improve my Japanese

Well I didn’t pass the JLPT but I was close!

I’m taking classes at Soko Gakuen. I tested into the 4th class Begining 3 and now I’m in the first Intermediate class (of 6 classes, lol).

It’s weird taking a Japanese class. I have to remind myself to study more. I think I learned way more vocabulary on my own than in school but I’m learning better grammar and my writing is improving

I was on twitter, were I follow ‘jlist’ and he tweeted the fact that there are 182 days left until the JLPT. I’m going to be taking the level 4 I have decided. I don’t think I will be ready for level 3 this year. But hopefully if things go well I will pass the JLPT 4 this year and next year the new N3 Level. Of course the ultimate goal is to pass the N1 one day but that’s just the 2 year plan.

I’ve been trying to study at least 30 minutes everyday. Preferably studying 1 hour a day. Probably going to have to step up my game on the kanji. I know 1-25 pretty well but there’s still so many more to learn. I’m also worried about the listening portion. I get to talk on the fone some in Japanese. The one good thing about being in Macon is that I did speak Japanese when I went to Shoki. I maintain to keep my eyes on the prize.

I use a lot of online resources to help me study japanese. You can find my bookmarks on my Delicious account (http://delicious.com/jdks/japanese) but I also try to write Japanese every single day and read some Japanese everyday. I try to watch Japanese dramas,news, baseball games without subtitles and it’s getting much better. I’m looking forward to the day that I receive my certification in the mail. I know that being certified in Japanese will open me up to more opportunities and I love the language it’s very beautiful.

Back to studying!

is the neu name of iKnow. It’s a really good site for learning japanese, English as a second language. it’s work in progress but I like it so far. if you decide you like it add me. I”m princesscupcake

This goal is taken just a bit of time off while I finish this course work of mine. But hopefully starting Feb 2nd I’ll back on the horse. and of course any spare time I have waiting in queues I will be going over my flash cards.

my grandmother(RIP)’s family is Japanese. My aunt and alot of my cousins live in Kyoto and Nagasaki. All my life I’ve know the basic conversation, directions, cooking (one of cousins is a baker). Writing wise I know hiragana and katakana. But I never really took the time to learn kanji, what I do know is just from seeing it over and over. I really want to take the JLPT next December at least level 3. I’d love to use my degree as an engineer and work for a Japanese company one day… but for now let’s take it one step at a time. I need to conquer kanji!