Blog #10

This week we learned how to describe how something looks or doesn't look. This same grammar is used to say that "I guess I can do X" or similar sentences. Below I have included pictures and example sentences to show the grammar.
This week we also practiced for the kanji quiz that would happen next week. Memorizing Kanji is, by far, the most difficult part of Japanese for me. I intend to try my best on this quiz not only because i need a good grade, but the stronger I become with this lesson's kanji the quicker I become at writing in Japanese.
To prepare for the quiz I am going to practice writing each kanji as well as make sure I understand the sentence structures that were on the practice exam.


このステキはおいしそうです。

これは高いそうなとけいです。

Blog #9

Unfortunately, I missed lass class. This is distressing since that means I will need to make up the quiz we missed.

Anyway, what I would have learned during the class period I missed was how to use し to give multiple reasons for something. This seems to be an easy enough piece of grammar, and I should be able to catch up pretty quickly.

Also, we're having a visitor from Japan come into our class apparently. We need to come up with three questions to ask him.

にほんのたべものは、なにがきらいですか。

がいこくのどこにいきました。

がいこくごをはなせますか。

These are the questions I am going to ask next class. Hopefully these questions are grammatically correct. I had similar questions I thought about asking but wasn't quite sure how to ask them in Japanese, but these questions are basically the same.

Blog #8

So we got our exams back. I didn't do too bad, but I really could have done better on the kanji section. I only new a couple of the obvious ones but had to leave a majority of them unanswered.
In the future I should probably make flash cards for kanji, since that is typically how I try to memorize vocabulary.
The study sheets were how I did most of my studying though. I would say that the effective ways of studying for the exam were doing the study sheets, reviewing the handouts, and checking the textbook in case anything wasn't clear by the first two methods.

Anyway, last class we learned about how to say we have the potential to do something. For る verbs, the る is dropped and られる is added. For う verbs, the う is dropped and える is added. For irregular verbs, such as する, it becomes できる.

For example:

わたしはにくおたべられます。

ビールを飲めます。

買い物をできます。

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