Hello all!
This week, I am thinking about how learning a language can be incredibly beautiful, rewarding, and demoralizingly strenuous all at the same time.
I have always heard that Japanese is among the most difficult of languages to learn for native English speakers, but I never actually believed this until this summer. In my first year of Japanese at Williams, I was happy to learn the fundamentals in the company of such great peers and mentors that I had. I barely saw the work for Japanese during this time as work; it was the highlight of my day for me to be in class or to go to the language table with good friends.
Participating in the KCJS this summer, though, has changed my perspective by highlighting the differences between the languages that I already am comfortable with. Time and time again do I spend a lot of my day studying and feel like I didn’t learn a concept thoroughly enough because of how many mistakes I make in class. Having to learn different conjugations and set phrases for different registers of speech and written language (honorific speech, humble speech, etc.) is one particular aspect that has been difficult for me. Especially in my conversations with my teacher or Japanese students (who have all been older, without exception), I worry about whether I used appropriately respectful phrases.
On the other end of this struggle, however, I am often reminded about the progress I have made. In the first couple of weeks, I didn’t feel too confident that I was able to communicate with native speakers about the topics we were prompted to discuss (perhaps understanding 40-60% of what the other person said). However, knowing that I have made countless mistakes and that it can only get better, learning 3-6 grammar points per day, and practicing for 2 hours 5 days a week will naturally yield results (even if it didn’t feel like it in my case). Recently, not only have I been able to understand most of a given conversation, but has have they become a little lighter and more lively. Feeling like I have overcome some of this anxiety and having some good memories talking with the people I have talked with, this is one of the things that has made this program worth while for me!
Even if there are points where I waver and question whether I can succeed in my Japanese studies, I have found that they are the very same moments that make the journey worth while. Being able to freely communicate my ideas (albeit very basically), making friends, and simply enjoying interacting with others, all in another language is an incredible feeling.
As I look out at the lush greenery of the Palisades across from the Hudson River here in New York, I feel grateful that I have the opportunity to participate in the KCJS 2022 Summer program, even if not in Kyoto this year. Until next time!