Hello! : )

[Pumpkinn]

Good to meet you!
I've recently decided to put in a serious effort toward improving my Russian.
That said, I was also inspired to continue learning a bit more about the Japanese language, culture, and history.
I've taken only a year of beginning Japanese in college, but I loved it and I hope forum members will kindly point me in the right direction through this process when I do ask questions.
Thank you!

 

[zoomingjapan]

Wow, you want to learn Russian and Japanese at the same time?
Admirable!

I kept mixing up Japanese and Spanish when learning both at the same time.
Good luck and welcome to the forum! ^^

 

[Pumpkinn]

Hello zoomingjapan!

Actually, I am originally Russian/Ukrainian. But I grew up in America and my parents (oddly enough) didn't emphasize Russian in our household because they were learning English themselves.
I finally got around to making a sincere effort to learn the language better. I understand it better than I can speak it, but I have plenty of native speakers around me to help out.

So I was hoping that this forum might help me with my Japanese. I kept the books and CDs from my college class, though. So hopefully that will limit my questions somewhat. : )

Are you fluent in Spanish, by any chance? Or was it a just-for-fun kinda thing?

Thank you for the welcome!

 

[zoomingjapan]

I'm not fluent in Spanish! I wish!
No, but I was on a pretty good conversational level. I forgot most of it now.
I learned Spanish in school as well as French, English and Latin. Pretty normal where I'm from!

 

[Pumpkinn]

Haha, well you got a lot farther with it than I did. I took a couple years of Spanish and never developed a passion for it.
I also took about three years of Latin in high school myself!
So much in common. : P

Your profile says you're from Germany, correct?

 

[zoomingjapan]

I don't know why, but I really loved Spanish. I'd love to refresh my Spanish skills some day!
It took YEARS until I could enjoy Latin, though! (^____^'') ....

Yes, that's correct. I'm originally from Germany, but moved to Japan several years ago.

 

[Pumpkinn]

Well nothing is stopping you! : ) Do what you love!
One thing I did appreciate about the classes were the cultural aspects we discussed. I really liked learning about the Olmec heads. ; P
Oh, Latin!

That's very interesting! I imagine Japan must be a pretty place.

So, in Germany, learning other languages is very encouraged?
We had a German transfer student in high school come to our Latin class for about a year.
She had only taken three years of the language herself, but she said the teaching is much more rigorous there than here.
Also, her English was wonderful!

 

[zoomingjapan]

It depends on the kind of school you go to, I guess - and I also don't know how much has changed since I moved to Japan! ^__^;

I'm glad to hear that!

 

[Pumpkinn]

I see!

Thanks again for the wonderful welcome. : )

 

[zoomingjapan]

Thanks for the nice conversation!