Reflection 9

1. A crazy amount of grammar points, as well as new kanji and vocabulary.
2. Probably reading the new book. I really like it since it has more in-depth sentences and makes me feel confident when I read it.
3. Learning the new grammar points and understanding the book. Because the book is 90% Japanese, it feels cool to read it and understand it.
4. Probably keeping track of all the kanji and new vocabulary. I have a feeling every chapter is going to build on the last, so if I don't keep up with all the kanji/vocab I won't be able to read the next chapter.
5. Study.
6. Sa turns adjectives into nouns. You just attach sa to the end of the stem. It's the equivalent of -ness in English. Nifty.
Suggestions: Unlike Genki, Tobira has more grammar points per chapter than Genki, and all are necessary to read the chapter text. Therefore the best approach to grammar would be to give a light overview first so that everyone can read the text on their own time, then go over about 1/4 of it every day while going in-depth on the grammer points used in that portion. This way no one gets overloaded, but if they want to read the text on their own they have an overview. If they run into problems reading ahead, they can just listen when we go over it in class. I would go over the kanji and vocabulary as they are used in the text, and read slowly so we can follow along. In short, the best approach is to divide everything up so that we can go over it bit by bit without being overwhelmed.

アメリカの名所と名物について

ラス*ヴェガスはアメリカに名所です。たくさんカシノがあります。モットは「ラス*ヴェガスにある事はラス*ヴェガスにおく。」

じゆうのぞうはアメリカに名物です。昔にフランスにもらいました。アメリカに一番有名なぞうです。

Reflection 8

1. I learned about koto ni suru and made. Made means until, and koto ni suru is to decide to do, much like kimeru.
2. Probably learning about made. It's simple and translated well from English, so I like it.
3. Coming up with the subject for that accursed presentation. That was crazy hard since everything good was taken.
4. To actually prepare to speak the presentation without stuttering/forgetting everything/fainting/dying. I really, really don't like presentations. I don't speak well one-on-one, let alone in front of a bunch of people (and Japanese people, no less).
5. Practice. That's really about all I can do.
6. Kata. I had actually learned this when I learned the kanji (I have an awesome kanji book), but I've never really gotten the chance to use it. Kata means way, and it is combined with a verb stem to mean a way of doing. For instance, kakikata means a way of writing, so I could ask, "kono kanji no kakikata wa nan desu ka?"

My presentation topic is wedgies. A wedgie is when you grab the underwear of someone else and pull it up. Painful variations include pine cone wedgies, snow wedgies, and potato chip wedgies. Nerdy boys are often bullied in this manner.

私の発表のトピックはウエッジーです。ウエッジーはパンツをとって強く引いて。色々なウエッジーはまつかさのウエッジーや雪のウエッジーやポテトチップのウエッジーです。オタクの男子はよくウエッジーでいじめられます。

Reflection 7

1. Temo and made. Made was pretty similar to how we'd learned it before.
2. Probably made. I liked it.
3. I guess learning the kanji in time for the quizzes.
4. Learning the new kanji.
5. Study.

Presentation:
Not sure what I'm gonna do. All the good stuff was mentioned in class and is likely taken: PB&J sandwiches, Black Friday... I can't really think of anything else. I'm hoping something will come to me in day-to-day life.

Reflection 6

1. I learned about causitive-passive. Pretty interesting, although confusing.
2. Nothing in particular.
3. Learning causitive-passive, probably.
4. Mastering causitive-passive. I understand it, but making it can be painful since there are so many versions of it. I think I'll stick to aserareru. It's more consistant.
5. Doing the homework will probably establish it firmly in my mind.

日記

十月七日（水）

今日、九時に起きた。テレビを見たり歯をみがいたりした。十時に学校へ行った。十一時から十一時五十分まではProgramming Algorithmsだった。一時に内に着いた。昼ご飯を食った。今、日記にあった事を記している。

Reflection 5

I think regular quizes on vocabulary and on kanji help me learn the best. Quizes force me to spend the time on vocabulary and kanji. Vocabulary are important because it's really annoying having to look up words all the time in class. Probably a quiz every class would be best, alternating kanji and vocabulary. The homework is fine. I don't like doing it but if I don't I won't remember the vocabular and grammar. I like some of the handouts, particularly when they reinforce a particular grammar point. I think it's good to keep sprinkling in old grammar points too since they can be easily forgotten over time. I don't like having assigned partners, though, as it takes far too much time to divide poeple into groups and move. I hate the newspaper, probably because I spend far more time thinking of ways to incorporate the grammar points into the material than in actually making Japanese sentences. I find when I have to make my own stuff up I tend to spend more time thinking of the concept than in actually doing the Japanese part. I prefer to be given sentences and then told to translate them or to be given very clear questions and then told to respond. Not general questions like "what would you do...", but responses to parts of a conversation like "Mr. Nakamura has a headache, what is your advice?".

黒岩さんは日本人です。二十歳です。バスケットボールと音楽が好きです。アメリカの音楽が好きですけど、K-Popがきらいです。