Podcasts

Currently I am proceeding with the Rosetta Stone Audio lessons. Yesterday, I uncovered a　number of extremely useful podcasts on the iTunes store. Previously, I had subscribed to a few podcasts in the Japanese iTunes store, admittedly, neglecting to really investigate the US iTunes store. But to my surprise, there are actually a number of useful podcasts in my local store. Many of the podcasts are dead, no longer being updated. But the material that is available is still very useful.

ECC 英会話 Podcasting 知ってる単語でこんなに話せる!

This is by far my favorite Japanese podcast thus far. The hosts speak about50/50 English

and Japanese. And though the podcast is intended for a Japanese audience who is learning English, I still find it incredibly useful. The web page can be found: here.

Japanese Classical Literature at Bedtime

This podcast is exactly as described, but most importantly, it provides transcripts both within the show notes and on the website. The readings are not done by a professional audiobook reader, but they are understandable, even considering my limited vocabulary. The site can be found: here.

JEdutainment

What caught my attention about this podcast were the grammar explanations. Though this podcast was only short lived, it offers quick and valuable information in an entertaining format. The site can be found: here. As a side note, the site is actually a blog with a few potentially useful links.

Japancast.net

This podcast is very much alive and kicking. They've even got video. Snazzy huh? Plus they have an extensive backlog of episodes dating back to 2005. I have high hopes for this podcast. The site can be found: here.

Nihongo-Juku

Another short lived podcast, but good content nevertheless. The site can be found: here.

Noshuku Kangen Japanese

Short lived also, this podcast's site can be found: here.

I expect to find additional podcasts in the future, so look forward to another post on the subject.

Revised Weekly Study Schedule.

I know. Another revisal? Learning Japanese is a work in progress; one which requires many revisions. Having a plan written down and staring me in the face helps me stay focused. This is the reason I keep posting them.

• 月曜日

1. Review last weeks flashcard set.
2. Read through the day's 20 flashcards.
3. Make the day's flashcard set.
4. Run though the flashcards while palming the strokes once.
5. Run though them twice more in the course of the day.
6. Type the day's 20 to RTK site.

• 火曜日, 水曜日, 木曜日, 金曜日

1. Review yesterday's flashcard set.
2. Read through the day's 20 flashcards
3. Make the day's flashcard set.
4. Run though the flashcards while palming the strokes once.
5. Run though them twice more in the course of the day.
6. Type the day's 20 to RTK site.

• 土曜日

1. Review the week's 100 flashcard set.
2. Create Smart.fm lesson.
3. Complete, at minimum, 1/2 of the Heisig Kanji notebook.
4. Complete 1/4 of the Smart.fm lesson as studied.

• 日曜日

1. Review the week's 100 flashcard set.
2. Complete remainder of Heisig Kanji notebook.
3. Complete, at minimum, 1/2 of the Smart.fm lesson as studied.

Bauddha

Bauddha is a site that offers parallel texts of texts in both english and japanese with a built in dictionary accessed via double click any kanji. The link leads to a simple english version of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Nights Dream, however the site has a number of works my many other authors. All in the public domain, of course. The main page of the site can be found: here. In the future, further sites which offer similar translated works will be listed under the the 読み label.

Rikaichan

Rikaichan is a simple to use Firefox Add-on that acts as an in browser translator. Once installed, just hover over any Japanese word within the Firefox browser and a translation is offered with details on the kanji, its meaning/keyword in English, its on/kun readings, and other information. I only wished the add-on work with my Safari browser, but its not a perfect world.

Gravitation

Once I complete volume I of Heisig, I will purchase a copy of volume 1 of Gravitation by Maki Murakami and attempt to read it along side my English copy. That manga was what began my venture into learning the Japanese language and it is only fitting that I return to it eventually.

Heroes

I need to keep a wish list of thing I like to do. I will set them with specific goals that way I have something to look forward to as I progress. As for my first wish:

Once I complete the Volume II of Heisig, I will re-watch the first two seasons of Heroes and try to understand as much of Hiro and Ando scenes as I can without reading subtitles.

Rosetta Stone Complete

I have just completed all 3 levels of Rosetta Stone in Japanese. やった！

Tentatively, for the next two weeks I will be doing a grammar review. I say tentatively, because, It may take long than two weeks. At minimum, I will devote 30 minutes a day to all grammar, all the time. I've got books and web resource that should keep my plenty occupied. Once the grammar review is complete, I will repeat all of the Rosetta Stone core lesson. I will also begin posting the equivalent of a journal entry on this blog everyday. At least twice a week I will also transfer those post over to my Lang-8 account for corrections. The other great thing about Lang-8 is the fact that I can ask question and potentially get answers from native speakers.