DISQUS

Refreshing to read something against shadowing, which I've been sceptical about too. Agree with you about massive input because it's great not only for pronunciation but also for learning grammar, vocabulary and speech patterns. Also a lot more enjoyable then shadowing would be (>_<)

I much prefer living in a place for a few weeks/months/years as opposed to vacationing there for a week and seeing the pretty sights. You got a much more realistic experience of the place - the good and the bad. The only risk is feeling too comfortable and at home, and not also seeing the famous sights which shouldn't be forgotten.

Alecs last blog post..Job Search in Tokyo

I don't completely agree. I think at the earlier stages of Japanese learning, Japanese listeners will be really encouraging and coo and whoop at your every syllable. Once you get good at Japanese (and become more of a threat), it takes them longer to compliment you and they actually start to mock you; not in an especially cruel way, but they'll laugh at your mistakes and make fun of your accent (-_-) Well, I appreciate the honesty but sometimes I'd wish they'd shut up - especially as most of the people who do this can't speak a word of English.

Who said whales are only eaten by the upper-classes? Whale's not that expensive and it used to be dished out in school dinners because it was cheaper than other meats. I can get whale at my local supermarket for about the same price as tuna and a lot of other seafoods.

Also, most of the whales killed by the Japanese are minke whales which are pretty damned common. If tuna is the chicken of the sea, mink whales are like the ... pigs? Hmm. I'll have to think of a better analogy.

Don't mean to come across as a bitter old man, but a lot of people are so anti-whaling without even knowing the facts. Personally, I think the whaling of humpbacks and endangered species is wrong, but I see nothing wrong with the sustainable hunting of common whales whether it's for food or science.

The fashion's great. The models are greater. Muhahaha!

That's exactly how it's been in my experience; you feel crap and then you have a damn-I'm-good day and everything feels better! And then some stuff comes along which you don't really understand and you feel crap again, hehe.

If you're studying, you can only be getting better!

Thanks for this. I just started thinking yesterday about buying a Nintendo DS for study purposes (for study!). This article came at a perfect time. To be honest, I don't think I need it though. Ciao!

Lol, I love the photo album with 'Funerals'. How morbid. (>_

Ah, didn't realise Tsuji's so cute. I was always captivated by the way-cuter (imho) Kago Ai. Pooor Kago.

Interesting that she consulted her talent agency. I suppose Japanese people always consult their companies about weddings and such things.

Lol, that's a pretty cute example from the girl. Kind of scary too.

Oh, gosh - you're right! Silly me. (_

I've seen a few times similar items from people saying what's a valid reason to learn Japanese and what's not a valid reason. I don't think it's anyone's place to say whether a reason is valid or not.

If someone loves Japanese porn and starts learning Japanese because they want to understand Japanese grunting, then that's fine! If it's a good enough reason to motivate them to learn a completely foreign language, more power to them. Same for anime or mange obsessives. Lots of people have started learning Japanese because of manga/anime and become fluent.

As for me, I also have Japanese family. It was interesting watching your video and learning that your mum doesn't speak much Japanese and you've not met your family in Japan. I'm in a pretty similar situation: my mum's half Japanese and hardly speaks any Japanese (「アイスクリーム欲しい」とか「トイレ行きたい」だけぐらい). I met my Japanese family and my grandma when I was a baby. When my grandma died we lost contact with the family in Japan. About 3 years ago when I went to Japan for the first time with my Japanese class, some relatives surprised me by turning up on the doorstep of my hotel! Since then I've met them and stayed with them a few times and we all get on well. My mum hasn't met them in about 17 years or so so I'm looking forward to our big reunion!

Wow, what a long comment. I hope you appreciate my quadraparagraphed comment loving!

Wow, that sounds cool! I don't mind natto except for the gooeyness because it gets everywhere and I end up looking like I've been sneezed on. I'll have to track some down when I get to Japan.

I remember watching a documentary about depression in women after their husbands retire. For Japanese couple of a certain age, marriage was less about love and more about obligation and convenience. That wasn't a problem though because the men would be at work from morning to night, and the women would be at home with the children. When the men retire though, the women find themselves having to actually talk to their husbands. In days gone by, men would have worked for much longer but now they're retiring sooner for various reasons.

Ah, just Googled it and it's called Retired Husband Syndrome.

I wonder how many of these suicides are of women as opposed to men.

Hey, I believe the kanji for 'kanarazu' starts on the top-right corner! You asked for exceptions. =D