I've only recently finished my latest reading spree. It happens from time to time, as an urge forcing me to read more and more as a madman, unable to stop. It is actually useful as I travel about 3 hours between home and work and is great for relaxing. I just can't understand people who don't read. And I know more than a few like that.
With that urge finally finished, I decided to come back to Japanese studying. It has been a few months since I stop learning, which I've done only because, at first, I lacked time, and when the time came, that urge took over me. It was kinda sad, as I also stopped attending to my Japanese classes. The teacher is great, the classmates are cool and I learn a lot each time I'm there. Unfortunately Japanese was not my priority and since I was already sleeping 3 to 4 hours a day I just had to drop it and use that time with other matters.
I always loved learning Japanese, I find the Language and Writing system to be amazing and a whole world of surprises and funny mental ideas. It also helps my memory (which always sucked big time) and I've already noticed big improvements in that field. A few years ago I was unable to mental read a single Portuguese sentence, hide it and repeat it out loud right away. Now I can do that with several sentences even in Japanese.
I'm currently studying Genki from start, reviewing everything I had learned and I was happy to notice that, besides some one-time recalling, I really assimilated most of the rules and the words I learned. I even bought a CD player (It is hard to find one nowdays
) so I could listen to the Oxford Japanese Course CDs while I walked (which is a lot).
Ramblings away.. Today I was at work and a college of mine said he was thinking in buying the "Dance Dance Revolution". I couldn't help to laugh out loud. I was not alone after all. \o/ I was also keeping an eye on the Wii console and for games like that one. I had this in my mind ever since I visited an arcade building at Hakiabara. I was near the shooting machines and coincidently there was a dancing machine near one of the arcades I was playing. I was amazed at one Japanese dude that seemed to fly at the sound of the music. His movements were really great. So... I decided to give it a try. I'll save you from mentally watching a crime against humanity so I'll not speak more about what happened after I started playing the easiest song in the whole game.
At that time I realized that I seriously needed coordination training. I already knew that my disco nights weren't exactly... spectacular. But as I usually drink a few beers before heading to any dance area I had no idea it was THAT bad.
My work college told me that there were pads and dance games for both PC and PS2 which was something I didn't know, I thought it was only for Wii. So I mentally decided to buy one in the future.
As I was coming home, I was studying Japanese as I went, and each words I couldn't figure out the real meaning remembered me that I seriously need a Japanese dictionary. I mean, I even have a kanji dictionary, but that covers only part of the vocabulary. On the way I stopped at a mall to dinner. I then decided to go to a nearby FNAC store to check the latest computer games and hoped to see anything different from the million remakes and rip-offs of the same genders. When I walked into FNAC I wandered around watching randomly people and the recommended DVDs at the story entry. I then realized that the store had been totally organized. After wandering for almost 5 minutes I finally found out the game section. Looked around and didn't found anything catchy. I decided to look for dancing games and pads for PS2. Nothing. "This sucks" I thought. On the way back I decided to check the book section. I've been looking for "Les Misérables" from Victor Hugo and "War and Peace" from Leo Tolstoy for ages. I can't seem to find any of them anywhere. I already thought in ordering them on online shops but this has became like a quest for me. I'll find them some day.
After looking for the books, I decided to look for English literature books, also found nothing catchy, but when I was about to leave the English literature book section touched the "learn <random language> in 15 minutes" section, aimed at travellers. Out of curiosity looked for a Japanese one (although I don't need it) and (not surprisingly) I couldn't find a single one. Checked around and there was a big dictionary shelter a few meters away, decided to check it out for Japanese dictionaries as I often stumble at words or expressions I've no clue what they mean. Looked without any really expectation as it wasn't the first time I was looking for it at that store. To my (BIG) surprise on the top of the shelter an huge Japanese-Portuguese dictionary, first edition from one of the biggest editors in Portugal. I was almost as it was looking right at me and commanding me to buy it.
I had never seen a Portuguese-Japanese dictionary, conversation guide or whatever. I always had to use English to study Japanese and sometimes it can become confusing as the meaning sometimes seem to blur as you translate a single word with several meanings through two languages. What was great was the casualty that lead me to the dictionary. I feel like Moses and the ten commandments. 😊
It was bloody expensive, but it was the best €50 I spent this month (about $75 I think). I already tested with some words and it seems great. I feel more motivated than ever to study Japanese, so I'll ride this trend as much as I can. At least until some other urge takes over me again.
