Comments on: It’s time. http://kallewoof.com/2009/12/08/its-time/ privacy, democracy, and software Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:28:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kalle http://kallewoof.com/2009/12/08/its-time/comment-page-1/#comment-3422 Kalle Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:22:02 +0000 http://kallewoof.com/?p=374#comment-3422 Kim! :D Eek... that sucks! Though I think they might have sharpened up because from my girlfriend's friends' experience, noone's lost anything of what they've sent. Merry Christmas to you too! Kim! :D Eek… that sucks! Though I think they might have sharpened up because from my girlfriend’s friends’ experience, noone’s lost anything of what they’ve sent.

Merry Christmas to you too!

]]> By: Kim http://kallewoof.com/2009/12/08/its-time/comment-page-1/#comment-3421 Kim Mon, 14 Dec 2009 03:33:32 +0000 http://kallewoof.com/?p=374#comment-3421 Hey be careful with sending that stuff over in the boat. When we moved to the states we shipped all of our household goods via boat. They ended up loosing a few boxes along the way. I'm thinking my childhood toys are still being played with by the fish ;) Moving is always difficult, and if I was able to I would give you a hand. Take care and have a Merry Christmas! Hey be careful with sending that stuff over in the boat. When we moved to the states we shipped all of our household goods via boat. They ended up loosing a few boxes along the way. I’m thinking my childhood toys are still being played with by the fish ;) Moving is always difficult, and if I was able to I would give you a hand. Take care and have a Merry Christmas!

]]> By: Kalle http://kallewoof.com/2009/12/08/its-time/comment-page-1/#comment-3420 Kalle Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:56:01 +0000 http://kallewoof.com/?p=374#comment-3420 I think slow progression is the way to go as long as you have clear cut goals and enough material to keep that progression actually going forward. It's easy to just get stuck at the same level for years and years, which I've seen firsthand with my English students (some of these people have been studying for 15 years and they still barely don't speak the language). The whole studying other languages as well deal will probably make it even harder for you to get the Japanese fluency, but I have no doubt you're already well aware of that. ;) Besides, if you are as you say intending on returning to Japan, your language studies will probably go smoothly enough if not up until that point, then from then on. So your girlfriend will live in England for several years but only speak Japanese? Does she speak English? Or is she going to study English in England? If so, there might be an epic language-battle by the dinner table. :D Sounds fun though, so why not! As for me, I'm primarily going to be reading a lot of books. I already have half a library worth of stuff and my girlfriend will no doubt bring two libraries worth of books with her when she comes to Sweden (oh the freight costs...) since we both are avid book-fans. That'll probably be my #1 source of learning and it's the one place where I feel I lack the most, so it kind of fits hand/glove. I'm more or less done with grammar studies (if you even call that "grammar" -- I wouldn't, but hey), and listening comprehension etc. I only ever fail when the conversation contains words I don't know, so we again fall back on the vocabulary part. Since I'm going to the university next fall, I'd like to get that N1 before I end up forgetting too much of the "tactics" (which make up something like 80% of the whole test -- knowing the type of questions, rather than knowing Japanese per se). I think slow progression is the way to go as long as you have clear cut goals and enough material to keep that progression actually going forward. It’s easy to just get stuck at the same level for years and years, which I’ve seen firsthand with my English students (some of these people have been studying for 15 years and they still barely don’t speak the language). The whole studying other languages as well deal will probably make it even harder for you to get the Japanese fluency, but I have no doubt you’re already well aware of that. ;) Besides, if you are as you say intending on returning to Japan, your language studies will probably go smoothly enough if not up until that point, then from then on.

So your girlfriend will live in England for several years but only speak Japanese? Does she speak English? Or is she going to study English in England? If so, there might be an epic language-battle by the dinner table. :D Sounds fun though, so why not!

