Beginners 1 on 05/20/10

Number of students: 14 including 4 new students 
Summary
(1)Classroom expressions
　1. すみません。もういちど おねがいします。= Excuse me.  One more time please. (Please repeat it.)
　2. すみません。ゆっくり おねがいします。= Excuse me.  Slowly, please.
　3. ちょっと まって ください。= Please wait a minute.
　4. わかりますか。= Do you understand?
　5. はい、わかります。= Yes, I understand.
　6. いいえ、わかりません。= No, I don't understand.
　7. しりません。= I don't know.
　8. みえません。= I can't see.
　9. きこえません。 = I can't hear.
　10. いいです。 = It is good.
　11. だめです。  = It is no good.
　12. ええと…/あのう… = Let me see.../ Well...
　13. Treeは にほんごで なんといいますか。  = How do you say "Tree" in Japanese?
        = Treeは にほんごで なんですか。  = What is "Tree" in Japanese?

*Additional expressions
　14. くもりですねぇ。= It's cloudy.
　15. てんきが わるい ですねぇ。 = The weather is not good.
　16. なんですか。/ どこですか。/ いつですか。/ だれですか。/ なぜ(なんで)ですか。/ どうですか。
　　= What?/ Where?/ When?/ Who?/ Why?/ How?

(2)Lesson3: Verb Conjugation  (Text: pp.58-59)
      We learned two kinds of Japanese verb (ru-verb and u-verb) and irregular verbs.
      In lesson 3, we study three verb forms; dictionary form, present tense affirmative form (-ます), and present tense negative form (-ません).
      Please practice verb conjugation with the verb conjugation table!

Homework
(1)Fill out the 'Verb conjugation table' (dictionary form, present affirmative form, and present negative form).
(2)Look at the handout about 'Lesson 3-1' and start studying new vocabulary.

Next week
(1)Lesson 3-1: Verb はなす = speak, talk
(2)Body language in Japan

See you next week!!!

そうですね！(soudesune)

"笑(わら)って いいとも(Waratte Iitomo)" is a very long-running Japanese variety show. The name of the show means "it's okay to laugh".

This show is hosted by タモリさん(Tamori-san) and has run since 1982. Maybe almost all Japanese people know this show. At the beginning of one program of the show, you can hear the phrase "そうですね(soudesune)"(= Yes, it is.) some times. Just take a look at the following movie just for 30 seconds. I hope it may be a little funny for you :)

Guest: Gackt ガクト (Japanese musician)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2rdwz_gackt-yyyyyyyyyyy_fun

As a bonus,
Guest: リチャード・ギア（Richard Gere）
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9twvp__shortfilms


タモリさん

Beginners 1 on 05/13/10

Summer class has just started! Let's enjoy learning Japanese together!! :)

Number of students: 11 including 2 new students
Summary
(1)Self Introduction in Japanese
Let's review!
　・はじめまして。（Hajimemashite.） = How do you do?
　・わたしは たかこです。(Watashi wa Takako desu.) = I'm Takako.
　・わたしの なまえは たかこです。(Watashi no namae wa Takako desu.) = My name is Takako.
　・わたしは がくせい（こうこうせい、だいがくせい、だいがくいんせい、スタッフ）です。(Watashi wa gakusei (koukousei, daigakusei, daigakuinsei, sutaffu) desu.) = I am a student (highschool student, college student, grad student, staff).
　・わたしは インディアナだいがくの がくせいです。(Watashi wa Indiana daigaku no gakusei desu.) = I'm a student at Indiana university.
　・わたしは 22さいです。(Watashi wa nijuu-ni sai desu.) = I am 22 years old.
　・どうぞよろしく。(Douzo yoroshiku.) = Nice to meet you.

(2)Classroom expressions
　1. はじめましょう。= Let's begin.
　2. きりつ。= Stand.
　3. れい。= Bow.
　4. ちゃくせき。= Sit.
　5. (お)やすみです。= ~ is absent.
　6. ちこくです。= ~ is tardy.
　7. はやく。= Hurry!
　8. おわりましょう。= Let's finish.
　9. なに？/ なんですか？ = What?/ What is it?
　10. すみません。おそくなりました。 = I am sorry to be late.

