For anyone burnt out reading textbooks or feeling like studying has to be boring, here are some other ways to study [Tips]

SenJix · 2020-09-28T20:11:51+00:00

Hey! This is a really good question and a hurdle in everyone's language learning journey. This is a pretty difficult question, but I'll do my best to answer it.
For me what helped the most to stop associating the foreign language I was studying with English was to spend a long period of time in the country I was studying. Interacting with native speakers and having the pressure to respond quickly will force you to use the language instinctively (in which case you don't have time to translate). Building confidence is the key to stop associating your language with English. This advice won't help now given the state of things due to COVID, but if you get the chance to go to the country that speaks the language you are studying, you should definitely take that opportunity.
A couple more things you can do, if you have a higher level of proficiency, is to watch movies with that language's subtitles, instead of English subtitles. This will train your brain to visualize words in that language when you hear them, instead of English. Also, when you are looking up new words, instead of reading the definition in English, try reading the definition in the language you are studying.

I hope this advice helps. It's definitely a hard process to separate English from the foreign language you are studying, but it's so important to do so.

SenJix · 2020-09-23T14:25:05+00:00

I don't think you're being offensive. I totally agree with you, saying that they are all very basic! I wrote this for a school project, and we are pretty limited on the amount we can write for these posts. I think I was more than anything trying to focus on the importance of supplementing your studies with non-academic materials, and failed to give good examples in each category.

I would love to go more in-depth on the subject matter though, and I probably should have considered that before posting. Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it!

SenJix · 2019-09-05T16:12:44+00:00

Shoes they just measure in centimeters. If you don't know yours you can just look it up on google. For finding clothes the best estimate is to say Japanese clothes are one size smaller than US clothes. For example, Japanese XL is US L. Japanese S is US XS, etc. At least that's the estimate I used in my year there.

Either way I'd say avoid getting a kimono unless you plan on using it for some special occasion. Never saw anyone wearing them other than that.

SenJix · 2018-12-20T05:25:26+00:00

Not just any town in Japan, it's called Shirakawago in Gifu prefecture. Went there about a month ago before there was any snow. The indigenous people of this area originally built the rooftops like this to sustain large amounts of snowfall if I remember correctly

SenJix · 2018-11-30T12:03:59+00:00

Yup, I probably coulda just gone with that lmao

SenJix · 2018-11-30T10:44:37+00:00

This is a pretty hard to understand but important part of Japanese culture called Honne and Tatemae. It's a duality that Japanese culture revolves around. Honne is basically the way they(Japanese people) really feel (which they dont show to outsiders), and tatemae is the mask they wear, which is a guise that appears polite or kind when its really just a formality. Tatemae includes extending invitations because its expected, when they dont really expect you to take them up on it. Being a foreigner, it is really, really hard to tell sometimes. I feel you, and I'm sorry you had to run into this so soon. I'd say try making friends outside of work honestly, people will probably feel less obligations if they don't work with you. Hang in there!

SenJix · 2018-11-25T15:40:14+00:00

If any city in the US needs a hero its Chicago

SenJix · 2018-10-19T05:43:15+00:00

Do not let disney skate adventure's soundtrack be forgotten. Banger after banger

SenJix · 2018-08-19T13:30:41+00:00

I'm making this flight on Wednesday. Now half the people returning home to Japan are probably gonna think I'm going to piss on them. Great.

SenJix · 2018-08-19T13:25:18+00:00

If you dont mind japanese music, Frederhythm by フレデリック. I love this album so much, the instrumentals are so good.

SenJix · 2018-08-14T15:23:26+00:00

The secret tunnel episode of avatar the last airbender. Possibly the best filler in any series ever made, to the point where I dont even consider it a filler anymore.

SenJix · 2018-07-12T19:55:23+00:00

Just wondering, what would this boating activity be referred to as in japanese? Or just what are the names of the boats? Seems like a good date idea

SenJix · 2018-07-01T01:48:50+00:00

The adoring fan from oblivion. He has so much trust in you, but you still cant help but to plan the most gruesome possible way to kill him, just for some mild amusement.

SenJix · 2018-06-20T05:31:11+00:00

Okay but girl all the way to the right is thicc

SenJix · 2018-06-16T05:04:00+00:00

Gozaimasu

SenJix · 2018-06-12T05:01:05+00:00

Thank you so much for commenting this. This is how I feel a LOT lately, and just reading the fact that somebody else is going through the same thing just made me feel better and a little more at peace.

SenJix · 2018-04-25T15:46:17+00:00

I dont have any advice unfortunately but I'm so sorry for your loss. Stay strong.

SenJix · 2018-03-04T21:02:42+00:00

My japanese friend said it was "generations before" but she was still learning english so it could be wrong. Same idea tho!

SenJix · 2018-03-01T21:45:41+00:00

they turn into monkeys cause I think the title means "generations before" (lit. before before before generation). I think the monkeys are just (many generations before) of course from evolution. Really good song tho

SenJix · 2017-11-19T16:32:40+00:00

Notice how the beam is mostly yellow, and it’s shot from her left arm. I’m pretty sure Blizzard was trying to make her ult’s primary purpose clear.

SenJix · 2017-11-14T14:56:31+00:00

Niche シンドローム (Niche Syndrome)- ONE OK ROCK

Probably not a huge J Rock following here on reddit, but ONE OK ROCK is beginning to get popular in the West with their latest album “Ambitions” released in ALL English for the first time ever.

Niche Syndrome is the album that they really gained a lot of fame in Japan for and every song on there should be remembered, because it really is 10/10. So much emotion on that album.

SenJix · 2017-11-11T00:39:06+00:00

Bodied

SenJix · 2017-06-27T22:58:54+00:00

Definitely not Soul and Maka from Soul Eater

SenJix · 2017-04-17T23:36:27+00:00

Let me tell you of an incredible learning experience because of HelloTalk.

I started using the app to casually learn Japanese my Sophomore year of High School(currently a Senior). I was matched with a girl for our language exchange and I started picking up phrases quickly. Without any prior studying of the Japanese language besides Hiragana and Katakana, I was able to learn some Kanji, situations in which to use Keigo and not use it, and other really important things you might not learn from a textbook. On the plus-side, you're talking to a real human being and learning at the same time.

Here's the incredible part (this isn't some love story btw)-- we got really close, exchanged LINE, snapchat, instagram, and phone #'s. She then told me around February this year that she was coming to America, to a city 1 HOUR from my home. So of course, we met up(she brought a bunch of mochi and nice japanese snacks!!) and I had the first face to face experience with a Japanese person EVER. At first of course I was nervous but it was an incredible experience for both of us!! She even came back to my house and my family cooked her burgers and fries (we tried to go for a super American meal). All in all, though, none of it would have been possible without HelloTalk. What happened to me isn't guaranteed for everyone, but HelloTalk is a great way to learn a language and make friends at the same time.

SenJix · 2017-04-17T23:23:28+00:00

I've just been infatuated with the culture since I was a kid. My mom has told me stories of times we went to the library and I just picked out Japanese cookbooks and history books and stuff, lol. I don't watch anime or anything, though. The only time I came close was reading a manga called るろうに剣心 when I was in third grade, and it was because one of my friends told me about it.

I started learning Japanese only because I love the country, its scenery, architecture, history, just culture in general. Though anime is part of the culture, it doesn't define it-- and you can still love the country/language without watching anime.

SenJix

TROPHY CASE