This doesn't have to be a religious post, but I think I will use zen to back me up here.
Don't compare yourself to others (in fact, not only does zen agree with me, but zen also says not to make comparisons in general--e.g., "this is a good opportunity," "this is a bad opportunity"). But we're coming from a linguistic standpoint today.
There are 12 students including myself in my Japanese speaking class. We're all "at the same level," but of course we've all come from different backgrounds. We all have different strengths within being at that same level--some, though they may not speak much in class, understand more than the rest of us, or maybe their kanji level is better, or maybe their writing skills are very strong. It's easy to look at someone else and judge them entirely based on what you see on the surface.
There's this guy, Y, who was our teacher's favorite for a while. He knew the answer to every question, and it really made me feel pretty deflated and unconfident. Particularly, at my American school, I was top of my class and practically the only person who talked. Having others top me was a situation I had to get used to. Yet, it bothered me that Y was always so adept at defining words and so on.
One day, I happened to sit next to Y (we normally sat on opposite ends of the room). And here's what I noticed: he was using his phone to look everything up! Phones/electronic dictionaries are totally allowed in our classroom, but he was doing it so invisibly that I hadn't noticed--and I don't think most others had, either.
The point is that I'd been beating myself up about not measuring up to him, but he was making use of a resource I wasn't. I'm not saying it's a bad thing that he uses his phone, and we all learn in different ways, but because I was creating this juxtaposition of myself with him, I felt like I wasn't good enough because I couldn't do what he could do. That confidence I lost in myself was a total waste!
What we lose when we compare ourselves to others is often due to something that isn't even there. Comparing ourselves is a method our mind has of creating obstacles for us. Conversely, it's a way of inflating ourselves unrealistically--in hindsight, I might not have been as good as I thought at my American university. It's best to feel content simply by our own actions.
Another story less related to language is about my host dad. He has energy that just never seems to disappear. This man is one of the most amazing people I have ever met (for reasons not related to his energy, as well). He runs, at least several miles a day, if not up to 30, he's building a deck in the backyard, sometimes he makes food, he works crazy hours and comes home at midnight gets like five hours of sleep a day, he is the most loving father and husband, and is just an all-around upbeat, level-headed guy. Most of this is simply in his nature, but I did learn today that he is an avid drinker of coffee on the workdays, which does explain some things. Here I was, thinking that I could never be as energetic as him, but it turns out that he does have some help!
As part of the same conversation, he said he was inspired by how quickly I've learned Japanese, and it sounded a bit like he was beating himself up over not being able to learn English more quickly, especially since he's going to a conference in March that he needs to be able to speak English for. But that is a cruel, cruel comparison to draw for oneself. He has two kids and a wife to support, and all these other things going on that I mentioned above in addition to hanging out with friends. It's amazing he even has time for all that he does!
Learning not to compare yourself to others is a great life lesson, and it definitely has strong ties to learning language--you really have to make the journey your own. I hope you can take this with you and use it to raise you up instead of cut you down!
Finals
Well, good grief. My powers to think are just about exhausted.
I thought I'd have until February to really settle into Japan, get past my culture shock and homesickness, and then decide if I wanted to try and stay here after my classes end next semester.
Within two days of each other, I was offered two incredible opportunities:
1) Being able to stay in Japan for the six months remaining on my visa once classes end, receiving help to pay my rent and travel.
2) A job at the Japanese immersion program I went to a couple years ago and have been yearning to go back to ever since.
Both choices are just too good, and they're ones I don't see a way of repeating. Either way, I can't lose, but it is a really hard decision.
On top of that, I'm trying to find an apartment to move into in ten days, and I have finals. Today is my birthday, and I have class and a final exam straight from 1 until after 6. Some birthday!!
I'm really just kidding about being indignant--I'm celebrating my birthday on Saturday, so today doesn't matter so much. But it is kind of a funny coincidence. That said, I did receive the gift of an extension on my zen paper! That is definitely a win.
I'm off to scrape my eyes across this research paper for my final later. Have a super day!
I thought I'd have until February to really settle into Japan, get past my culture shock and homesickness, and then decide if I wanted to try and stay here after my classes end next semester.
Within two days of each other, I was offered two incredible opportunities:
1) Being able to stay in Japan for the six months remaining on my visa once classes end, receiving help to pay my rent and travel.
