食べ物：一番

日本のすき焼きと台湾（たいわん）の火鍋（hot pot）がとても好きです。たくさんたべました。

さかなとにくややさいがあります。

台湾の中にはたくさん日本のレストランがあります。

Since coming back to Taiwan, I've eaten at a number of sukiyaki/hot-pot restaurants, each with its unique style and offerings. The first and foremost defining element is the soup base, ranging from sea-salt boiled seaweed to 味噌(miso) to chicken broth to vegetable stew and beyond. As you cook the foods and eat them, the flavor of the soup develops, making each meal a unique experience (even the order in which you cook the foods affects the end product). The great thing about this style of eating is that each person can order and eat exactly what he/she wants, and it's always fun to cook your own meal!

クリスマス！

私はたいわんにかえりました。ニューヨークからたいぺいまで二十時間ぐらいかかりました。少し大変でした。えいがを八本見て、たのしかったです。「Cowboys and Aliens」 と「Stupid, Crazy, Love」や「Contagion」を見ました。

クリスマスブレイクはとてもよかったです。私はとてもたべものを食べました。おいしかったです。たいぺい１０１にいきました！

We visited family all throughout the country and ate all sorts of fantastic food, which I will present in the coming days! Stay posted!

さくぶん

山田さん、

はじめまして。私はプリンストン大学の四年生です。専攻は工学です。工学はおもしろくて、いいです。大学生のせんかつはいそがしいですが、たのしいてす。月曜日から金曜日までじゅぎょうがあって、しゅくだいをします。週末はひまなので、好きです。

山田さん、今日本はどうですか。日本のたべものの中で何が一番おいしいですか。テレビとえいがとどちらの方が好きですか。

では、明日はテストがあります。よろしくおねがいします。

ホワン

となりのトトロ

先週の週末、となりのトトロをみて、よかったです。私は大好きです。したにはえがあります。

でも、トトロは何ですか。「チンチラ」ですか。

くさかべさつき　と　くさかべめいは　新しいうちに　いますが、へやはとても古くて、かおいです。でも、おもしろい友達にあります。トトロです！さつきちゃんとめいちゃんのお母さんは病院にいて、ざんねんです。友達のトトロとあそんで、たのしいです。

「となりのトトロ」は　私の　一番宮崎のえいがです。

If you haven't seen it yet, DO SO NOW!!! みてくれませんか。

ありがとう 台湾！

台湾 (たいわん) の aid effort was brought to my attention during 日本の struggles through the tsunami/nuclear fallout disaster. Despite the size of the country (only 20 million people or so), it managed to be the single largest donation source in the world, a feat that 日本人 recognized in a message of thanks spread through local 新聞 (しんぶん). The message is below:

It goes to show the close ties many 台湾人 feel towards 日本 (though unfortunately not all) and the great good that can come out of this compassion. As 日本 continues to recover from this serious blow, I (and many other 台湾人) wish  the very best!

Original article here.

Cycle 2: Reflection Statement

Cycle 2 turned out more or less how I planned. I was able to shadow a number of clips from various sources (some music, some 日本のえいが, some アニメ). I was also able to submit approximately two shadowing recordings per week to しばた先生. The feedback was helpful as always, and she even complimented me on some of my work! Hopefully this means I really am improving, and that this method of practicing is producing results.

Some intonation details are starting to become slightly tricky, especially when I need to speak quickly. The introduction of the plain form and asking questions by only manipulating pitch instead of adding か might be a challenge, but I'll certainly try my best!

For Cycle 3 I will continue the same plan as before, viewing clips of Japanese movies or videos and shadowing the parts that seem reasonably paced. More みやざき films, of course! I will also try to submit 1-2 extra shadowing recordings per week to しばた先生 to comment!

Cycle 2: Goal Statement

For Cycle 2, I will work on special moras, paying special attention to length of vowel sounds.

I will continue to the various films I plan on watching, along with any anime or clips that are appropriate. My plan is to do 2-3 shadowing recordings a week off the Blackboard site and submit self evaluation sheets for feedback.

I intend to (re) watch a significant number of Miyazaki films and post about them, and I will try to shadow what I can while I watch them.