So do you think it’s better to study more vocab or grammar? I’ve heard you can understand Japanese even if you don’t understand grammar so well. But I tend to like grammar more, since you can practice it a lot. According to my Japanese friend, my listening comprehension is very good (But you know how Japanese people are..Though she’s pretty honest with me). If I’m going to understand it at all, I can usually get it at normal speed no problem. If she has to repeat herself, I probably just don’t know what she said and won’t get it anyway, regardless of how slow she repeats it. (My speaking is another matter entirely though..ha..)

I listen to Japanese music every day, in fact – all I listen to is Japanese music. I’ve removed all English songs from my phone (with the exception of a select few – and I mean, very few. Like 3 songs if even..). I’ve been considering getting some podcasts and watching more dramas, but I feel like the passive listening does little for me. Maybe I’m mistaken though and just don’t realize that it helps. I’m not sure. I also talk with my Japanese friend every week, sometimes several times a week if our schedules permit. Though most of our conversations are English, she does try to throw Japanese in to help me every time we talk. I notice that if we say something every single time we talk (like asking if we had a meal, what we ate and if it was good. Asking what time we woke up, etc.) then eventually it becomes second nature for me and I get better at the conversation.

I’ve been studying for about a year now but I haven’t gotten very far, being a college student with a busy schedule. And of course, trying to maintain a 3.9 (so I can study abroad). OTL

Would you say that podcasts or dramas help more than music does? I always hear people recommend podcasts before anything else. Are any of these more efficient than the others? Because music doesn’t seem to help me all that much, although I do get happy if I can understand a phrase or something from it.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 1 month ago by  Miki.

I don’t know about podcasts, but I like to listen to live broadcasts (生放送) on NicoNicoDouga (http://live.nicovideo.jp) . It’s free (although you usually have to join their community to listen – and you may get kicked if they’re very popular and you aren’t a premium member.) and on top of that, a lot of the people who do them are very funny and entertaining.

All you need is a Nico account, which is easy. If you don’t know Japanese very well, it’s not that difficult to stumble around until you find yourself in a live broadcast.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 1 month ago by  Miki.
• This reply was modified 12 years, 1 month ago by  Miki.

Wow, that’s a really gorgeous portrait! You have really wonderful skills. n__n

Yeah, several people have been pointing me toward the JET program. My only concern is that it must be quite competitive and hard to get into it, right?

At any rate, I don’t mind so much about not having too many actual responsibilities at first. I mean, if it’s your first time living in Japan (and possibly living on your own in general), I think you can be pretty over-whelmed already. It’s probably nice to not necessarily have too much to worry about in that aspect, and to just get the exposure and experience and to feel helpful in some way. (Though eventually I would like responsibilities! Thats what makes the fun and ‘challenge’. ;D)

As for your words on living in Japan..Thank you! Im certainly not expecting it to be a magical thing. Though, I do expect it to be very different! BUT, I’m nervous for it because I do know that communication won’t be the same and many things Americans take for granted will be completely different as well. Also, I fear how I will be looked at by the natives. I know that there’s the saying “You will always be a Gaijin”. I’m okay with that, I suppose. But do they look down on you or treat you particularly nasty? I don’t want to feel as though they’re trying to tell me with their behavior that I don’t belong there and I don’t have the right to be there. u__u;

Anyway, I truly appreciate the insight here. (:

Interesting idea, though I’m not sure how many people would really want to post their pictures/voice. xD

Anyway. I’m in my pic ovah there.
<—–
So. Yeah. I just wanted to feel cool like Koichi, yanno? He's all "-PUTS PICTURE OF MYSELF-" So. I thought I'd do the same. And maybe be cool. Or something like that. Yeah. B]
(Don't mind me. I'm a derp ~ )

@Sheepy: Thanks for reassurance! I feel a lot better continuing with that now, since I was a bit on edge wondering if it would just be better to follow the lessons faithfully. But it seemed to make sense to me, since I’ve noticed that Katakana is actually used quite a bit mixed in with Hiragana.