Zion's Japanese learning blog

 This semester’s Japanese learning experience has been really great, and Japanese class became my favorite class every week. Last semester I took Elementary Japanese I, and this semester I took II. I can really feel the difference. Now I can make simple sentences on my own and even have short conversations with people. That makes me very happy and motivated. I already signed up for First-Year Japanese II next semester, and I’m really excited to continue studying. I also hope to study at Nanzan University in the spring of 2027, so learning Japanese now feels even more meaningful.

 サンクスギビングに、わたしは くるまで UIUC に 行きました。 UIUC に 友だち が います。 わたしは 友だちと ゲームを しました。 バスケットボールも しました。 とても たのしかったです。

 On September 17, I went to the Browning Cinema to watch Tokyo Story . I was really moved by how quietly the film shows the loneliness of the elderly and the distance that can grow inside families, even when everyone still cares about each other. After watching it, I did a bit of research and learned that Ozu often places his camera very low, almost at the eye level of someone sitting on the floor. Once I noticed that, the film felt even more intimate and gentle,like I was sitting in the room with the characters rather than just watching them. It’s a simple movie on the surface, but it left a surprisingly deep impression on me.

 For the kyudo event, I actually couldn’t attend because I had something else scheduled that day. However, I’m really interested in kyudo, so I did some research on my own afterward.  I found the idea of “correct shooting leads to a correct hit” especially interesting. It means that the most important thing is not hitting the target, but developing the right posture, mindset, and inner stability. To become good at kyudo, I think you need patience, steady breathing, and a lot of practice to make each movement smooth and intentional. It seems like a martial art where you practice more with yourself than with others.

 I was watching a YouTuber named Takashii , who films street interviews all around Japan. His videos are really interesting because he often talks to foreigners whose Japanese is unbelievably good，sometimes even native level. It’s fascinating to see how confidently they communicate, and it really shows how diverse and international Japan has become. Watching those conversations was both inspiring and motivating for me, especially as someone who’s learning Japanese right now. Link: https://youtu.be/W9GEDe3O5ug?si=sjpY-5ucoKXl6owG

 あきやすみに、わたしは ぺきんに かえりました。 ともだちと りょうしんに あいました。 ひこうきで じゅうさんじかん かかりました。 それから、おいしい たべものを たくさん たべました。 ぺきんは  さむくないです。

 This week, I watched a YouTube video by KazuLanguage . I wrote about him last semester too because he is one of my favorite YouTubers. He speaks 14 languages , which is really amazing. The video I watched showed him walking around Mongolia and talking to many people there. He even met the Mongolian president. It was とても おもしろい and inspiring. I want to become a polyglot like him in the future and learn many languages too. Link: https://youtu.be/2D2AaAgriZQ?si=xawifFSxA3Ts35RA

 This week, I watched a Japanese vlog about a student’s morning in Tokyo . The video was really calm and nice, and I actually understood a few easy words like あさ , ともだち , and がっこう . I liked listening to the Japanese rhythm ，it felt とても しずかで やさしい . Even though I didn’t catch everything, it was relaxing to watch. I think videos like this help me get used to the sound of Japanese, so I want to keep watching more. Link: https://youtu.be/yC-DDo3ESwA?si=n-NM9Qt6JXs3WlPS

 こんしゅうは いそがしかったです。クラスが たくさん ありました。 でも、にほんごの べんきょうは たのしかったです。 ともだちとも すこし あそびました。

 For this week’s video, I watched a short Japanese vlog on YouTube called  「 休日モーニングルーティン 」 . It shows a Japanese student getting ready in the morning—making breakfast and studying in a café. The Japanese was very simple, so I could understand words like  あさごはん ,  がっこう , and  ともだち . I liked the calm atmosphere, and it was interesting to see a normal day in Japan. It was  とても しずかで いい  video, and I want to watch more like this to practice listening. link： https://youtu.be/eMQ0iLkKGHY?si=PaEv6IPaC1C2akre

 しゅうまつ、わたしは ともだちの へやで ゲームを しました。 「Honor of Kings」を あそびました。 それから、ともだちの へやで えいがも みました。 あとで、としょかんで べんきょうしました。

 I watched a Japanese video on YouTube today called  「 」 by NHK. It’s a children’s song, and the melody is really soft and happy, so it was easy for me to listen to the Japanese sounds. I didn’t understand everything, but I caught a few words we learned in class, like あめ and そら . The kids in the video were dancing and singing, and it just felt たのしい to watch. I think videos like this help me get used to the rhythm of Japanese, so I want to watch more this semester. link：https://youtu.be/T0valuAksuo?si=QOHMtL5x2wVW-sqv

 みなさん、こんにちは。わたしは Zion Xi です。 ノートルダムだいがくの　にねんせいです。せんこうは　すうがくです。 にほんの　ぶんがくが　すきです。とくに　三島由紀夫（みしまゆきお）と　村上春樹（むらかみはるき）が　すきです。 きょねん　Elementary 1 を　べんきょうしました。 and this semester I want to improve more and speak Japanese better. よろしくおねがいします。