something like "pathetic". Don't worry, she said it in a joking tone (I think =P). But I think that exposure has helped me in class. And because my mom is Japanese sometimes we would watch Japanese cartoons. Like this one called AnPanMan, who is a superhero who's head is made of bread with a red bean paste center. And when he finds someone who is in need of his help and probably suffering from a growling stomach, he breaks a piece of his head off and gives it to that person. But this decreases his superstrength. I'd get more into it, but perhaps my entry should be more relevant to the Japanese class or me.

Just to break it down for you all... a little bit more about me (cause it's very hard to get to know people during class): I'm a biomedical engineering major, with a keen interest in international development. I like dancing crazily, and singing so loud that my throat is sore the next day. I just joined the Wushu club, which I love love love. I have a smart sister in my class. Don't believe her if she denies we're related.

Well, I hope that this blog helps me to flesh out my hopes and dreams. Until next time. Ja mata.

Vero