Learning Japanese, Yes I am Learning Japanese, I really think so think so, –With a apologies to The Vapors.

Well once again I am going to try and learn a foreign language. Why Japanese, well I have always been interested in Japan don’t know why, it may be cause by watching too much Speed Racer and Ultraman as a child. When I first found Anime in the early 90’s I was hooked and it rekindled my interest in Japan. So being able to speak and read Japanese is kind of the Holy Grail for an Anime Geek.

I have tried a couple/four times to learn Japanese, I took two semester at Shasta College, used various computer programs, even bought the first Pimsler Japanese CD set. But, none of those every really went too far. I have never really be good at self guided study. I mean if I want to do something like creating this blog I will learn how to do it. It’s a little easier because I have a goal and there is physical outcome make the goal easier it see.

So what makes this time different well now I do have a goal the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test.) Its a test given once a year all over the world that gages your skill in Japanese grammar, reading and listening. Its set up with four levels with level four being the easiest and level one being the hardest. So the goal is to be ready to pass level four by the time the test comes around again in December of 2007. Why December of next year, well the test is only give once a year and they say you need about 150 hours of study to be ready for level four and just don’t think that I could be ready by this December.

I am going to try and take retake Japanese I at Shasta College but because of the messed up way that they have class sign ups I cant register. The system wont let me audit the class because it is full and I cant get on the waiting list because I have taken the class before, I just can’t win. I probably just go to the first class meeting and see if the teacher will let me over enroll anyway.

Peter Payne of Jlist fame has said one of the things that helped him learn Japanese was to do may different activities through out the day to help reinforce what you learn in class. So in that to do that I plan on breaking out my Pimsler CDs and listen to them on the drive back and forth to classes. I also need to make flash cards and study them on my breaks at work but I need to figure out a better way to make them besides the old 3×5 index card, they are just way to thin I and most of the time I can see the answer as it has bled through the paper.

So wish me luck, hopefully I will be able to stick to my goals this time and in a few years or so be able to say I have passed level 1 of JPLT.

Other Posts of Interest

• Fansubs on the Mac (10)
• Hello From the Mac (10)
• Clare up for Pre-order. (7)