I've started back in to studying Japanese again. This is probably the 20th time or so in the last 20 years. And that's really what gets me about it. It was sometime around 20 years ago that I took my first Japanese class. 20 years? I should be beyond fucking fluent by now, and depressingly enough, I have some survival materials within my grasp but not much more.

Around four years ago I took an beginners conversational class. Of course, I was a little too far along for that one and found it quite tedious. Worse, they weren't teaching any writing at all. While I've got hiragana and katakana quite comfortably under my fingers it's be nice to have some practice. Being able to start in to kanji at a basic level would have been nice as well.

Despite not being very enthused by the class I just signed up for the intermediate level. I'm not sure whether it's a good thing or not but the class has been cancelled due to low enrolment. In a way I'm relieved. It'd be nice to have access to a native speaker again for three months but I'm not sure I'd see much improvement in my overall skills. There are private classes close to my house but I don't have a lot of information on those. Something to look in to.

Part of my attempts to find focus again I've dedicated some time every night to Japanese. This is my only daily activity that must happen every day. Except for one night where I passed out on the couch at 9 PM I've been pretty good sticking with it.

I'm thinking about languages a lot lately. I don't want Japanese to be the only one that I pick up. There's a list of about a dozen languages that I'd ideally like to learn. I know I won't learn them all but it's nice to consider. I will be picking something up other the Japanese but the question is what? Korean would be cool but I think one Asian language I can't write might be enough for now. Italian would also be cool but I have no practical use for it. Spanish would be a bit better. I travel south every couple years. There are enough Spanish speakers in Canada. I work with a couple of native speakers, but it isn't quite enough.

Logically, the best choice would be French. It's on the list. It's around number 11 but it is on there. I don't know why I'm so resistant to studying it again. It would benefit my daughter to have some assistance when she's taking it in school. We are a bilingual country. I have ample access to French TV programming. It's just not sitting with me.

I don't know. Something to consider.

david shute - Jan 19, 2010 at 6:22 AM