Comments on: Making the Most of Japan http://www.goddesscarlie.com/travel/making-the-most-of-japan/ Carlie journeys towards Japanese fluence via lots of procrastination, drama watching, and staring at Japanese boys Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:36:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: GoddessCarlie http://www.goddesscarlie.com/travel/making-the-most-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-519 GoddessCarlie Sun, 08 Feb 2009 12:16:45 +0000 http://goddesscarlie.com/?p=806#comment-519 Sorry for the novel! Next question: “Where do you hope to take your Japanese?” I want to be able to converse without thinking about it. I want to be at the stage where I can guess the meaning of words because I know 99% of the rest of the words. I want to be able to read novels in Japanese with ease, really getting lost in the worlds within them. I want to be able to express my own thoughts in writing in Japanese so that my (english speaking) friends can’t read the horrible things I’m witting about them in my diary. ;) Sorry for the novel! Next question:
“Where do you hope to take your Japanese?”

I want to be able to converse without thinking about it. I want to be at the stage where I can guess the meaning of words because I know 99% of the rest of the words. I want to be able to read novels in Japanese with ease, really getting lost in the worlds within them. I want to be able to express my own thoughts in writing in Japanese so that my (english speaking) friends can’t read the horrible things I’m witting about them in my diary. ;)

]]> By: GoddessCarlie http://www.goddesscarlie.com/travel/making-the-most-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-488 GoddessCarlie Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:01:35 +0000 http://goddesscarlie.com/?p=806#comment-488 Thanks for the comments guys! Thanks for the comments guys!

]]> By: Deas http://www.goddesscarlie.com/travel/making-the-most-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-486 Deas Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:52:39 +0000 http://goddesscarlie.com/?p=806#comment-486 Hey Carlie - I think this is a really down-to-earth resolution, and an admirable one at that! I totally understand how it can be difficult to move from average day-to-day simple communication to more "conversational" conversations. I hope you're wildly successful in your endeavor! Thanks for contributing to the matsuri, too, by the way! Hey Carlie – I think this is a really down-to-earth resolution, and an admirable one at that! I totally understand how it can be difficult to move from average day-to-day simple communication to more “conversational” conversations. I hope you’re wildly successful in your endeavor! Thanks for contributing to the matsuri, too, by the way!

]]> By: atreya http://www.goddesscarlie.com/travel/making-the-most-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-485 atreya Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:38:36 +0000 http://goddesscarlie.com/?p=806#comment-485 Yea, I was in a similar situation when I was in Japan for 2 weeks. I was in a village for the most part but I ended up using "Survival Japanese" most of the time. And I kept forgetting simple vocabulary at crucial time. I forgot the word for work which is "仕事" when I tried to introduce myself. And yes, I do have a lot of regrets. There were a lot of things that I wanted to do but I couldn't because of the group I went with. The only different thing that I experienced was that when the Japanese people who initially talked to me in English figured out that I knew Japanese, they immediately started talking in Japanese to me. They were jumping with joy that I knew Japanese. And these were the kind of people whose English was not so good and they had a hard time talking in English. But yea, I definitely want to make another Trip to Japan. Probably, after I get a real job. ^^;; Speaking of writing Journals in Japanese. Have you ever tried Lang-8 ? http://www.lang-8.com Yea, I was in a similar situation when I was in Japan for 2 weeks. I was in a village for the most part but I ended up using “Survival Japanese” most of the time. And I kept forgetting simple vocabulary at crucial time. I forgot the word for work which is “仕事” when I tried to introduce myself. And yes, I do have a lot of regrets. There were a lot of things that I wanted to do but I couldn’t because of the group I went with.

The only different thing that I experienced was that when the Japanese people who initially talked to me in English figured out that I knew Japanese, they immediately started talking in Japanese to me. They were jumping with joy that I knew Japanese. And these were the kind of people whose English was not so good and they had a hard time talking in English.

