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Introduce yourself, and your interest in Japanese!

  • 07-10-2011 9:39am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,919 ✭✭✭


    こんにちは [Konnichiwa :)]

    So yeah.. since the forum is pretty dead, an introduction thread is necessary! :D

    I'm Noel, I'm 18 (19 in February) and I'm not even sure why I've an interest in Japanese. :P I love the whole technological side of their country and how tech-forward they are! Hopefully next year I'll be doing a business and Japanese course and then maybe a year abroad in Japan during the course.. :)

    So yes, come one, come all, introduce yourselves!


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,164 ✭✭✭Konata


    My name is Sinéad, I'm 21 and I'm one of your friendly moderators :D

    I'm currently studying Japanese as part of the Applied Languages & Intercultural Studies course in DCU. I'm only in 1st year but I've done some Japanese before and hoping to continue to build on that over the coming years.

    My interest in Japan originally stems from my love of anime and manga. I'm absolutely fascinated by the country - the culture, the people, the language, everything!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,031 ✭✭✭Cravez


    はじめまして. Michael here, 24 years old.

    Been exposed to aspects of the culture growing up (Anime like Akira, Vampire Hunter D etc & also some Japanese films) but only had a true interest of the culture/language when I went back packing around Japan in 2009, with some boardsies actually like Johnny_Ultimate & Daddio. Was tons of fun and loads of great experiences.

    Just started my second time in Trinity College learning Japanese, hopefully plan on studying International Business with Japanese next year in DCU.

    よろしくお願いします!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,183 ✭✭✭✭Atavan-Halen


    I'm shane, 19 years old and I'm the other (more good looking) mod :D

    My love of all things Japanese probably comes from video games, cars and anime. Always been fascinated by Japan and Japanese culture and most definitely want to go there some day. Planning to go not next year but the year after! I'd love to take up a language course maybe next year as I can't really speak Japanese but I know I'll get there! :)


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,441 ✭✭✭old hippy


    I grew up in the 70s watching early (for Western telly) anime shows like Marine Boy and Battle of the Planets. My schoolmate was Japanese and I was fascinated by his books and toys. He frowned at the likes of Monkey and The Water Margin but I lapped them up, as did lots of kids in my era. When I was in my 20s, I met a Japanese lady and we finally got married in a Shinto ceremony in Japan last year. Neither of us are religious but I love the fact that Shinto & Buddhism can co-exist. There's no hipocrisy in having a Shinto wedding and a Buddhist funeral!

    I've been to Japan 4 times and I love the place and the people. I have tried to learn the language but it's a bit difficult to take on board after a long days work - having said that, the plan is to one day retire there, so I will be taking it up at some stage.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 30,020 CMod ✭✭✭✭johnny_ultimate


    Hello, my name is Stephen (23), and I'm an alcoholic Japan obsessive.

    Japanese cinema and anime are my particular loves, although Japanese video games tend to occupy a considerable part of my time. They also make the best food in the world (c), produced some wonderful writers (cannot wait for IQ84 in a week or two) and all in all a fascinating country. I've been twice, and still barely know a word of the language :pac:

    I'm currently working on a script about the country, which will probably never get made, but is something I need to get out of my system :)


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,441 ✭✭✭old hippy


    Hello, my name is Stephen (23), and I'm an alcoholic Japan obsessive.

    Japanese cinema and anime are my particular loves, although Japanese video games tend to occupy a considerable part of my time. They also make the best food in the world (c), produced some wonderful writers (cannot wait for IQ84 in a week or two) and all in all a fascinating country. I've been twice, and still barely know a word of the language :pac:

    I'm currently working on a script about the country, which will probably never get made, but is something I need to get out of my system :)

    So am I :cool:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,816 ✭✭✭TheChrisD


    I'm Chris, 22, and I blame the Pokémon anime and then Eirtakon for getting me into the culture :P

    I'm also way more good-looking than Shane (dunno about Sinéad though!) ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,148 ✭✭✭✭KnifeWRENCH


    I'm Brendan, I'm 21 and am currently an unemployed drain on society.

