Blog #7

Hello,

This week we learned about ので, which is actually kind of confusing because there is similar grammar. The way it works is there is a dependent clause, or the cause of something, followed by ので, and then the independent clause, or the effect. It uses the short forms of verbs and adjectives.

The difference between　ので and から is that the former cannot be used when helping verbs are used, such as たい.

This, however, is admittedly confusing and I am not too sure that I completely understand it. However, as we do more examples I am sure to understand it more. Studying this will also help me study my short form, which is a little weak.

Until next time,

~Jackson

Blog #6

Hello again,

So I ended up missing my last class. I never enjoy missing class since it requires that I catch up on any missed grammar outside of class, which can be a little difficult. However, thanks to the blogging system this class follows, I know what I need to focus on as well as what assignments need completed for next time.

I am also supposed to present an example of んです、which is helpful since I did not get a chance to practice this grammar in class on Thursday.

A good example of this grammar would be this:

元気ですか。

いいえ。病気なんです。

Anyway, before class I need to learn the new grammar (～ほうがいいです。) introduced in the last class. Based on what the textbook said it is a way to give advice in Japanese. It follows the past tense short form when positive and follows the present tense short form when negative. Hopefully the workbook pages assigned will help me understand it better.

Until next time,

~Jackson

Blog #5

So I don't think I did well on the vocabulary quiz. My mind completely went blank when I started to take it. I'll just have to do better on the next one.

ANYWAY this week we learned about using や with nouns to say that you like some things but imply that you like other things of a similar nature. It is less strict than just using 好き.

We also began working on our newspaper project which is due next class. It shouldn't be too difficult since we've been going over the grammar everyday. It also provides a nice review of everything we have learned so far. I am hoping that I do a good job on it. The most difficult part about it will be coming up with a comic that makes sense using the kanji from lesson 11. I'm hoping that the grammar I use will be understandable and as correct as possible.

Furthermore, as a part of this blog entry, I am supposed to explain and provide an example of the difference between ～たいです and ～たがっています. The former is used to express when I want to do something, while the later as used to describe when someone else wants to do something. for example:

私はハムバアーガを食べたい　means "I want to eat a hamburger."
ロバートさんはハムバーガを食べたがっています　means "Robert wants to eat a hamburger."

That about sums it up.
Until next time,

~Jackson

Blog #4

Last Japanese class, we learned 〜たことがあります. When used, it roughly translates to "have experience to do something." It's a little hard to explain what exactly its English equivalent is, but I am pretty sure I recognize the difference between when to use this as opposed to regular past tense.

This class also had a lot of discussion and conversation between us as we prepare for a newspaper activity that we will be doing next class. I am not exactly sure what is involved in the activity, but it should be good practice.

The vocabulary quiz was also postponed until next class. That day is going to be a busy day, since I have many quizzes that day. However, I also think I will be better prepared now that I know to focus my study on the verbs instead of the nouns.

Anyway, I am going to focus on making sure that I am ready for the quiz.
Until next time,

~Jackson

Blog #3

Hello again, everyone.

This time we did a review about the て form and short form, which was extraordinarily helpful. This also comes in handy when using a new phrase we learned. ～たり～たりする, which is equivalent to saying, "I want to do this, that, etc." uses the short form past affirmative. This is something that I remember learning, but my skills in using it are a little rusty.
In addition to learning this new grammar, I must also make sure I am ready for the vocabulary quiz that is next Tuesday. This will be my greatest challenge, as memorizing vocab has always been a struggle for me. I am hoping to be able to study by using example sentences as a way to help me understand the meanings of the words.

I am also supposed to write a reflection about where I want to go in Japan and what I want to do there.

日本のしぶやに行きたいです。
ラメのをたべたり、はちこを見たりしたいです。

Anyway, I am now going to review my vocab and hopefully be prepared for the quiz.
Until next time,

~Jackson

Class of 9/2 (blog #2)

Hello again everyone.

We learned something new about the たい　form today. We learned that in order to say that somebody else wants to do something there is another conjugation that needs to be used: たがっています.
So in addition to present and present negative, we must remember past, past negative, and this form. Keeping these conjugations straight will be difficult, although I do believe I am getting better at finding the verb stem needed for using たい form. We also learned new kanji and went over some vocabulary. Memorizing these will be my biggest challenge, but with practice I am sure to get it.

This week is shaping up to be pretty busy, even with the day off. I'm looking forward to the weekend to take a bit of a break from all this (as well as maybe catch up on some things I have fallen behind on.)

Until next time,
~Jackson

Class of 8/28 (Blog #1)

Hello everyone.

This week we learned how to say we want to do something. It involves taking the verb stem and adding たい　to the end. I will have to work hard to keep all of the different tenses straight, but that is something that I have to do for every verb conjugation.
We also learned some new Kanji, which means that I have more studying and practice to do. However, I enjoy writing Kanji, and I have a new brush pen that I want to try out, so studying Kanji should be easier and more fun.
One of the more difficult aspects of Japanese for me is memorizing vocabulary. This fault revealed itself when I was asked to translate a sentence and I did not understand two of the key words. However, I am working on some new ways of studying vocab that should hopefully help me.

Until next time,

~Jackson