With that urge finally finished, I decided to come back to Japanese studying. It has been a few months since I stop learning, which I've done only because, at first, I lacked time, and when the time came, that urge took over me. It was kinda sad, as I also stopped attending to my Japanese classes. The teacher is great, the classmates are cool and I learn a lot each time I'm there. Unfortunately Japanese was not my priority and since I was already sleeping 3 to 4 hours a day I just had to drop it and use that time with other matters.
I always loved learning Japanese, I find the Language and Writing system to be amazing and a whole world of surprises and funny mental ideas. It also helps my memory (which always sucked big time) and I've already noticed big improvements in that field. A few years ago I was unable to mental read a single Portuguese sentence, hide it and repeat it out loud right away. Now I can do that with several sentences even in Japanese.
I'm currently studying Genki from start, reviewing everything I had learned and I was happy to notice that, besides some one-time recalling, I really assimilated most of the rules and the words I learned. I even bought a CD player (It is hard to find one nowdays
) so I could listen to the Oxford Japanese Course CDs while I walked (which is a lot).Ramblings away.. Today I was at work and a college of mine said he was thinking in buying the "Dance Dance Revolution". I couldn't help to laugh out loud. I was not alone after all. \o/ I was also keeping an eye on the Wii console and for games like that one. I had this in my mind ever since I visited an arcade building at Hakiabara. I was near the shooting machines and coincidently there was a dancing machine near one of the arcades I was playing. I was amazed at one Japanese dude that seemed to fly at the sound of the music. His movements were really great. So... I decided to give it a try. I'll save you from mentally watching a crime against humanity so I'll not speak more about what happened after I started playing the easiest song in the whole game.
At that time I realized that I seriously needed coordination training. I already knew that my disco nights weren't exactly... spectacular. But as I usually drink a few beers before heading to any dance area I had no idea it was THAT bad.
My work college told me that there were pads and dance games for both PC and PS2 which was something I didn't know, I thought it was only for Wii. So I mentally decided to buy one in the future.
As I was coming home, I was studying Japanese as I went, and each words I couldn't figure out the real meaning remembered me that I seriously need a Japanese dictionary. I mean, I even have a kanji dictionary, but that covers only part of the vocabulary. On the way I stopped at a mall to dinner. I then decided to go to a nearby FNAC store to check the latest computer games and hoped to see anything different from the million remakes and rip-offs of the same genders. When I walked into FNAC I wandered around watching randomly people and the recommended DVDs at the story entry. I then realized that the store had been totally organized. After wandering for almost 5 minutes I finally found out the game section. Looked around and didn't found anything catchy. I decided to look for dancing games and pads for PS2. Nothing. "This sucks" I thought. On the way back I decided to check the book section. I've been looking for "Les Misérables" from Victor Hugo and "War and Peace" from Leo Tolstoy for ages. I can't seem to find any of them anywhere. I already thought in ordering them on online shops but this has became like a quest for me. I'll find them some day.
After looking for the books, I decided to look for English literature books, also found nothing catchy, but when I was about to leave the English literature book section touched the "learn <random language> in 15 minutes" section, aimed at travellers. Out of curiosity looked for a Japanese one (although I don't need it) and (not surprisingly) I couldn't find a single one. Checked around and there was a big dictionary shelter a few meters away, decided to check it out for Japanese dictionaries as I often stumble at words or expressions I've no clue what they mean. Looked without any really expectation as it wasn't the first time I was looking for it at that store. To my (BIG) surprise on the top of the shelter an huge Japanese-Portuguese dictionary, first edition from one of the biggest editors in Portugal. I was almost as it was looking right at me and commanding me to buy it.
I had never seen a Portuguese-Japanese dictionary, conversation guide or whatever. I always had to use English to study Japanese and sometimes it can become confusing as the meaning sometimes seem to blur as you translate a single word with several meanings through two languages. What was great was the casualty that lead me to the dictionary. I feel like Moses and the ten commandments. 😊
It was bloody expensive, but it was the best €50 I spent this month (about $75 I think). I already tested with some words and it seems great. I feel more motivated than ever to study Japanese, so I'll ride this trend as much as I can. At least until some other urge takes over me again.
