Spring Semester 2012

Today, the results of the placement test were announced and my level is...

Level 9

Thus, I skipped a level and landed in level 9. Based on my position in the language right now, I think it's an appropriate place for me. Level 10 looked a lot scarier than I thought...all sharing opinions and serious discussion that I don't think that I could do in Japanese at this point...Level 9 focuses mainly on memorization, but perhaps I can learn from this learning method. I also got into the same class as my friend Hinata! So that's good. I also was able to get a copy of level 10 textbooks from my friend's friend so I can look through those as well.

At least, I am in advanced courses now, which means I can take the special culture classes! The classes other than my main level 9 class that I plan to take right now are the following:

1. Upper advanced grammar (It sounds difficult, but important grammar is covered and the lower advanced grammar teacher has a bad reputation...)
2. Lower advanced conversation B (It's with the same teacher I had for my conversation class last semester, who I really liked)
3. Japanese Traditional Culture (Actual participation in traditional Japanese arts such as tea ceremony, instrument playing, painting, etc.)
4. Animation and TV games (Production and content of Japanese animation and video games explained. This looks interesting...)
5. Teaching Japanese to non native speakers (This looks useful...)

I will be taking 2 more credits than last semester--14 total. It will be busy, but already, I notice that this semester will be different. From the first day, I'm surrounded by friends, I have people to have lunch with, and the sun is shining a bit more warmly welcoming the beginnings of spring. The cherry blossoms are late this year, but they are predicted to all be in full bloom in Tokyo by this weekend. Just like the cherry blossoms, I will try my best to bloom, focus on my studies and continue to struggle to improve myself☆