Letter to Host Family

サンクスギビングの休み

サンクスギビングの休みはおもしろくて、とてもたのしかったです。私はうちにかえって、ゆっくりしました。うタンクスギビングのあさはごはんをたべませんでしたが、ばんはたべました。私はぎゅうにくややさいたべました。それから、私はりょしんとはなしました。りよしんとはなすのがすきです。

先週もとかったですね。ともだちとニューヨークにえいがをみにいきました。それから、ともだちとに韓国のレストランでたべました。私はうちでたべるのもそとでしょくじするのもすきです。

じゃ、また！

あきやすみ

こんにちわ！

こんあきやすみわたしはボストンにいきました。わたしのなかまボストンのがっこうにいきます。せんどようび　わたしたちは　えいがをみました、そしてNortheasternたいがくのピーザをたべました。ピーザはよかったです。せんいちようびつカフェにいきました。カフェのコーヒーはとてもよかったです。ボストンにとてもだいがくがあります、でもボストンにたかいたてものがありません。ボストンとてもちいさい、でもとてもけれいです。

        
                    


しょしゅてうちにかえりました。わたしのうちはりっぱなうちです、でもとてもちいさいです。わたしのへやはあかるいです。うちにわたしのねこがいます。とてもかわいいです。

あきやすみとせんしゅまつなにをしましたか?

Reflection

こんばんわ！

After seven PE exercises, I feel that I have definitely made positive strides with some of my goals. The only problem is, however, that I haven't been strict enough with myself about the manner in which I've reached them. I haven't shadowed nearly as much as I had wanted to, and I haven't been visiting the office hours at least once every two weeks. Despite this, however, I definitely feel that I am becoming quicker and better in writing hiragana and katakana, and that I'm becoming more confident with my mora rhythm and speech recognition. There are times when I feel as if my speaking, especially while I'm shadowing, is very good in its fluidity and intonation. I have to try to be more consistent, and be more confident with my abilities overall! I tend to be too timid or hesitant. I shouldn't be afraid to make a mistake while speaking because it's inevitable; instead, I should try to test what I already know.

My goals for the rest of the semester are to:
--Practice kanji and correct overall spelling of phrases or words
--Become comfortable with grammar and making more complex sentences
--Work on speed and word intonation
--Become more comfortable with participating in long dialogues

I plan to....
--Shadow two times a week for 10-15 minutes
--Go to the office hours
--Watch at least one episode of anime every week
--Speak with some of my friends in Japanese

Hopefully I'll be able to continue to test myself and learn more in the rest of the semester,
じゃ、また！

Messi (and things)

こんばんは！

きょうわたしはじゅうにじにおきました。わたしはたいていじゅういちじにおきます、でもきょはいちようびです。いちじごるに　マデーだいがくでひるごはんをたべました。わたしはいつもひるコーヒーをのみます。にじにわたしのクーラスメートとルームメートはえいがをサッカーみました。バルセロナすきです、そしてメッシはすばらしいです！あしたわたしはとしょかんでべんきょうします。


じゅうまつなにをしましたか？

Japanese Music (for Thursdays):

Pizzicato Five: A Message Song

椎名林檎：迷彩

Bakuman Opening 2, Dream of Life:

Goals and Plans

Goals:

--Work on my intonation, fluidity and word pitch
--Improve mora rhythm and speech recognition
--Write hiragana and katakana quicker and better

I plan to...:

--Shadow two to three times a week for 10-15 min each
--Practice writing characters almost every day for short intervals
--Watch 2-4 episodes of anime every week
--Go to the language table often
--Go to office hours at least once a week and a half

Introduction Video

Hi!

こんいちわ、わたしはAndreolaです、どうぞよるしく。プリンストンだいがくのいちねんせいです。わたしはれきしわせんこうしています。あるぜんちんじんです、あるぜんちんのコルドバからきました。わたしはさっかがすきです、わたしはまたにほんのおんがくがすきです。じゃ、また！

Beginnings

こんにちは、私の名前はAndreolaです。

Welcome to this new blog!..this is a pretty new experience for me considering I've never had one before.

I am very excited to start learning Japanese; primarily because I have always been a huge fan of manga and anime (some of my favorite manga right now includes One Piece and Code Geass). In the last few years, actually, I have also been listening to many different Japanese rock and pop groups (some of which are more popular than others). These acts include, but are not limited to: The Brilliant Green, Pizzicato Five, Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O., Shiina Ringo, and presently, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. These different media and arts have all played a major role in developing my interest in Japanese culture and language. I see this class as a stepping stone for bigger and better opportunities in advancing and sharing my passion for Japanese culture in the future.

Sample:
Brilliant Green: "I Can Hold Your Hand Baby" from their acclaimed Los Angeles album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKGQ73bALoc

After attending the first couple of classes, I've realized that I will have to regularly practice my pronunciations and handwriting. Memorizing (hopefully) won't be such a problem, but I know I'll have to test myself in order to not fall behind. On the flip side though, I am definitely excited to learn how to write hiragana and katakana within the next few weeks.

But anyways, for now, じゃまた！