I am studying for the JLPT N2 which will take place in December. September was my second month of study with the Shin Kanzen series.
カントリー・ロード, Japanese Version
A translation and some reflections around the Japanese version of “Take me home, country roads” in the film “Whisper of the heart”.
Currently reading: 私が彼を殺した by 東野圭吾
Even if I am still reading 舟を編む (progressing very slowly), I couldn't resist the temptation to start a new novel by Higashino Keigo. I am reading the Kaga series (加賀恭一郎シリーズ) and I bought the 5th novel of the series: 私が彼を殺した. When I started the novel, I really felt comfortable, I think the Japanese word 落ち着く would..
Environment vs Commitment
For a language learner, immersing oneself in the target language is essential. But the environment is not as important as our attitude toward this environment. This is the difference between an active and a passive learner and the quality of our environment has nothing to do with it.
Japanese News: France not going to Pyeongchang?
I was very surprised when opening Asahi website this morning to see an article stating that France may not attend the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang if the relationship with North Korea gets worse. Let's analyse Asahi's article Link to the article The title is not difficult to understand: フランス、平昌五輪不参加の可能性も 北朝鮮情勢を懸念 The word underlined is..
Discover Japan
I guess that "Discover Japan" is a well-known magazine among people interested in Japanese culture, but I discovered it only recently... In fact, I saw an interesting issue in a bookshop last year (September 2016) about Tokyo Olympics and bought the magazine thinking that I would read it later. At the time, I was not..
Daily Study: Listening to Okinawa radio
This weekend, I went to a Japanese restaurant where you could hear the radio of Okinawa. Back home, I checked their website, and they have several programs accessible in streaming. I have always considered the radio to be one of the best ways to improve one's listening skills. People tend to speak at a natural..
Japanese News: People’s reaction after North Korea launched another missile over Japan
Today, I study an article concerning how Japanese reacted when they learned that North Korea launched a new missile over Japan.
Korean resources: “Japanese Sentences”
I am currently renewing a strategy I had at the beginning and which consists in listening to a lot of Japanese sentences (almost until I know them by heart), to learn vocabulary and grammar pattern at the same time. At that time, I used a Korean book which is called "Japanese Sentences" and belongs to..
Motivation: don’t pass N2 in 4 months and be enthusiastic!
I am preparing the JLPT N2, and I think that I might have put myself too much into it. I met several Korean students who passed N1 and even a girl who got a full mark at the section "language knowledge" of N1 😳 I also saw that some Koreans can pass N2 in 4 months..
Twice ～ Cheer up (Japanese version)
I have tried to translate the lyrics of the Japanese version of Cheer up, by k-pop group Twice. It was difficult but very entertaining.
Motivation: Find something that exists only in Japanese
Among the usual advice given to language learners is the idea that one should pursue one's field of interest in the target language. For example, if you like history, try to read history books in Japanese, if you like cooking, try this Japanese recipe, and so on. I am following this advice, of course, but..