But yea, I definitely want to make another Trip to Japan. Probably, after I get a real job. ^^;;

Speaking of writing Journals in Japanese. Have you ever tried Lang-8 ? http://www.lang-8.com

]]> By: GoddessCarlie http://www.goddesscarlie.com/travel/making-the-most-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-483 GoddessCarlie Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:55:27 +0000 http://goddesscarlie.com/?p=806#comment-483 Hi Brett! You have it wrong! I'm very shy! I think the thing is all in my attitude however. I know I'm shy so I actively work hard to talk to someone. I have another fear - a fear of heights, but I still went on some very scary ferris wheels in Japan. I think it helps that I am also a "think before I act" kind of person, so I just jump into a situation and worry about it later. However, I did have help. The headache tablets. I was going to chicken out. But it wasn't my headache, and so I did it for my friend. It ended up being a surprising success. By the end it felt "easy" going up to someone at the train station and asking if a particular train stopped at a particular station. But it was all "survival" Japanese, next time I would like to try to strike up a conversation. Maybe in a bar so that alcohol has loosened my tounge! OK Guys, if you are shy like me: * Make it your goal to talk to people. In life, remember, people often regret the things they <em>don't</em> do, so you don't want to have this regret for the rest of your life! * Have no fear. Easier said than done, I know. But remember, if you stuff up, for most basic things you can say a bit of English and most people will understand, and then you never have to see that person again. At one time I had a mental blank and forgot the word for "stop". So I asked a guy "この電車は奈良にstopu?" haha. Of course, once you're on the train the announcements reminded me of the correct word. * I myself haven't had the courage to go up to some stranger and say "so hows about this weather". Just push yourself a little bit, don't rely on English even though you can for the most part, and you'll be proud of your little achievements. Then next time you go you can push yourself a little further. Hi Brett!
You have it wrong! I’m very shy! I think the thing is all in my attitude however. I know I’m shy so I actively work hard to talk to someone. I have another fear – a fear of heights, but I still went on some very scary ferris wheels in Japan. I think it helps that I am also a “think before I act” kind of person, so I just jump into a situation and worry about it later.

However, I did have help. The headache tablets. I was going to chicken out. But it wasn’t my headache, and so I did it for my friend. It ended up being a surprising success. By the end it felt “easy” going up to someone at the train station and asking if a particular train stopped at a particular station. But it was all “survival” Japanese, next time I would like to try to strike up a conversation. Maybe in a bar so that alcohol has loosened my tounge!

OK Guys, if you are shy like me:

* Make it your goal to talk to people. In life, remember, people often regret the things they don’t do, so you don’t want to have this regret for the rest of your life!

* Have no fear. Easier said than done, I know. But remember, if you stuff up, for most basic things you can say a bit of English and most people will understand, and then you never have to see that person again. At one time I had a mental blank and forgot the word for “stop”. So I asked a guy “この電車は奈良にstopu?” haha. Of course, once you’re on the train the announcements reminded me of the correct word.

* I myself haven’t had the courage to go up to some stranger and say “so hows about this weather”. Just push yourself a little bit, don’t rely on English even though you can for the most part, and you’ll be proud of your little achievements. Then next time you go you can push yourself a little further.

]]> By: Brett Fyfield http://www.goddesscarlie.com/travel/making-the-most-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-482 Brett Fyfield Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:06:45 +0000 http://goddesscarlie.com/?p=806#comment-482 Hey Carly, it sounds like you're pretty outgoing person who doesn't normally find it difficult to strike up conversations with people, in whatever language. What would you suggest to someone that is naturally unlikely to start a conversation? It really used to bug me when people spoke in English, even though I was perfectly capable of speaking to them in Japanese. Where do you hope to take your Japanese? I love the Alogrithm march BTW. Hey Carly, it sounds like you’re pretty outgoing person who doesn’t normally find it difficult to strike up conversations with people, in whatever language.

What would you suggest to someone that is naturally unlikely to start a conversation?

It really used to bug me when people spoke in English, even though I was perfectly capable of speaking to them in Japanese. Where do you hope to take your Japanese?

I love the Alogrithm march BTW.

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