    My interest in Japanese came mainly from other friends having an interest in it. Up to a few years ago I knew very little about the country, even the stereotypical stuff you always associate with it; for example, I don't like sushi (or any seafood), never got into anime and while I used watch the Pokémon animated series I never had any of the games (never owned a Gameboy or a DS.)

    I think the first time I ever sat back and thought "Woah! Japan looks cool" was from watching Kill Bill. :o Then I got to meet people who had a much broader interest in the country and that opened my mind a little bit. I've become a lot more interested in it now; one of my favourite things to do is read travel articles and I've been looking up various places in Japan to see what they're like, as well as investigating the JET program which I sounds fantastic and something I'd love to try some time. I'd love to learn Japanese at some point; I'm gonna try learning the hiragana and katakana myself as it's on my to-do list and there are a few good links in the forum stickies. (I even bought flashcards and everything! :D )

    So yeah....I'm still very much clueless but hopefully this forum gets the revival it deserves and I won't be so clueless much longer. :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,132 ✭✭✭Just Like Heaven


    Hi i'm Kenny, i'm (very almost) 18.
    TheChrisD wrote: »
    I'm also way more good-looking than Shane (dunno about Sinéad though!) ;)
    and i'm gorgeous :p

    I'v been self teaching Japanese for a few months and love it. I have never been to Japan frown.gif I guess my interest in Japan stems from Nintedo, but have been watching an increasing amount of anime and reading Manga.

    I hope to go homestay in Tokyo or Suwa next summer.

    Would love to see this forum do well :)

    Nice to meet you all!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,164 ✭✭✭Konata


    Yay, lots of people! Welcome one and all!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,818 ✭✭✭Evade


    I'm Dave, I'm 25 and am also a drain on society (I like that phrase).

    My intrest in Japan started with anime and video games and then to a general interest in the culture from the old traditions to the new and awesomely bizarre. I love their cars too.

    I applied to do Japanese in college but didn't get the points.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 470 ✭✭Butterscotch


    Hi,

    I am Amy 26 and loved Japan since I was 12 and my passion never left me. I became interested in Japan from anime and manga and then I got exposed to more of the culture. Everything about Japan really appeals to me like no other. I love their art, traditional theatre, films, fashion eg lolita, moe, pretty cute costumes, cosplay, history, food, pop culture, comics, cartoons, mannerisms ect. I really enjoy browzing DannyChoo's Japanese cultural blog.

    I use to do Japanese in DCU in my first year of the BA in Contemporary Culture and Society degree but gave it up due to other comittments. I really want to get back into learning Japanese again so when I go to Japan I can communicate with people and I love the langauge. I am looking out for any Japanese langauge clubs or classes and will do that when I have the time so recemmendations are welcomed. :) I am glad this forum is active.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,930 ✭✭✭Jimoslimos


    Hey James here

    30yrs old. Been self-teaching on/off for a little while. Spoken as well as written hiragana/katakana with a few basic kanji.

    Lucky enough to visit Japan about 2 years ago and absolutely LOVED it. Amazing country and I'd bite your hand off if offered the chance to return.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,449 ✭✭✭Rob2D


    Hi everybody,

    Robert is my name (or "ロバ-ト" if my Google search is to be believed) I'm 23 and better looking than all of you put together.

    I have always had a great interest in Asia, the East and particularly Japan. Like most of you I've been exposed to the culture most of my life through games, TV and film. To me, the Japanese have a great style and flare to everything they do and it makes them fascinating. Plus, I doubt there's anyone that couldn't love their quirkiness. They're all a bit mental and I love that.

    I've never been to the place myself but I'll definitely get there someday. To that end I started teaching myself some Japanese last year. I made a great start, but as with all such ventures, work and other things ate away my time and the learning stopped.

    Hopefully this forum will be the kick up the arse I need to get involved again. May it go from strength to strength. (the forum that is, not my arse)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 679 ✭✭✭just-joe


    Hey guys, my name is Joe (or 譲 in kanji). I am currently teaching English in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chubu Region (north but not quite Tohoku) of Honshu, Japan.

    Before coming I think my interest in Japan stemmed from doing judo, and because my father worked with a Japanese bank in London for a long time, I heard a lot about Japanese culture and met Japanese people. I came because I thought it would be a fantastic adventure and an amazing experience. I didn't speak any Japanese before I came.

