Free Audio Converter

On the last day of class, I showed how to make a mp3 audio file from DVD by using Audacity.
Recently, I have found a better (automatic, convenient) way to do that, using a free software. There are three that I think are good.

http://www.any-audio-converter.com/

http://nextvideosoft.com/next-dvd-ripper-free.html

http://www.tipard.com/dvd-to-mp3-converter.html

They all convert DVD video to mp3 files, automatically. You don't even have to play the DVD to record it. The first one also does that for various kinds of video files on your computer.

Enjoy listening!

Repeat

Repetition is the key.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDF4hSzcfmA&feature=related

Encouragement from CHAGE and ASKA

Let me show you two more YouTube videos I wish I could have used in class. Simply amazing.

月が近づけば少しはましだろう - ASKA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZOUSG2DI48&feature=related

YAH YAH YAH - CHAGE and ASKA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtLEgAUNfao

Hang in there!
がんばって!

Thank you for your hard work throughout the semester.

Tony-sensei's podcast and Anki deck

Here is a link to a useful resource page in tonysensei.com, including his podcast and Anki-decks of Genki lessons.
http://tonysensei.com/groups/genkier-users/pages/listing-genkier-resources

You should check it out again and start using Anki software if you haven't.

Japanese TV drama

Somebody asked about good Japanese TV dramas besides 東京ラブストーリー. Here is my suggestions. Try to see if you can find these.

These are all my favorites:
１０１回目のプロポーズ (ひゃくいっかいめのプロポーズ. Love story. CHAGE and ASKA's SAY YES was used for this)
振り返れば奴がいる (ふりかえればやつがいる. Doctors' story. Very deep and serious. Another drama with a CHAGE and ASKA song),
古畑任三郎 (ふるはたにんざぶろう. Cool and funny detective story of murder cases. I would call this "Japanese Colombo," if you know it) or anything written by Mitani Kouki (the best drama writer from Japan) is good,
踊る大捜査線 (おどるだいそうさせん. Police story. very funny, cool, and even realistic),
ひとつ屋根の下 (ひとつやねのした. Very sweet family drama),
トリック (Murder case mystery with a weird physician guy and a cynical magician girl. Very funny and smart story)

Too many? Well. There are more. I've never seen the ones below but they are more recent and I heard they are very good, too.
ヒーロー
のだめカンタービレ

See you.

Quiz on Tuesday

We are going to have a quiz on Tuesday.
I am going to ask you to write all the days of the week in kanji and write hiragana for how to read them. That's it. (I changed my mind and decided not to ask about month, if you are in afternoon class).

Have a good weekend.

Syllabus revised

Our course syllabus has been revised. Change has been made for the grade distribution. We decided not to have the midterm. Now final exam worths 25 percent (previously 20 percent) and lesson tests worth 25 percent (previously 15 percent). The percentage of quiz was not changed (20 percent).

tomorrow review day

あしたは I do not have many things to do. We are going to go over the lesson 3 dialogue and practice it. I'll maybe show some manga. But more importantly, It's your time to bring questions from the lesson.

Quiz on Tuesday

Since I did not mention this earlier, I postpone the next quiz to Tuesday.

In quiz on Tuesday, I am going to ask you to write price and time expressions using the Kanji in Lesson 3. Also, I ask you to translate simple sentences with "masu (and masen)" form and frequency adverbs into English.

Quiz on Thursday

In quiz Thursday, I am going to ask you the meaning of 12 verbs in
Lesson 3. Given verbs (dictionary form) in hiragana, make sure you can
say the meaning in English.

Course caldendar

I want to point out one more time that we have our course calendar on the right in this blog. Please look at it regularly, especially for what homework is assigned each day.

Video of your recommendation

You should know by now that I love YouTube. It even provides a lot of great learning materials.
If you know any online video that can be useful for you and your friend's Japanese language learning, let me know by email. I would like to make a list of online videos recommended by you guys in this blog. It will be anonymous if needed.
I may consider giving an extra credit to a very good one.

Yotsuba PDF file uploaded

PDF file of Yotsuba manga where people are using a ます form is ready to download at eLearning Commons.

Digital flashcard

Please look at the link to the PDF file explaining how to download and use Anki software (digital flashcard software that I mentioned in class).
http://tonysensei.com/sites/default/files/Getting%20started%20with%20Anki.pdf
provided by Tonysensei.com

Thank you for asking, Lauren.

Monday quiz

In quiz Moday, I am going to ask you to write Kanji for 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Also, I am going to ask you to conjugate u-verbs and ru-verbs. The format will be "Here is a ru-verb. Conjugate it into the polite form (or the polite negative form.)"

トレーナー

In case you are wondering, トレーナー looks like this.

Time to choose your performance

We have about 2 weeks before midterm. Please remember it's the time to decide what you will do in your oral performance.
Let me know if you have any concern about that assignment.

Course calendar available here

Please note that our course calendar (public google calendar) is available under "Link" on the right.

Tuesday we have a review day for Lesson 2. Please bring your questions to class. If we run out of questions, I would like to start talking about Lesson 3 materials.

In the next quiz, I am going to ask you about ko-so-a-do expressions. Make sure you can make simple sentences using ko-so-a-do. Also I am going to ask you about "Useful Expressions" on page 53. Make sure you can write and read those expressions in hiragana.