I realise now that if I don’t set myself some goals that I must accomplish before I go, I’m likely to not make 100% use of the time I get in Japan this coming year. So I thought I should post it on here, that way you guys can help me in a few ways; you can yell at me when I forget to do stuff, and more importantly I would really appreciate it if you guys would comment suggesting what else I should get up to!
Obviously, I want my Japanese to improve. The goal of this year is to take the bizarre amount of vocab and grammar I was taught this year and practice putting it together in conversation quickly and naturally. So less speaking English and a lot more Japanese is an obvious one.
I also really want to visit Korea. One of the exchange students from Japan this year has Korean family and has offered to travel with me to visit Seoul. I’m mad mad mad for Korean food, so of course I could get my fix of brain burningly spicy food whilst I’m there. A Korean friend of mine insisted Korean food is awful outside Korea, but then doesn’t everyone say that about their food?
I want to take up Shorinji Kempo again. I regret not doing it last summer but this time I really am going to dedicate myself to it properly. I’m going to need some pretty serious refresher courses in it from Leon to actually remember the foundations, but hopefully I can pick up where I left off.
I want to do some sort of performance, but I really don’t know which to choose; either Taiko drumming, which is probably quite do-able and it looks and sounds awesome, or take part in Awa-Odori, one of the most visually stunning things I’ve seen in years.
I want to go back to Hokkaido again. I loved my time there, and for the first time I felt a feeling of community that Tokyo sort of lacked, possibly because it’s so huge. I grew up for a few years in a village so being in the tiny village of Toya reminded me how great it is knowing everyone around you.
Finally, and this one is important: I want to do as many things as possible. I’m going to try and turn down as few chances as I possibly get. If you ever saw the film ‘Yes Man’ that’s my target, although possibly without the insanity. If anyone has any suggestions for things to do / places to go / people to meet comment and I’ll add it to my list!
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The best thing that you can do for your Japanese:
Make friends with other exchange students who can’t speak English very well. Then hang around with the Japanese people who want to be friends with them. It means you’re not going to get loads of people who just want to practise their English on you.
It’s also much easier to speak in Japanese to other foreigners, because
a) they’re more likely to use simple Japanese, so are easy to understand
b) they’re going to make mistakes as well, so you don’t need to be scared of making them (although you’re probably more confident than me with this anyway)
Although obviously they’re not the best people to model your Japanese on.
And don’t focus too much on book learning etc, focus on just having a laugh in Japanese, and your Japanese will improve rapidly! Since I came back to Japan I only really speak English at work, and that’s only because I have to, and my Japanese has improved really quickly… yesterday I made a speech in Japanese about 5 minutes long in front of a room of 40 or so high school students, and I wasn’t even a bit nervous or worried that my language ability would let me down… a year ago I would have done anything to avoid that kind of situation!
So yes, immersion = good. (I have rambled a bit too much in this comment, sorry!)
Jen: That’s a great idea actually. Hoping I can find some Chinese students who can’t speak English, that would be ideal. I’m hoping to learn Chinese as well so taht would be two birds with one stone.
As for focusing through study, I killed myself at uni doing that this year, so I am *very* up for not doing that but just learning through usage instead. :)
Immersion = Great, then :)