Goin to School

[Yagyu Jubei]

Ok OK
I have had it!!!!
I am going back to college so that I can have the answers to all of the historical questions posted here!
LOL...well actually I am going to major in Japanese Language and Literature.....In just a few years I will be able to actually read the old manuscripts as they were written!
Wish me luck m8s! I am an old dog! Haven't been to college since the year of our lord nineteen hundred and eighty nine!
At least the visuals will be great at the CU campus.

[Tachikaze]

Wow, YJ, I'm currently translating some letters and other assorted stuff. It's tough, but rather fun.

I have never tried classical Japanese. I have a hard enough time with Japanese at a children's level.

So, I understand what's ahead. Good luck and enjoy the chance you are getting. I'm envious.

[Irving]

ganbatte kudasai!

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Chaos is born from order.
Cowardice is born from bravery.
Weakness is born from strength.
-Sun Tzu

[Grim]

Don't forget: "the pen is mightier then the sword."



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"Je vous repondrai par la bouche de mes canons"
-Frontenac
(I will answer you with the blast of my canons)
-Trad. libre

[Koga No Goshi]

Nihongo no kakuno to yomuno o jyouzu ni shiro ne!

Ganbaro!



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Koga no Goshi

"Hokusai"
Now as a spirit
I shall roam
the summer fields.

[Tac]

If you're REALLY into learning the language, either plan to spend a YEAR living there (and isolated from other foreigners), or take Japanese language courses in your own country first (until you attain basic Japanese competency..aka, you can read hiragana, katakana and first 100 basic kanji), then go to japan to attend a language intensive course.

I had the misfortune of going there for 4 months to attend a language intensive course.. it was a complete waste of money. Any program they say uses the "immersion" method is worthless. You NEED to have basic japanese level to make any sense of those classes.

"Immersion Method" means that you sit in a classroom and the teacher will teach you japanese.. IN JAPANESE. They start with basic words letting you know what they mean by hand signals or pictures. Then go on to use more complex pictures and excercises.

This is all fine and dandy to learn vocabulary, its even fun, albeit SLOW. The real problem is when you start to get into grammar and sentence-building, concepts and complex meaning of words.

Its a complete failure because its all dependant on what the student INTERPRETS as being what is supposed is being taught to him.

And the teachers did NOT speak english. I remember jogging down in my notebook, 2 whole pages of possible meanings or what I THOUGHT I was being taught.. only to find at the end of the day that it was none of what I had written down. And since its an intensive course, if you get behind, you're screwed. Especially if you are learning the wrong things and not finding out until you're later on down the road EXTREMELY confused.

Although I learned very little of their language, I did learn about the culture, which I consider far more important.

[Yagyu Jubei]

LOL I know what you mean!
I am actually going to be getting a Degree in the Japanese language from the University of Colorado. I will even get to study Classical Japanese literature! LIke things from the Sengoku Jidai and earlier.
I also spent 4 months in Japan in 2000. I went to a Japanese class in the mornings. Luckily they spoke english. Then had Kendo, Iado and Naginata classes in the evenings.
It was great because I had english speaking teachers for Japanese lang and then was "immersed" in Kansai Ben by my Sensei's of martial arts.
I athink my biggest mistake was having a Japanese girlfriend who spoke english and wanted to practice it all the time. She would help me with Japanese, but for the most part we spoke english. If I hadn't done that, I would have been forced to figure out much more.
Anyway, I am 32 and starting over as a Freshman in college. I am hoping to do the Junior year abroad thing....
Thanks for the insights m8


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Watashiwa Yagyu Jubei desu! Ganbate!