Part 1

Learning kanji has always been the most manageable part of studying Japanese for me, as I already grasp the meanings of most of those we covered in class. I’ve been more confident in converting verbs into various forms like the て-form and the potentials. I used to fret about this at the start of this semester, especially because I was in introductory class last year, and all of my classmates, except for one or two including me, were in Japanese 9 and 10. I worried that it would be too difficult for me to catch up with other students. One aspect that has posed a challenge for me is the grammar points. I realized that Japanese differs significantly from other languages I know. The writing structures are complex and confusing especially with all the utilizations of particles to indicate various grammatical functions and various level of polite languages. It’s really hard to apply all the concepts correctly… 

My learning expectations have remained the same. My goal is to be proficient in speaking and understanding basic Japanese. Currently, my main focus is on memorizing all the katakana characters and refining my sentence structure. I make my own notes for each unit, ask questions, and regularly seek feedbacks from my teacher. When writing reflections in Japanese, I refer back to previous units to make use of prior knowledge and incorporate it into my writing. Occasionally, I watch anime to enhance my listening skills and jot down simple phrases.

Part 2

私はともだちと2024年の秋に清水寺に行きたいです！美しい景色をみながら、写真を撮ります。ぶらぶらしたり、えを描いたりします。料金は二十万円です。