"Ahh! Gaijin da!" "It's a foreigner!" the kid screamed after rounding the corner of the supermarket aisle and running into me. He quickly turned on his heels and darted off to find his mother. Yes, there was no doubt about it, I was a gaijin, a thing to shock small children and adults alike
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
How to Study Japanese
Got some spare time over summer holidays? Need to brush up on your Japanese? Well here's a unique way. Personally I love the advice they give you in this video, "It's no use trying to understand their meanings, you just have to memorise them."
It's usually these Japanese women in really bad 80s exercise outfits. If you've never seen the series, it's a must. Just go to Youtube and search for "Zuikin" and it will bring up some real treats ;)
So that's where I was going wrong... Sitting at a dining room table using a text book with the help of a Japanese woman is NOT he way to learn. No wonder I gave up!!
Update: I asked my husband last night when he got home when "Jaa, sonna wakede!" meant, and with his limited English, even HE said it didn't mean anything other than just an excuse to get out of a conversation! LOL! I guess in English it might be something akin to "Uh..I think I left something on the stove - Bye now!"
As I searched for more videos, I came across another blogger who had hit on the same one. In his own frustration with phrases like that (and such a creepy video presentation!), he explained the meaning of "tsumaranaimono" by suggesting that the gift may likely have turned out to be a swift kick in the crotch! - So much for trying to understand Japanese! XD
They really all are hilarious! Thanks for the tip! :)
Thanks for that dateline! That's great to hear from a Japanese perspective as well.
You know I think I might be turning Japanese, I have a habit of handing over a present as saying the equivelent of "tsumaraniamono", "It's not very exciting" :)
LOL! Great find Melanie. I does remind me of some of the older learn English shows they had in Japan... You know ones with the has-been American actors and young cute Japanese trying to learn English off of them... very well done by those guys.
Funny thing about this video...a few days later, I still remember the phrase, even though I still don't know what it means. Effective teaching technique, though weird. :)
I (and rightfully so) stopped watching when individuals wearing needlessly short shorts began gyrating, but the rest of the video up till then was retro-tastic. I also loved the authoritative announcement of how statements this profound **cannot be comprehended**, merely memorized.
C'mon folks.
Ever used a phrase like, "Yeah, so anyway"? It doesn't actually MEAN anything, but it serves a linguistic purpose. That's what we're looking at here; the phrase in question means basically, "So that's that. Bye." No mystery involved.
That's how I'm going to be learning my meaningless phrases from now on - in ridiculously short shorts and dancing.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant stuff xD
Apparently it's the best way!
ReplyDeletePlease tell me this is an entire series!.... XD
ReplyDeleteIt's usually these Japanese women in really bad 80s exercise outfits. If you've never seen the series, it's a must. Just go to Youtube and search for "Zuikin" and it will bring up some real treats ;)
ReplyDeleteMy eyes, my eyes!! How do I unsee that?
ReplyDeleteHehehe.. what Chris? You didn't like those shorts?
ReplyDeleteThe shorts are fine, it's the guy wearing them I've got problem with. :-p
ReplyDeleteGah! my eyes!
So that's where I was going wrong... Sitting at a dining room table using a text book with the help of a Japanese woman is NOT he way to learn. No wonder I gave up!!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's....wow. Unclassifiable, maybe.
ReplyDeleteReally Lina? The shorts are fine???
ReplyDeleteHey Ethel and Edna's, yep, maybe if you replaced the Japanese lady with the guy in the front, you might learn a lot faster :)
Hey Stephen - yep!
Update: I asked my husband last night when he got home when "Jaa, sonna wakede!" meant, and with his limited English, even HE said it didn't mean anything other than just an excuse to get out of a conversation! LOL! I guess in English it might be something akin to "Uh..I think I left something on the stove - Bye now!"
ReplyDeleteAs I searched for more videos, I came across another blogger who had hit on the same one. In his own frustration with phrases like that (and such a creepy video presentation!), he explained the meaning of "tsumaranaimono" by suggesting that the gift may likely have turned out to be a swift kick in the crotch! - So much for trying to understand Japanese! XD
They really all are hilarious! Thanks for the tip! :)
Thanks for that dateline! That's great to hear from a Japanese perspective as well.
ReplyDeleteYou know I think I might be turning Japanese, I have a habit of handing over a present as saying the equivelent of "tsumaraniamono", "It's not very exciting" :)
LOL! Great find Melanie. I does remind me of some of the older learn English shows they had in Japan... You know ones with the has-been American actors and young cute Japanese trying to learn English off of them... very well done by those guys.
ReplyDeleteYeh James, some of those older ones are funny.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing about this video...a few days later, I still remember the phrase, even though I still don't know what it means. Effective teaching technique, though weird. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're so right Stephen! I don't think I'll ever scrub that phrase from my mind.
ReplyDeleteI (and rightfully so) stopped watching when individuals wearing needlessly short shorts began gyrating, but the rest of the video up till then was retro-tastic. I also loved the authoritative announcement of how statements this profound **cannot be comprehended**, merely memorized.
ReplyDeleteC'mon folks.
Ever used a phrase like, "Yeah, so anyway"? It doesn't actually MEAN anything, but it serves a linguistic purpose. That's what we're looking at here; the phrase in question means basically, "So that's that. Bye." No mystery involved.
So that's that.