(3)Weather expressions
　1. あついですねぇ。= It's hot!
　2. さむいですねぇ。 = It's cold!
　3. すずしいですねぇ。 = It is cool (temperature)!
　4. そうですねぇ。= Yes it is!
　5. (お)げんきですか。 = How are you? (lit. Are you fine?)
　6. はい、げんきです。 = Yes, I am fine.
　7. むしあついですねぇ。 = It's hot and humid.
　8. いい(お)てんきですねぇ。 = The weather is nice.
　9. あめですねぇ。= It's raining.
　10. いいえ、ぐあいが わるいです。 = No, I feel sick.
　11. ねむいです。  = (I) am sleepy.
　12. つかれています。 = (I) am tired.

*Additional expressions
　13. ゆきですねぇ。= It's snowing.
　14. とても げんきです。 = I'm very fine.
　15. ちょっと ねむいです。 = I'm a little sleepy.
　16. おなかが すいています。 = I am hungry.
  17. ねむくて、つかれています。= I'm sleepy and tired.
　18. ながい いちにち です。= It's a long day. (It is not so often used in Japan, though.)

(4)Lessons follow up
  1. What is the difference between the particle は(wa) and が(ga)?
     - は is a topic marker, and が is a subject marker.  The following link has more explanation about this.  This is one of the most confusing particles faced by most Japanese Learning Students.
       http://nihongo.anthonet.com/difference-between-wa-and-ga/ 

  2. What is the difference between そうですね and そうですか?
     - "そうですね" means "Yes it is.", "That"s right." / "Let me see,", " Well..."
       ex. いい おてんき ですね。= The weather is nice.
            そうですね。= Yes it is.
     - "そうですか" means "I see."
       ex. これは1000えんです。= This is 1000 yen..
            そうですか。じゃあ、あれはいくらですか。= I see. Then, how much is that?

Homework
(1)Look at the handout 'Verb conjugation table' and start studying new verbs (dictionary form and present form).

Next week
(1)Classroom expressions vol.2
(2)Lesson 3: Verb conjugation

See you next week!!!

Summer class will start this Thursday (May 13th)

Summer class will start this Thursday (May 13th).  I hope I can see as many students as possible :)
Let's keep learning Japanese!!

Japanese Beginners Class (summer 2010):
Time: Every Thursday at 4:10-5:00pm
Place: Asian Culture Center

See you on Thursday!

Beginners 1 on 04/27/10

Number of students: 5
Summary
(1)Lesson 2: Review of Grammar (handout)
(2)Lesson 2: Exercise (handout)
(3)Lesson 2: Particles ね(ne) and よ(yo) (p.38)
The particle ね(ne) means "right?" or "isn"t it?".
Ex. それは たかいです ね。（Sore wa takai desu ne.）＝It's expensive, isn't it?

The particle よ(yo) is added to a statement if the speaker wants to assure the listener of what has been said.
Ex. たけしさんは にほんじん です よ。（Takeshi san wa nihonjin desu yo.）＝(In case you're wondering,) Takeshi is Japanese.

(4)Lesson2: Dialogue (p.30)
<vocabulary>
じゃあ（jaa）= then
そうですか。（Soudesu ka.）= I see.
～をください。（～ o kudasai.） = Please give me ～.

Today, we finished lesson 2.  Please review vocabulary, grammar, and expressions of Lesson2 well!!
Practice the dialogues by the following movie (You can also look at the scenery about a Japanese flea Market).
http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/self/movlist.en.html  (Click "Lesson 2")

Today was the last class of this semester.  I really appreciate for your hard work.  Good jobs, students!!!  I enjoyed teaching Japanese very much though I admit my English is not enough.  I will continue to teach for the summer semester. I will let you know when we will start a summer class after we will  find out.

Thank you, students!!!
See you next time!!!