Soundtrack: The Back Horn - 声
mattiaz
Battlestar Galactica started it's third season!
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battlestar galactica
battlestar galacticaNo whispers - speak softly...
Heaven and the white Pierrot
So where was I? Ended up in the Advanced level of the Japanese classes here at Keio. Me and a buttload of Chinese and Korean people who are totally in to anime.. ah well. The level of the classes feel just right though and I'll probably end up learning a lot over the coming, what, 9 months?
The Japanese educational system still is obsessed with the thought that memorization=learning. Which, as anyone in the west will tell you, is total bullshit. Thus we've spent 2/3's of each class listening to an article about the geography of Tokyo and then repeating what is being said to the letter. It's not about, let's say - using our skills to independently reproduce basically what is being said; no what they want is the whole thing down to the last comma..
If you've ever wondered why Engrish exists - this is the reason. Through this method Japanese people usually know all kinds of words, know all the grammar and read just fine - they just suck at creating sentences by themselves and oh, actually using the language actively. The fact that they dub movies obviously also plays a part - but you just don't see this kind of stuff in Germany or France.
So if you happen upon a Japanese person who actually speaks decent English - be impressed.. that person has had to fight the antiquated and sometimes downright moronic Japanese educational system to reach that level.. and more than likely spent some time abroad.
Soundtrack: EGO-WRAPPIN' - 天国と白いピエロ
The Japanese educational system still is obsessed with the thought that memorization=learning. Which, as anyone in the west will tell you, is total bullshit. Thus we've spent 2/3's of each class listening to an article about the geography of Tokyo and then repeating what is being said to the letter. It's not about, let's say - using our skills to independently reproduce basically what is being said; no what they want is the whole thing down to the last comma..
If you've ever wondered why Engrish exists - this is the reason. Through this method Japanese people usually know all kinds of words, know all the grammar and read just fine - they just suck at creating sentences by themselves and oh, actually using the language actively. The fact that they dub movies obviously also plays a part - but you just don't see this kind of stuff in Germany or France.
So if you happen upon a Japanese person who actually speaks decent English - be impressed.. that person has had to fight the antiquated and sometimes downright moronic Japanese educational system to reach that level.. and more than likely spent some time abroad.
Soundtrack: EGO-WRAPPIN' - 天国と白いピエロ
No whispers - speak softly...
Green & Gold
So here I am - Japan.. again. Certainly very different from last time, although there's definitely something about this place that always feels the same. Maybe it's the humidity? The area around the dorm is really nice and green anyways - likely the product of being a place to which people only come to sleep.. or die (graveyard like next door).
Had my placement test for the Japanese class today and it went, I don't know, OK I guess? As it's a test determined to examine your language proficiency you're not actually supposed to know all the answers (as you wouldn't have anything to learn in that case).. Still feels weird to leave blank fields and just write random things in others though..
Headed to the N's place tomorrow - gonna' meet her fam' again and do some shopping. Would be sweet if I could find a used TV for ￥10-20k. Still gotta' get the piece of crap over to the dorm though. Guess I'll have to send it. Hauling around a 28" on the Tokyo subway doesn't really sound like a kick-ass idea.
Soundtrack: Mo'Some Tonebender - Green & Gold
Had my placement test for the Japanese class today and it went, I don't know, OK I guess? As it's a test determined to examine your language proficiency you're not actually supposed to know all the answers (as you wouldn't have anything to learn in that case).. Still feels weird to leave blank fields and just write random things in others though..
Headed to the N's place tomorrow - gonna' meet her fam' again and do some shopping. Would be sweet if I could find a used TV for ￥10-20k. Still gotta' get the piece of crap over to the dorm though. Guess I'll have to send it. Hauling around a 28" on the Tokyo subway doesn't really sound like a kick-ass idea.
Soundtrack: Mo'Some Tonebender - Green & Gold
No whispers - speak softly...
Idiot?
My journey starts tomorrow.. fuck. Do I even know what I've gotten' myself into? And how can I not be nervous about it? Aren't you supposed to be nervous about these kinds of things? Or am I just too big of an idiot to realize the gravity of the situation? Shit.. well, I guess we'll just have to see.
Oh, and Stockholm loves me by the way. I'm already cleared for the second and final stage. How ya' like them apples?
See you on the other side.. in Cipangu.
Soundtrack: Sparta Locals - Bakayarou
Oh, and Stockholm loves me by the way. I'm already cleared for the second and final stage. How ya' like them apples?
See you on the other side.. in Cipangu.
Soundtrack: Sparta Locals - Bakayarou
No whispers - speak softly...
Non mihi solum
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