3,000 Word Cards

Posted by Bill Belew on January 21st, 2009 in Gadgets, gizmos and toys | Comments Off

RisingSunOfNihon is hosting the Japan Blog Matsuri (festival) this month.

The theme for the month -

“How I Resolve to Make the Most of My Stay in Japan”

So, that in mind, I thought I’d throw in my two cents, fully expecting change.

Absolutely nothing beats learning the language. And to really learn the language, you got to learn the culture as well. With that in mind, I set out to learning Japanese from day one. I worked hard at it. Had to, I am not the brightest light bulb in the closet. I was up every morning before 5am and studied till 8am before I had to head off for the day’s work – teaching or whatever….for my first three years or so in Japan.

Through the course of my studies, I created some 3,000 word cards. No, I did NOT buy them. What’s up with that? I made them myself. Japanese on one side and English on the other, held together with a ring just fat enough to fit over my finger. I picked up the word card idea when I was in college studying Greek, then Hebrew. They work IF they are used over and over and over again. Less overs, if you learn more quickly than I do.

I ALWAYS had a ring full of Japanese words, idioms and such on my finger. People made fun of me. The teachers who came to work for me made fun of me. The car behind me beeped at me when I was looking over them instead of paying attention to the traffic light. I dropped them in the o-furo not a few times. But, I ALWAYS had them with me. Did I say ALWAYS? For about three years or so. And, then I stopped carrying them one day because I didn’t need them any more. I got to the point where I could learn Japanese in Japanese.

Yeah, I was made fun of. But, you know what? I can speak the language now. The people who poked at me, still can’t.

Learn the language…make word cards…get up early.Stop making excuses for why you can’t learn the language. My dad once said “Excuses are like rear ends (euphemism). Every body has one and they all stink.”

I don’t know what works best for you, but find it, work it until you can speak the language and your stay in Japan will be all that you hoped for and much much more.


 

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