    Now, the things I love about Japan are; the beautiful scenery, the 4 seasons, judo, the food, snowboarding and hopefully this season skiing too, onsens, the language and the people. I was not and still am not interested in manga, anime, or video games. Although, I did just get a TV, and I do want to start watching some Japanese films.

    I am lazily keeping a blog at http://ramblinginjapan.wordpress.com/ hopefully I will update again soon!

    I am learning Japanese and doing well so far. If anyone has any questions about the language, please ask! If its super difficult I won't be able to answer, but I will ask a friend and then we can both learn. Also, I could get a native grammar check for sentences or phrases.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,041 ✭✭✭cocoshovel


    Hey, my name is Roger. My interest in Japan originally extends from my interest in infrastructure and emergency services. I began by reading up on Japans rail and emergency network in early 2010, then during summer I was bored one day and asked my friend to introduce me to some anime. He showed me Azumanga daioh, and ever since then I have been hooked. That was over 1 year ago, then I started learning japanese using nama-sensei, rosetta stone and remember the kanji. I also follow many otaku related things.




    edit: I guess Ill also say Im 19 (20 in April) and studying Multimedia in Waterford


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 60 ✭✭SandraManson


    Konichiwa mina! :)

    My name is Sandra, I'm 14, started liking Japan and Anime since I was 12. I remember watching Inuyasha at the age of 4 and other titles.

    I'm currently learning Japanese at the moment, my mother knows Japanese very well (she learned it in school.) I love Japan and respect their culture because it's beautiful and "different." I love animes because they are sad and happy at the same time, in my opinion they teach you a lesson in life, and they are way better than normal cartoons. I mostly watch vampire/comedy/supernatural and yaoi and yuri. :3 Recently, I have started reading mangas on my Iphone of various kinds. I also draw manga and anime. I'm doing Anime for my Junior Cert. I've also been told I look Japanese? I don't know. Either way, I would love to go to Japan as an exchange student, one of my mother's friends went there and said it's a big culture difference! But I would really love to visit Japan one day, as an exchange student perhaps. I also love their food, it tastes gorgeous! *o*


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,871 ✭✭✭Conor108


    My names Conor, I'm oh-so-nearly 20. I'm doing a science degree but learning Japanese in college. I don't know a whole lot but like I can read Hiragana, Katakana and some Kanji. I kinda just picked it on a whim last year but I do like it and find the language & country interesting! Tried getting into the whole anime thing but it's really not my thing!:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,384 ✭✭✭Duffy the Vampire Slayer


    Hi everyone,

    I always found Japan to be a highly interesting country since I was a kid. I've always been very interested in history and medieval Japan was one of my favorite topics, I just found the idea of Samurai and all that to be really cool and the interest kept with me as I got older! Plus I've always loved the style of Japanese art and architecture (I've a poster of a wood print hanging over my bed as we speak). I came across anime throught the internet and really like some of it, and I love Kurosawa films. Oh and I take judo classes. So yeah, I love Japanese things! I'd love to learn the language but given my failure in every previous attempt to learn a language I think that's a pipe dream


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 15 TokyoImports


    Hi,

    I'm Steven and 24 years old. I lived in Japan for 5 years and will be heading back there agian next year. I did Japanese for the leaving cert when it first came out and then moved there after the leaving cert. Had a great time in Tokyo and looking forward to going back.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,132 ✭✭✭Just Like Heaven


    Hi,

    I'm Steven and 24 years old. I lived in Japan for 5 years and will be heading back there agian next year. I did Japanese for the leaving cert when it first came out and then moved there after the leaving cert. Had a great time in Tokyo and looking forward to going back.

    Wow! :) Had you been there before? Have you now passed JLPT 1 or 2?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 15 TokyoImports


    Wow! :) Had you been there before? Have you now passed JLPT 1 or 2?

