Hello visitors! This is the first of hopefully many posts to come about my progress in learning the Japanese language.
When I hear that a certain someone is learning Japanese, I ask them why they are learning the language? Many of them have no answer, or a very short answer; They think its cool (not that its not), want to meet a Japanese girl friend, want to watch anime, etc. These reasons I've just mentioned have become very stereotypical of caucasians in my view. My reasons for learning the language are not of the typical.
- I've never learned a seconded language.
As a Canadian, the learning of the French language was part of the School curriculum. However, I was exempted from the course due to some problems I've had in school at a young age. Now that I am done college, I think its time to have more than just a single language on my belt.
- I want to break the habit where native Japanese have to speak in English.
I've met a few native Japanese students learning overseas in Vancouver, and many of them just seem like they have to speak in English to communicate with me or others. Sure, some of them are students who's purpose of learning overseas is to learn the English language, but I see it present in Japan as well, when English speaking foreigners are visiting the country; The Japanese pretty much have to speak in English to communicate with North Americans. I wish to break this habit, and have the experience of having a conversation in a language that is not native to myself.
- It may help me improve and broaden my artistic vision
There have been a numerous amount of times when I have been forward to a site about artistic inspiration, only to have been met by a language barrier where everything is written in Japanese. This happens a lot to me, especially on a site called wonder.fl ;its a site that compiles ActionScript code into flash animations. It's vital comments are heavily written in Japanese.
I am hoping with these reasons for learning Japanese, will help me push me even more to my final goal without giving up. And if you are interested in flash and interactive development, I have made another blog at http://rethinkinginteraction.blogspot.com .
