A language learners’ forum

Arnaud wrote:Week 15
In french, I'm currently reading "Vernon Subutex" by Virginie Despentes: drugs, sex and rock'n'roll. It's very raw and explicit, but very well written at the same time, the story flows naturally and it's a good page-turner. A total contrast with what I read in russian.

Arnaud wrote:I'll also update that log more rarely because I have the feeling that I keep on repeating myself and I don't want to write something too boring.

Arnaud wrote:Concerning russian, I'll continue to read, I have completly given up the "active" study of the language, my active study will be geared toward another language (japanese or italian, I don't know yet).

Arnaud wrote:I'm so lazy that I quote myself

Arnaud wrote:Bah cette semaine, j'ai pas fait grand-chose, j'ai juste révisé mes kanas, ça doit bien faire 3 ou 4 fois que je les apprends, mais je les oublie assez vite, donc rebelote, faut que je les réapprenne à chaque fois, c'est un peu embêtant.
Enfin, c'est surtout les katakana que j'oublie, les hiragana ça va à peu près.

For that, I use these two books that I find well made: Kodansha's Hiragana Workbook: A Step-by-Step Approach to Basic Japanese Writing (there is the same book for katakana)
What I like is that there is an audio track for each page that you can download on the web, so I can train to listen and write the words. There are also rigid flashcards at the end of the books but I don't use them.

I've noted that I can't tell the difference between あand はfor exemple, I suspect Japanese people can...

Otherwise, as textbooks, I use Assimil Japonais and the french textbooks of Kunio Kuwae: Pratique du Japonais and Manuel de Japonais I, that I regularly borrow at the library.
I've also listened to Michel Thomas Japanese, that I can warmly recommand.

For the Kanji, I use The Key to Kanji and Japonais Kanji Kakitai. The etymological approach is the only one that works for me, these books give hints and explain how the characters are formed, I find that interesting.

Arnaud wrote:My personal life is currently complicated by the terminal cancer of my mum, sometimes I feel down and write BS. My language routine is notheless pretty perturbed, I go to the hospital several times a week, I'm more exhausted than ever, etc...I spare you the details, only long-term caregivers could really understand what I write, anyway.

Arnaud wrote: My personal life is currently complicated by the terminal cancer of my mum, sometimes I feel down and write BS. My language routine is notheless pretty perturbed, I go to the hospital several times a week, I'm more exhausted than ever, etc...I spare you the details, only long-term caregivers could really understand what I write, anyway.