    No I just went there after the leaving cert, loved it and decided to live there. I haven't tried JLPT 1 or 2 but I could pass 2 from looking at the books. Kanji is the biggest problem with those tests.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11 Kana


    こんばんは。
    私は”かな”と言います。カタカナのカナと一緒です。笑
    22歳の日本人です。生まれも育ちも東京です。だから都会っ子\(´▽`)/
    ここには日本人の方は他にいますか?
    きちんとした日本語で書くべきだと思いますが、堅苦しくない自己紹介にしたいので、
    文法とか違ったらごめんなさい。笑

    東京で生まれ育って、18歳の時に初めて海外へ…。
    ロンドンに2週間留学して、そのあと調理の勉強も兼ねて、オーストラリアに3か月留学していました。
    そして今はダブリンに住んでいますっ!初めてのアイルランドです!わーい☆笑

    まだこっちにきて1ヶ月ですが、日本食が恋しいです。笑
    フラットに引っ越したら毎日日本料理を作って食べるつもりです。
    調理師としてずっと働いていたので、こっちの人にもいつか日本料理を作ってあげたいです!
    ロンドンで”お好み焼き”と”天ぷら”を作ったら、すごくすごく喜んでくれました~♪

    英語が趣味で勉強してても飽きません。
    まだまだな英語力なので、英語の勉強頑張ります。

    みなさんも日本語頑張っているので、負けずに頑張ろうと思います。^^



    日本人として誇りを持って生きています!
    みんなどの国も同じ人間ですが、言葉や文化、暮らしが違うことは事実です。
    みんな違ってみんな良い。そう思います。
    だから差別しないで、交換し合って仲良くなれば素晴らしいことなのにって思っています。

    長くなりましたが、日本が大好きな日本人で、英語も、いろんな国の人と話すことも大好きな日本人です。
    よろしくおねがいします。

    眠くなってきたので、英語では書きません。笑
    翻訳機にかけても、理解できないと思います。以上です。笑


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,164 ✭✭✭Konata


    Hi Kana and welcome to the forum!

    While it's awesome to see all that Japanese, would you be able to provide an English translation for those people who may not be so good at Japanese? It'd be really good for learning too! :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,352 ✭✭✭funky penguin


    皆さん!始めました!ショーンです!

    Pardon my beastly 日本語!

    Currently living here on the JET programme, in beautiful Kanazawa since July 2011.

    Love the people, the culture, the anime, the fashion, the schools.....

    I was finishing a thesis up until the end of October, so only getting stuck into the language now. The kana are all down and learned, now to build on the kanji. 70 in the last two weeks and counting!

    there's a major advantage in living here in that you are always passively learning. The language is everywhere and I just force myself to read it, even if it means me standing in the street, silently mouthing the syllables like the silly 外人 I am! :P

    It's also such a shock to see how homogeneous the culture is, and how this effects their ability with English. I'm so used to European countries having amazing English. Here, it forces me to learn the language, and talk with the locals, who are usually amazing and delighted even if you only speak a mangled ありがとう!

    I'm immersing myself completely, I need to learn this language! So I bought Japanese versions of the new Batman and Uncharted games, gonna get Japanese Skyrim too! I can't understand 90%, but it's all immersion! Also have Go!Go!7188 on repeat.....might look into AKB48 (Purely for immersive reasons, don't judge!!).

    Going well so far, and if any boardsies find themselves in Kanazawa-shi over the next 2 years or so, please PM me, I have a spare futon. :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 875 ✭✭✭triseke


    I'm Lisa, I'm 24, and have been self learning for about 2/3 years on and off.

    My level of comprehension isn't great, but I can watch most of my anime now without subtitles!

    My interest actually started with japanese culture, and history and moved onto anime and music.

    Am hoping to go to Japan the year after next, sort of as wedding gift to myself and my fiancé.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11 Kana


    Konata wrote: »
    Hi Kana and welcome to the forum!

