Monday, July 13, 2009

My quest for Japanese Fluency

You learn to speak fluent Japanese only through speaking Japanese!

Actually fluency in speaking comes only through rigorous practice and understanding of the body languages and practical uses of the words in public. This again, can be achieved through mixing with the people and try speaking with them in their language in day to day life. Even someone who is never introduced to or nor having any idea of a foreign language, can guess, with some study, what others are trying to speak, just by watching them and studying their gestures when they speaking among themselves. Gradually, he will be able to pick up the words they are using and finally, he will end up using those words in public. The same process must be adopted to learn to speak fluent Japanese.

Don't worry about right or wrong. Just speak out to everyone you find around you. Make as many Japanese friends as you can and try speaking Japanese with them. Ask them to help you correcting the mistakes after you have finished. They may not be able to resist their laugh over the strange and funny words you speak in the beginning. But things will get on easy after some time. The more you speak, the more you get affluent.

A few more things which could help you learn to speak fluent Japanese. First, mimic the Japanese way of life. You will learn a lot of words handling those objects without your own notice. Second, watch Japanese cartoons or read Japanese comics and try understanding them. Finally, keep a scrap-book. Writing helps memorizing the words and places of their application.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Talking to your landlord

How to tell your landlord about the problems in the house over the phone.

Situation 1

Sink is clogged.
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丘ハイツの202でお世話になっております。ジェイと申しますが、
I'm Jay and I'm staying at Oka Heights room 202.

鈴木さんのお宅でよろしかったですか。
Is this the house of Suzuki-san?

水道の件で相談したいのですが、水道の流れが悪くなって水が溢れてしまいますので、水道官を調べてほしいです。水がたまってしまって一時間ぐらい使えなくなってしまいます。
I want to consult about the sink. It seems that the water overflows. It takes about an hour for the water to subside. Can you please look into it.

よろしくお願いします。
Thank you very much.

I will add more scenario soon! Jya mata!

Monday, July 6, 2009

JLPT 2009

Well, yesterday I was of the hundreds who took the JLPT level 1 exam here in Japan.

The exam was not that difficult compared with 2008's exam. I only worry about the reading comprehension part because it's quite long so if you don't understand it the first time you read it then it tends to stress you up! :)

The listening was quite ok but some part was difficult. It's like all along you think that was the correct answer but then at the last second you heard something that ain't right. Ehhhhh...

Well, all in all I think 3 months of preparation was all worth it! In just 3 months, I have managed to cover all the 2000 kanji's, 2000 new words, all level 1 grammar and read a lot of short stories. Fail or pass, I would definitely take the exam again this December. Why? This thing gets me motivated!