Cycle 3 Reflections

In Cycle 3, I was better about following my goals. My first goal was to practice saying the sentences in the Lab Assignments before writing them down, as the directions call for. After doing that, I feel that I am able to think faster and process the grammar without writing. I have made an effort to use more complex sentence structures when speaking, but maybe this is by nature of the new grammar we have learned, which forces us to expand our sentences! There is so much more freedom now in what we can say. My group finished our プリテレ broadcast first, and because of the project, I feel that my speaking has improved a good deal, at least on the lines that I wrote. In the broadcast, 私は　シェフで、よく　豆腐りょうりを　つくります。I go on to talk about how to make mapo tofu. I have also learned to improvise a bit whenever I forgot my lines.

It is hard to believe that at the beginning of this term, I did not know how to speak a word of japanese besides ありがとうございます and さようなら。Today speaking is still difficult, but it's surprising how much we know how to say, even if it is in simpler terms than we would normally use. In going through the PE cycles, I think the greatest thing I have gained is awareness and discipline when considering speaking. I am more critical of myself now and actively try to listen for intonation, stress, and flow. In addition, during the PE cycles I have exposed myself to aspects of today's Japanese media, such as songs and movies and radio, which served to increase my interest in modern Japanese culture. In this regard, I feel that I have gained a lot from the PE cycles.

Ryu Goto : Ravel Tzigane

Ryu Goto (五嶋龍) は　ゆうめな　Japanese-American バイオリニストです。Ryu は バイオリニストMidori Goto の おとうと　です。ハーバード大学 の　学生です。

Video: “Tzigane” by Maurice Ravel

私は　“Tzigane” がとても好きです。 “Tzigane” is a show-piece written by Maurice Ravel. I performed it in my Senior Recital last May. Ryu Goto’s version of “Tzigane” is one of my favorite.

http://www.ryugoto.com/eng/index.html

チカゴにいきませんか

ふゆやすみは　たのしくて、にぎやかです。私は　うちに　かえりました。　しゅつしんは　チカゴの　ちかくに　あります。　友だちと 電車で　チカゴに　いきました。

チカゴに　たくさん高いたてものが　あります。　それは　ジョン ハンコック　タワー です。　ジョン ハンコック　タワー の　トッ

プに　きさ店があります。

　　

john-hancock-tower-boston-ma072.jpg

それは チカゴの　“Bean” です。 “Bean”は　こうえんの中　にあります。 ゆうめなちょうぞうです。

そして、チカゴに　たくさん　デパートが　あります。一番ゆうめなデパートは　 Water Tower Place　です。

http://www.poorlittlerichgirls.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/water-tower.jpg

チカゴはとてもきれいですね。チカゴにいきませんか。