    While it's awesome to see all that Japanese, would you be able to provide an English translation for those people who may not be so good at Japanese? It'd be really good for learning too! :)

    Yeah I know it.so I will try but not good at English at all..^^;
    But studying English is my hobby anyway;3


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11 Kana


    Kana wrote: »
    こんばんは。
    私は”かな”と言います。カタカナのカナと一緒です。笑
    22歳の日本人です。生まれも育ちも東京です。だから都会っ子\(´▽`)/
    ここには日本人の方は他にいますか?
    きちんとした日本語で書くべきだと思いますが、堅苦しくない自己紹介にしたいので、
    文法とか違ったらごめんなさい。笑

    東京で生まれ育って、18歳の時に初めて海外へ…。
    ロンドンに2週間留学して、そのあと調理の勉強も兼ねて、オーストラリアに3か月留学していました。
    そして今はダブリンに住んでいますっ!初めてのアイルランドです!わーい☆笑

    まだこっちにきて1ヶ月ですが、日本食が恋しいです。笑
    フラットに引っ越したら毎日日本料理を作って食べるつもりです。
    調理師としてずっと働いていたので、こっちの人にもいつか日本料理を作ってあげたいです!
    ロンドンで”お好み焼き”と”天ぷら”を作ったら、すごくすごく喜んでくれました~♪

    英語が趣味で勉強してても飽きません。
    まだまだな英語力なので、英語の勉強頑張ります。

    みなさんも日本語頑張っているので、負けずに頑張ろうと思います。^^



    日本人として誇りを持って生きています!
    みんなどの国も同じ人間ですが、言葉や文化、暮らしが違うことは事実です。
    みんな違ってみんな良い。そう思います。
    だから差別しないで、交換し合って仲良くなれば素晴らしいことなのにって思っています。

    長くなりましたが、日本が大好きな日本人で、英語も、いろんな国の人と話すことも大好きな日本人です。
    よろしくおねがいします。

    眠くなってきたので、英語では書きません。笑
    翻訳機にかけても、理解できないと思います。以上です。笑

    Translate :
    Hi I'm Kana, a Japanese girl.Its a same as Kana of "katakana".haha
    I'm 22yrs old.I was born and raised in Tokyo.So I was urbanite.\(´▽`)/
    Is there any Japanese users here?

    I think I must use perfectly grammatical but be at ease.;P
    I've been to London for 2 weeks when I was 18 it was a first time to go to abroad.
    And next year was 19,Ive been to Australia for 3month to study English and Cooking.
    Now I've lived in Dublin since the end of October.Ive never been to Ireland before.

    It has passed only a month but,I've already missed Japanese foods so much.
    So If I move to share house,I'm gonna make Japanese foods everyday.lol
    I'm really glad if I can make Japanese foods to Irish people because I was working as a chef.
    When I was in London,I made Okonomiyaki and Tempura for them,they really loved it!it was so happy thing!

    I like to study English,just like a hobby.So never bored,never give up.
    But be more great English speaker,I keep studying hard.
    And you guys are studying Japanese hard(I can feel it),so I will study hard as well:D

    I’m proud of being Japanese.And you must have proud either.
    Actually we've got different languages,culture and life-style.
    But people in any country are all the same.same blood.
    So I just wanna share these with various people who lives in another country.
    Hopefully every people who live in this world will be like that.

    Finally, I'm Japanese who love Japan.And of course I like studying English,meet new people aswell.

    Done!so tired to type in English though.
    Hopefully you guys can understand what I say...:(


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,164 ✭✭✭Konata


    Thank so much Kana! Even that much is a great reference to practice my Japanese with :) Also, your English is really good, I understood perfectly!

    I really really want some of your Japanese food now! Sounds like you'd make some delicious stuff.

    How are you finding living in Ireland? Do you like it? May I ask why you chose to move here?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11 Kana


    Konata wrote: »
    Thank so much Kana! Even that much is a great reference to practice my Japanese with :) Also, your English is really good, I understood perfectly!

    I really really want some of your Japanese food now! Sounds like you'd make some delicious stuff.

    How are you finding living in Ireland? Do you like it? May I ask why you chose to move here?

    Oh did you><?thanks too.

    Yeah I like cooking for someone just because meals make them always happy.
    I like to see that;3 so yeah hopefully...

    hmm actually I didnt have a big reason..
    I wanted to go to Europe and study English but I've been to U.K before.
    So I was thinking which country are people speak English in Europe except the U.K...
    Then found Ireland;Dhahaha

    And also we can come here by working holiday visa.
    So allowed studying,working,traveling..and staying for a year;D
    Thats why i decided.

    hopefully i dont let you down..haha
    but yeah i've enjoyed a life in Dublin so far;3


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,164 ✭✭✭Konata


    That's awesome, I really hope you get on well here! Have you found many other Japanese people? I'm in DCU and several come over every year on an exchange - there's also a surprising amount just living around Dublin. I'm also curious as to why they come to Dublin :P In my opinion, Ireland isn't that exciting but maybe that's just cause I've lived here all my life!

