So due to DST in the US, when I initially signed up for the class, it was 8pm-11pm EST my time. But since DST happened after registration, the class is actually from 9pm-12am. Oof! I usually stay up late on Fridays anyway so it won’t be an issue attending going forward but I had some distress when I tried to log in at 8pm and class wasn’t starting.
Class was a bit overwhelming. It was entirely in Japanese. So I was learning the patterns of things but not necessarily the meaning. Which means I have some studying to do. My other classmates were struggling too, so I’m not alone in my struggles. I don’t feel like a failure. It was just a lot but I kept myself afloat.
But boy do I have a lot to work on to feel even close to comfort.
I’m coming to terms with I don’t think I really know how to study. I’ve been reviewing my first lesson and trying to review and translate all of the slides to better understand it. I’ve been practicing writing kanji and writing notes and soon I will be making flash cards. I thought it might be fun to report what I’m learning.
I feel this one. There are so many freaking tools, sites, systems, etc. out there for studying Japanese now. It definitely appeals to the nerdy software gamer crowd, so everyone thinks they can build a better system than what exists. Whatever thing keeps you coming back on a daily basis, even for just a few minutes, is the best system IMO. I personally really like the jpdb.io flashcards because I can just look at it and do a couple of reviews and move on with the day. Everyone seems to like Anki, but it’s way too convoluted for my dummy brain.
Thank you for the suggestion and the encouragement. I’m trying not to burn out cause I don’t know how much my daily study goal should be. It’s looking like I’ll have a slow afternoon at work today so I’m going to try to get in at least another hour and if I’m feeling froggy, maybe even more! So hopefully I’ll have another progress report tomorrow.
In my new efforts to study, I revisited a website called TanoshiiJapanese that I’ve been using since high school. I’m so happy it still exists. It is an extremely helpful website, especially for looking up Kanji, which I mostly use it for, but it has plenty of other helpful features that are free. A gem from the old internet we know and love.
Today’s report is focusing on conjugations. How to say something in present, past, and negative tense. I’ve only ever studied the polite forms in high school so I was definitely struggling in class when asked to change something from long form to short form (which I believe is going from polite to plain form).
Plain Conjugations
to be (of animated objects); to exist
居る (いる) Present
居ない Present Negative
居た Past
居なかった Past Negative
to teach
教える(おしえる) Present
教えない Present Negative
教えた Past
教えなかった Past Negative
to eat
食べる(たべる) Present
食べない Present Negative
食べた Past
食べなかった Past Negative
to sleep
寝る(ねる) Present
寝ない Present Negative
寝た Past
寝なかった Past Negative
to see; to look
見る(みる) Present
見ない Present Negative
見た Past
見なかった Past Negative
to meet
会う(あう) Present
会わない Present Negative
会った Past
会わなかった Past Negative
to wash
洗う(あらう) Present
洗わない Present Negative
洗った Past
洗わなかった Past Negative
to say
言う(いう) Present
言わない Present Negative
言った Past
言わなかった Past Negative
to sing
歌う(うたう) Present
歌わない Present Negative
歌った Past
歌わなかった Past Negative
to buy
買う(かう) Present
買わない Present Negative
買った Past
買わなかった Past Negative
My second class went much better, even if I had to take it in a hotel room due to traveling. I feel like I’m starting to get used to the pace of the class. And my studying and note taking paid off! I still have a ways to go in regards to memorization, and I’ve learned to take better notes during class instead of just trying to dry memorize everything, and that helped me a lot too. I also learned to be brave and vulnerable and ask questions during class, which I think led to my classmates feeling more comfortable to ask questions too. One of the exercises we did was ask each other what we wanted to be in the future and I couldn’t think of anything in particular so I said a game critic lmao (like I’d ever be a decent game journalist). If I didn’t bluescreen anytime anyone asked me anything about myself, I’d probably have said a librarian.
Supposedly we have this Friday off for Golden Week (I’m going to double and triple check cause I’m paranoid about accidentally skipping class) so I’ll try to take the opportunity for extra studying (I’ll post another study progress report when I do) and maybe celebrate Golden Week somehow? I always feel conflicted about acknowledging or celebrating holidays from different cultures I’m not native to. I don’t want to bastardize anything or be cringe.
I managed to make a few physical flashcards but I have a lot more to make to be able to review my note taking more easily. I’ve tried to make them in a way so any of my friends can quiz me even if they can’t read kana or kanji characters.
I didn’t end up doing any studying yesterday. I wasn’t feeling well and just generally not having a great day. So today I took advantage of the slow pace at work and practiced writing kanji and taking mostly conjugation notes.
如何して どうして
how; in what way, by what means
why; for what reason; for what purpose
cannot possibly
Plain Conjugations
to walk
歩く( あるく) Present
歩かない Present Negative
歩いた Past
歩かなかった Past Negative
to write
書く(かく) Present
書かない Present Negative
書いた Past
書かなかった Past Negative
to hear / to listen
聞く(きく) Present
聞かない Present Negative
聞いた Past
聞かなかった Past Negative
to go
行く(いく) Present
行かない Present Negative
行った Past
行かなかった Past Negative