Kana-a-Week: Vacation

To focus on my new writing project this week, I took a break from my pursuit to learn Japanese. I feel extremely guilty because I only learn one character a week, but I have over 11k words to show for my writing perseverance instead!

If only learning another language was as easy as writing a novel. :\

Kana-a-Week will return next week!

Kana-a-Week: Vowel Review

I should have done this two weeks ago, but it's never too late to review!

(I found this chart on the ACMT Japanese Club blog. Doesn't that top row make them look a whole lot easier to write?)

Notes: Keeping them straight has been a bit difficult (my memory is horrible), but at least the more I practice the more I get better at writing them, even if I can't remember what they stand for. ;) I'm hoping once I learn enough and start forming words, they'll stick better in my mind.

Order Trick: The Japanese order their vowels different than Americans do, so the right order can be a bit confusing to remember. However, if you know them, like I do, as A-E-I-O-U (1-2-3-4-5), all you have to remember is that the Japanese order them as 1-3-5-2-4. Once I noticed this, remembering the Japanese vowel order has been a snap.

Next week: I return to the Ks!

Kana-a-Week: ki

Roman: ki

Sound: key

My Description: Abstract of the imperial palace (you see it with the loop connected).

Notes: I got mixed signals about the loop connecting. I myself connect it (because it's easier), although I'm still working to get it just right.

Kana-a-Week: ka

Roman: ka

Sound: cah

My Description: Leaning "h" with a beak chirping at it.

Notes: A little harder to get just right - still haven't, actually. I keep making it too large. Argh.

Kana-a-Week: o

Roman: o

Sound: oh

My Description: A "t" skewering a pork bun with a side dink.

Notes: To my enjoyment, this one was easy to pick up, although I still have to be careful not to get the turnaround too large.

Next week: Into the double-letters!

Kana-a-Week: e

Roman: e

Sound: eh

My Description: A fancy Z with a dink or a duckbill over it.

Notes: This one was easier to learn, although getting the bottom hump just right took a lot of practice. I think I may be starting to get the hang of this!

Next week: I complete the vowels with "o"...

Kana-a-Week: u

Roman: u

Sound: oo

My Description: A shepherd's crook with a dink and/or a kissing duck bill over it.

Notes: Pretty easy, but unfortunately the practice sheet gives about three different versions, so I had no idea which one to master. Is there a special dip before you begin the crook (as shown here)? Does it start with a handle, or just swoop up and then down? And what's with the dink above? Just a dink, or a duck bill? So confusing...

Kana-a-Week: i

Roman: i

Sound: ee

My Description: Two bad attempts at back-to-back bird beaks (which this picture does not do justice).

Notes: And I thought last week's was bad. This picture makes it look easy, but it's hard to get the angles just so.

I would like to note that I just found the ACMT Japanese Club Blog, which although it was short-lived informed me I have been learning the very difficult "typed" version of Kana, instead of the handwritten version. I am extremely miffed with my practice pad for misleading me, and shall in future let myself be a little lax with how perfect my pretzels need to be.

Kana-a-Week: a

Roman: a

Sound: ah

My Description: A wonky "t" and a backwards, tipsy "e" make a pretzel

Notes: Getting the loops on the "e" just right were very difficult, and I'm still not sure if I've got it quite right.

Kana-a-Week Introduction

To begin learning how to read and write Japanese (one of the hardest languages in the world), I purchased the Kana-a-Day Practice Pad, on the advice that Kana is much easier, and one must start with Kana before tackling the daunting Kanji. I was weary, because Kana is all squiggles and pretzels, and I am much better suited to the sharp lines of Kanji. But "they" insisted, and so I start with Kana.

My first Kana was "a," which is none of than A PRETZEL. *sob* Even after a week of practice, I have no hope of mastering it. Easier my foot...

However, I am determined to learn Japanese, so I press on. Instead of "a-day," though, I am doing one a week, so I can better learn the strokes and hope to retain them better. Every week I shall post on the previous week's Kana, with my take on it and my notes on my attempts to "master" it.