    What part of Japan are you from? I'll be going to university there for a year in 2013 and I can't wait :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,905 ✭✭✭Aard


    Konata, I used to teach English to a Japanese lady here, and she said that the reason that she and many other Japanese come to Ireland is precisely because they would be relatively few. Less temptation to speak Japanese than in say London or the States.

    --

    Anyway my interest in Japanese comes from a general interest in languages and linguistics. I studied it for Leaving Cert back in the day when it wasn't particularly common. Since then though I've lost a lot of skill in the language due to focussing on French. I'd love to get back into it in earnest though, but I'll probably wait until I have a 6-month block to really do an all Japanese all the time (or close enough!).


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,441 ✭✭✭old hippy


    I'm always amazed that my wife had lived & worked in several different countries but it was Dublin where we met. I was surprised that there were quite a few Japanese in Dublin at the time - few of us used to hang out in various pubs.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 61 ✭✭thechanger


    はじめまして. I'm Brian, currently live in London.

    I've been self-studying Japanese for about 4 years now, on & off. I mainly got interested in Japan and Japanese when I met my wife.

    I lived in Kanagawa for 6 months in 2009, but failed to find permanent work, and thus didn't interact with a lot of Japanese outside of my wife and her family. I'm starting to study it again, and am trying to set a study plan with the aim to get reasonably fluent. We hope to move there in about 2 years.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,328 ✭✭✭Pyongyang


    Lurked this forum a while, I'm old (32), but recently made a decision to start learning to speak and read Japanese. Been meaning to for years but kept putting it off. Ordered a few books from Amazon for starters and am going to try the self study route to get a start on my studies. I'll see how it goes and if I can grasp it well enough before seeking out an evening class of some sort.

    I'm heading to Japan in July for a couple of weeks. Always wanted to go, I guess my interest in Japan started when I was a young pup and it's never subsided.

    My aim is not to become bilingual, just to have enough to hold a basic conversation, read a magazine or newspaper and watch films without relying on the subtitles for the most part.

    Good to see an outlet such as this where like-minded folk can discuss. :)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 551 ✭✭✭Monkeyto


    Awesome! We can practise when you come her in July :D

    I hear trying to learn Kanji and Dondonpachi at the same time can be hazardous to one's health!


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 17,137 Mod ✭✭✭✭cherryghost


    Hallo, I'm Alan, 25. Married already to a Latina but that's a different story :P

    I was in Japan 5 years ago. At the time I wasn't overly interested in the culture that was there. After my stay there I came back a changed man. The food, just blew me away. The parties, the music, the shrines, the anime & manga, the technology. The entire country blew me away.

    I came back and have integrated a lot of the Japanese lifestyle into me, whenever I can really. I'm also learning Kanji, but in my own free time, and it's going pretty slowly at the moment.

    Back to Japan in 2013 I hope :) Thanks!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 273 ✭✭hibby


    Pyongyang wrote: »
    My aim is not to become bilingual, just to have enough to hold a basic conversation, read a magazine or newspaper

    These are two very different levels of ambition!:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 300 ✭✭Nagikami


    hibby wrote: »
    These are two very different levels of ambition!:)

    Agree with this ^^^ I have a copy of Asahi Shinbun back home and last time I checked all I could read was Asahi Shinbun ]=

    So anyways, my introduction:
    My name's Edmond, 17. I'm currently studying Japanese and French in the Applied Language and Intercultural Studies course in DCU. My interest in Japanese originally came from anime and manga but now I'm mainly interested in the language itself (because it's so damned awesome =D) Anyhow currently aiming to survive the next year and a half in college to get to Japan in 2013


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 679 ✭✭✭just-joe


    Nagikami wrote: »
    (because it's so damned awesome =D)


    Just out of interest - why do you think its awesome?


