One Small Step for Confidence...

and one Giant Leap for continual improvement in learning the Japanese Language!

I know that it's not much, but I'm delighted to have had the chance to try speaking Japaense to a Japanese lady today! It was at a restaurant, and she was one of the waitresses, very kind and helpful.

After eating, I got a chance to say to her, "Totemo oishii deshita yo!" Which I'm not sure is exactly correct, but I took a step out there and tried to express it anyhow.

She was suprised (pleasantly!) and proceeded to ask me about where I study, what things about Japan do I study beside the language, have I ever been there, and what do I like the most about what I've learned about Japan.. I was quite happy to have started a conversation with her! She said that I made a "Nice try!" in speaking, which is a compliment that I'll gladly accept!

So now I'm revved. Here's to continuing my studies!

Glad to hear you stepped out of your shell

Hope you keep at it and don't give up.

You're lucky. Let me tell you something funny...

When I started studying Japanese I went to a Japanese restaurant like you.

I was excited for telling them something in Japanese. Well... after finishing the meal (very tasty) I told aloud something like the same as you...

However the kind girl told me in spanish "I don't understand because I'm Chinese" (!) I was

I was embarrassed and my friends started smiling.

It was in a Japanese restaurant run by Chinese people.

It is a hard step to take to plunge face to face with a person in their native language but once you've opened the door the opportunities seem to be endless.

I remember when I first started, that was exactly what i did. Ran to the my favorite sushi joint and tried to open a can of embarrassment. O'course most Japanese do not expect to hear Japanese being spoken by Non-Japanese so the waitress of course gave me this look like "what DID YOU JUST SAY!?!?" So I quickly repeated my order in English and gave up on Japanese for the day.

But if you ask politely usually you'll come out on top.

Good Job.