2) A job at the Japanese immersion program I went to a couple years ago and have been yearning to go back to ever since.
Both choices are just too good, and they're ones I don't see a way of repeating. Either way, I can't lose, but it is a really hard decision.
On top of that, I'm trying to find an apartment to move into in ten days, and I have finals. Today is my birthday, and I have class and a final exam straight from 1 until after 6. Some birthday!!
I'm really just kidding about being indignant--I'm celebrating my birthday on Saturday, so today doesn't matter so much. But it is kind of a funny coincidence. That said, I did receive the gift of an extension on my zen paper! That is definitely a win.
I'm off to scrape my eyes across this research paper for my final later. Have a super day!
Using Music to Learn Japanese
Music is a great tool when learning a language. It's a fun way to learn vocabulary, and it helps get you in touch with the culture. It's also a great way to passively learn and remain immersed in the culture when you're not able to formally study, or if don't don't actually live in Japan.
Find songs you like!
This was tougher for me than I thought it would be. I'm not a fan of the "processed" sound of music these days, and Japan can really take that to a ten, so I was a little jolted when I first started listening to Japanese music on Japan-A-Radio on the Japan Radio iPhone app. After trying that, I started switching my iTunes over to the Japan store and looking at the top singles. I'd sample them and find artists I like (like Kana Nishino and Yumi Arai). But then one day at work, I searched for Japanese talk radio and, ironically, found a music radio station actually broadcasting out of Fukuchiyama, and it has been a godsend. This station plays so many kinds of music from so many different decades. And thank god for Shazam. It doesn't always work with Japanese music (especially since I like older stuff), but it has helped me to find a lot of songs and artists I like.
So once you've found songs you like, learn the words!
Even if it seems like total nonsense, it does help to get the words in your mouth, first of all, and then what happens is that, after you keep studying, you'll hear some of the words from the songs over and over in conversation and in articles and such. That's how you start to build a sense of what words are important. For instance, I originally learned "itsumo (always)" from a K-On! song.
But let's also keep realistic about studying the lyrics--remember, people don't talk like they sing. Have you ever heard someone describe a woman's behavior like: "With a rebel yell, she cried, 'More, more more'?"
Something else you can try that will make you feel really out of your element is finding a karaoke video of a song you like, and trying to sing along. They usually have furigana (the hiragana over kanji to let you know how it's read), so you should (in theory) be able to read everything. It forces you out of your comfort zone because you can't take time to say, "Oh, is that 'ha' or 'ho'?" With Japanese television and such, the titles move so quickly, that this is actually great training for reading quickly.
Please take these tips and use them to your advantage! How has music helped you on your journey?
Find songs you like!
This was tougher for me than I thought it would be. I'm not a fan of the "processed" sound of music these days, and Japan can really take that to a ten, so I was a little jolted when I first started listening to Japanese music on Japan-A-Radio on the Japan Radio iPhone app. After trying that, I started switching my iTunes over to the Japan store and looking at the top singles. I'd sample them and find artists I like (like Kana Nishino and Yumi Arai). But then one day at work, I searched for Japanese talk radio and, ironically, found a music radio station actually broadcasting out of Fukuchiyama, and it has been a godsend. This station plays so many kinds of music from so many different decades. And thank god for Shazam. It doesn't always work with Japanese music (especially since I like older stuff), but it has helped me to find a lot of songs and artists I like.
So once you've found songs you like, learn the words!
Even if it seems like total nonsense, it does help to get the words in your mouth, first of all, and then what happens is that, after you keep studying, you'll hear some of the words from the songs over and over in conversation and in articles and such. That's how you start to build a sense of what words are important. For instance, I originally learned "itsumo (always)" from a K-On! song.
But let's also keep realistic about studying the lyrics--remember, people don't talk like they sing. Have you ever heard someone describe a woman's behavior like: "With a rebel yell, she cried, 'More, more more'?"
Something else you can try that will make you feel really out of your element is finding a karaoke video of a song you like, and trying to sing along. They usually have furigana (the hiragana over kanji to let you know how it's read), so you should (in theory) be able to read everything. It forces you out of your comfort zone because you can't take time to say, "Oh, is that 'ha' or 'ho'?" With Japanese television and such, the titles move so quickly, that this is actually great training for reading quickly.
Please take these tips and use them to your advantage! How has music helped you on your journey?
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