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,441 ✭✭✭old hippy


    Pyongyang wrote: »
    Lurked this forum a while, I'm old (32)

    You're not old.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 273 ✭✭hibby


    I'm Dara. I am 40, happily married to a Japanese woman and getting ready to go and live in Japan for a while. My Japanese isn't good but I passed (I hope!) the JLPT level N3 in December. I'm hoping that by spending time in Japan I can finally learn to speak Japanese properly.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 300 ✭✭Nagikami


    just-joe wrote: »
    Just out of interest - why do you think its awesome?
    Because of it's regularity!!! I say this as someone who learned German for 5 years and began to dislike it towards the end simply because of the vast amount of irregular verbs (alright I know it's not a vast amount but it seemed like it at the time) It's not just the verbs, it's the characters too, the way they're all neatly organised into syllables rather than phonemes It just seems to hae developed in a much nicer way than a lot of European languages

    P.S. Can't forget the Kanji!!! Kanji are damn cool too


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 618 ✭✭✭Farcear


    Hi all,

    I'm Conall. 25 year old lawyer-in-training.

    I'm learning Japanese mainly as a hobby more than anything else. I feel bad when I'm not learning something and my ego does not allow me to take haivng friends with English as a second language while I've got nothing! (Rudimentary Irish, French and Latin don't count.)

    Sure we shall just have to see what happens. :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,352 ✭✭✭funky penguin


    This is actually a main motivator for me too Conall! I had a crap load of international friends in Ireland and I was always amazed at their ability to communicate to a high level in 2 languages.

    Many of the people to come to Japan as Language teachers tend to be bi-lingual too, the majority of the second languages being Spanish (many Americans) or French (many Canadians). Actually, there are quite a few Chinese and Koreans too.....working as translators. I'm sick of my single language skillz! The advantage of English is it's 'international' language status, but Jesus it does give you a bit of a handicap when it comes to bi-lingualism!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 341 ✭✭LimerickLad92


    はじめまして!

    私のなまいはキーアロン・ライアンです。十九さいです。リムリック大学の学生です。せんこはけいりと日本語です。

    Hey guys, im kieron, 19, Ul student and I study japanese and business with my major going to be economics. Nice to meet you all. I'm from Limerick myself.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 618 ✭✭✭Farcear


    よろしく!

    ...and sorry for being "that guy" but 「なまい」 should be 「なまえ」.

    How many are studying Business & Japanese in UL?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 341 ✭✭LimerickLad92


    Farcear wrote: »
    よろしく!

    ...and sorry for being "that guy" but 「なまい」 should be 「なまえ」.

    How many are studying Business & Japanese in UL?

    Thanks xD I always make those mistakes, I need to practise more spelling and less speaking.

    We have 6 people!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 151 ✭✭jendafer1


    Hi everyone,

    I'm Jen. And I decided to learn Japanese last week, sort of on a whim! I've just finished up in college (I'm 26) and so have free time to learn something new. I've been interested in learning Japanese for the past few years, I guess ever since I was introduced to Japanese food which I love! I dont have any specific goals at the moment, but I guess I would like to be able to hold a basic conversation in Japanese and to read some basic hiragana and Kanji. To that end I'm using the RTK method for learning the Kanji (which is amazing, I know 52 and only started 3 days ago) and using various apps for the hiragana. So far I love it :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 341 ✭✭LimerickLad92


    jendafer1 wrote: »
    Hi everyone,

    I'm Jen. And I decided to learn Japanese last week, sort of on a whim! I've just finished up in college (I'm 26) and so have free time to learn something new. I've been interested in learning Japanese for the past few years, I guess ever since I was introduced to Japanese food which I love! I dont have any specific goals at the moment, but I guess I would like to be able to hold a basic conversation in Japanese and to read some basic hiragana and Kanji. To that end I'm using the RTK method for learning the Kanji (which is amazing, I know 52 and only started 3 days ago) and using various apps for the hiragana. So far I love it :)

    Welcome

    Im new here myself, but Japanese is a lovely language to study and once you get the basics you will suddenly desire more and more japanese! hope all is well and if you need any help just give me a shout!


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