Learn Japanese

Well, I did what I set out to do … to learn some Japanese that I could use while I was in Kyoto. So, been there and done that. Put what I learnt to good use. I’ll probably move on to something new now, maybe some Spanish, or maybe work on some kana.

The countdown is on. I’ll be in Kyoto in 10 days. Working hard on this stuff. The important thing is, I’ll be able to order beer and tell the cabbie where I want to go.

I’m practising every day now. Or at least, every work day. I’ve worked my way through the entire Pimsleur set I have, and every day I review one of the modules. 12-ish weeks to go before Japan. Now to start working on the Teach Yourself sets that I have. Nihongo-ga hanishimasu! Ano, skoshi hanashimasu.

I am now practising pretty much every work day, on the bus to work, over a lunch hour walk around town, and on the bus home. Each of those gives me time to work through at least one whole unit of the pimsleur set I am using. Ii desu!

14 weeks and counting …

Mark

Cruising along … If anyone is interested, Pimsleur’s Conversational Japanese audio-only CD set is fantastic. I like the Tech Yourself series that I have as well, but the Pimsleur set is audio only. No books or written exercises, which makes it great for the bus or the car.

I bought myself some new materials … always a good way to inject some new energy into my work! I’m using Elizabeth Smith’s Teach Yourself Instant Japanese, and Pimsleur Conversational Japanese. The format of Instant Japanese is great. It is broken up into 6 weeks of work, and each week focuses on one aspect of a virtual trip to Japan. The first week is all about the plane ride over. It is very fast, and focused. The Pimsleur set is just straight audio CDs that you can listen to in your car. No books or writing required. So I have Japanese assaulting me in my car, and everywhere else on my ipod. 5 months to go!

I have been a slack and lazy bastard. That, and I am tired of listening to the dialogues. And I haven’t been carrying my notebook around so I can make notes while I listen to the dialogues. Japan will be here in no time (April) and I won’t be as prepared as I would like.

Not much to say. I’m still practising with reasonable consistency. 8 months till Japan!

I’m not kidding, I just got off my ass and started working on this again this morning. I was listening to my dialogs on my ipod all the way to work this morning. Only 8 months left till Japan!

I haven’t been practicing at all the past month or so. Need to get back on the horse. Japan is only 9-ish months away.