As for me, I’m primarily going to be reading a lot of books. I already have half a library worth of stuff and my girlfriend will no doubt bring two libraries worth of books with her when she comes to Sweden (oh the freight costs…) since we both are avid book-fans. That’ll probably be my #1 source of learning and it’s the one place where I feel I lack the most, so it kind of fits hand/glove. I’m more or less done with grammar studies (if you even call that “grammar” — I wouldn’t, but hey), and listening comprehension etc. I only ever fail when the conversation contains words I don’t know, so we again fall back on the vocabulary part. Since I’m going to the university next fall, I’d like to get that N1 before I end up forgetting too much of the “tactics” (which make up something like 80% of the whole test — knowing the type of questions, rather than knowing Japanese per se).

]]> By: Mark http://kallewoof.com/2009/12/08/its-time/comment-page-1/#comment-3419 Mark Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:32:27 +0000 http://kallewoof.com/?p=374#comment-3419 I'll take N1 in a few years, once I'm back in Japan. Only planning to stay in the UK a couple of years, then back. I had enough of intense formal study after 2-kyuu last year, so it'll be a slower progression towards N1 once I'm back. My daily life with my wife exists in Japanese, so even while in the UK I will continue to speak Japanese every day, but for sure a lot of the obscure grammar and vocabulary I learnt will be (indeed has already been) forgotten. Instead of Japanese I'm concentrating my spare time on touching a couple of other languages, and travelling to those places, as that greatly interests me. Are you planning to continue your Japanese studies in Sweden, or are you aiming to maintain your current level through communications with your girlfriend? I’ll take N1 in a few years, once I’m back in Japan. Only planning to stay in the UK a couple of years, then back. I had enough of intense formal study after 2-kyuu last year, so it’ll be a slower progression towards N1 once I’m back.

My daily life with my wife exists in Japanese, so even while in the UK I will continue to speak Japanese every day, but for sure a lot of the obscure grammar and vocabulary I learnt will be (indeed has already been) forgotten. Instead of Japanese I’m concentrating my spare time on touching a couple of other languages, and travelling to those places, as that greatly interests me.

Are you planning to continue your Japanese studies in Sweden, or are you aiming to maintain your current level through communications with your girlfriend?

]]> By: Kalle http://kallewoof.com/2009/12/08/its-time/comment-page-1/#comment-3418 Kalle Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:00:00 +0000 http://kallewoof.com/?p=374#comment-3418 6d: yeah, it'll be awesome seeing you again, my friend. Mark: you're heading home too? hehe, good. means I'm not going thru this all by myself. :P Are you planning on eventually taking N1 (as it's called from here on)? If so, where? I am planning on grabbing it while my brain still knows this shit, but it's not avail in Sweden so I am thinking of going to Denmark to take it there. 6d: yeah, it’ll be awesome seeing you again, my friend.

Mark: you’re heading home too? hehe, good. means I’m not going thru this all by myself. :P Are you planning on eventually taking N1 (as it’s called from here on)? If so, where? I am planning on grabbing it while my brain still knows this shit, but it’s not avail in Sweden so I am thinking of going to Denmark to take it there.

]]> By: Mark http://kallewoof.com/2009/12/08/its-time/comment-page-1/#comment-3417 Mark Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:22:10 +0000 http://kallewoof.com/?p=374#comment-3417 You and me both! No JLPT for me this year thank goodness, but I'm heading back to the UK in less than two weeks, and it takes so long to pack up 2.5 years of 'crap'! At least with us we don't have anything to send over (we're just going with large suitcases) - instead it's all going into storage at my in-laws' apartment. I wish you luck with the move! You and me both! No JLPT for me this year thank goodness, but I’m heading back to the UK in less than two weeks, and it takes so long to pack up 2.5 years of ‘crap’! At least with us we don’t have anything to send over (we’re just going with large suitcases) – instead it’s all going into storage at my in-laws’ apartment.

I wish you luck with the move!

]]> By: SixDays http://kallewoof.com/2009/12/08/its-time/comment-page-1/#comment-3416 SixDays Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:07:23 +0000 http://kallewoof.com/?p=374#comment-3416 Good luck, and godspeed. Cu when you get here :) Good luck, and godspeed.

Cu when you get here :)

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