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James Clarke | all galleries >> Galleries >> Mission Japan > Learning Japanese
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24/02/2008 James Clarke

Learning Japanese

Perth, Australia

Last year I started more in earnest to study Japanese and I had hoped that I'd be able to sit for level 4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test last December. However I gave up on those plans by about July as I realised with all things that I taken on during the year however good and noble that I just didn't have enough time left to prepare for the test. I think there is a lesson in that, in life there are many good and noble things to do, but we need to keep focused on what's important that is what God is really calling us to do. The most important thing for us this year is moving to Japan, so that becomes our top priority. I know that I will need to learn more and more of the Japanese language, however I know don't really need to sit for level 4 of the proficiency test before I go. So for know I'm concentrating of the listening and speaking skills by listening to language CDs in the car on the way to work and practising Japanese with Ritsuko. I'm keeping up with the writing regularly to ensure I don't forget what I've already learnt, but I'm in no hurry with that at this moment.

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James Clarke25-Feb-2008 12:34
The problem was that I looked at the exam (in the distance) and thought this doesn't seem too hard, but what I failed to do is plan for it properly. I needed set myself little goals along the way and get Ritsuko to test me on those, but I didn't. So after a couple of months of study I got distracted by other things.

Unfortunately there's too much happening this year with the move and Ritsuko's new books for me to contemplate the study load for this year. So I missed the opportunity last year and I probably won't get another shot at it until at least next year.

The lesson is well learned though and I'm setting myself little goals to do this year for the move and the books.
Trailblazer Jonathon P 25-Feb-2008 12:03
Very true. On the one hand if you aim at nothing you will hit it, and God wants us to have goals and strive for them, but on the other hand those goals are just tools to go forward, sometimes as with the level 4 they have to be shelved or put aside for another day...It takes courage and wisdom to recognise when its time to let go.

I have to do that all the time with some of the races I line up to do. Any chance of you doing the Freeway bikeike on 16th March?

All the best with the language CD's and practicing conversation with RitZ. Way to go!
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