Wed May 17, 2023 2:14 pm
esm wrote:It's hard to really measure your growth and progress without tests, not that tests really measure everything (and I'm speaking from a public school teacher point of view -- I know the frustration every day). Language is first and foremost for communication, so if you're able to use it in authentic contexts, like even just watching movies and consuming any real-world content, that's more productive than just taking classes and studying and, say, trying to learn obscure kanji just for the sake of learning more characters. Also, you're going to be more conscious of what you don't know than what you know. Like if you find yourself not getting lost in Japan you'd just go about your way, whereas if you're lost because of language issue then you'd be frustrated.
erilaz wrote:In preparation for my first trip to Japan, 17 years ago, I managed to get to a certain level of proficiency fairly quickly and easily: able to have simple conversations, order food, ask for and understand directions, find what I want in a Japanese CD shop without assistance, etc. The problem is that I never progressed much further than that. Sure, I can chit-chat about H!P with a fellow H!P fan, but show me a Japanese movie without subtitles and I'll only understand dribs and drabs. If I practiced every day, that would help, but I don't.
Ain't that the truth! If you don't practice every day, they'll fade faster than anything. At my very best, my knowledge of kanji was no better than that of a Japanese third-grader, and I'm sure it's worse now. My ability to recognize kanji doesn't fade so quickly, but my ability to write them certainly does. Lately I've been having brain farts where I can't even remember how to write certain kana.I really need to get back into the habit of writing Japanese, because typing rōmaji input and letting a computer do all the heavy lifting does precious little to aid the memory.
Wed May 17, 2023 3:00 pm
Wed May 17, 2023 4:07 pm
Wed May 17, 2023 6:00 pm
Starra wrote:Because of that, I've never worried about my ability to write kanji.
Wed May 17, 2023 6:49 pm
erilaz wrote:Starra wrote:Because of that, I've never worried about my ability to write kanji.
For me personally, being able to write well-formed and elegant kanji is as important a goal as proficiency in speaking and reading. I'd love to be properly trained in 書道 someday and become an accomplished calligrapher like Sayashi and Takechan.
Fri May 19, 2023 2:44 pm
Sat May 20, 2023 7:58 pm
Sat May 20, 2023 8:47 pm
I do think it's not a bad idea to warn people that Japanese isn't my first language, however, so that way they're not completely taken by surprise.
Sun May 21, 2023 2:23 pm
Sun May 21, 2023 10:42 pm