Final reflections on my Japanese class
In this class, I’ve learned quite a lot, both about Japanese culture and language, and about myself as a language learner. I learned how to write that I plan to do something (積もります), that I want to do something (～たい), and how to properly address a letter. I’ve also gotten extensive practice with reading, and I’ve cemented my knowledge of Kanji. I still feel like I need work with kanji and with particles like と、で、は、が、etc. I’ve learned just how invaluable having a speaking and listening partner is to language learning, so I’ve decided to pursue a regular language exchange partner when I finish this class. I really benefitted from both of the presentations we made for this class, too. I had never had to create or deliver a presentation in Japanese before, so I was very excited to be able to do so. Interacting with my classmates helped me be more confident in my communication skills. It had been many years since I had an opportunity to communicate with other Japanese speakers, so I wasn’t very confident in my ability to do so, so interacting with my classmates in discussion posts and comments was very encouraging. I do have a few things I need to improve on, though. I want to continue working on knowing what particles to use, when, and I also want to continue working on my kanji knowledge. I plan to address this by taking the next Japanese course provided at UMGC and also by seeking out a regular Japanese language partner. Using what I learn in an everyday scenario will help me cement it in my mind and put it into practice.