Day 10-11

Classes
The beginner classes have begun writing sentences at this point. They can ask people’s ages （なんさいですか）and can even write long, silly sentences such as, "My dad’s friend’s dog’s name is Ichiro." They’re trying their best to keep up with the endless vocabulary. Today, the beginners learned their first kanji, including water （水）and day（曜日）. They also started to sing a song in Japanese. The learning is tough, but there’s plenty of work to make the days fly by!
The intermediate class spent a majority of their day learning and practicing grammar. They took a test to enable their teacher (せんせい) to make sure that they all understood what they had learned. Afterwards, they researched Japanese summer activities and created PowerPoints to present. This was a great window into the culture, in addition to the language, of Japan.
The advanced class has been acting out skits from the textbook they use. They’ve also been having timed speaking practice. This everyday use of Japanese is helping them to increase their confidence and proficiency in their language abilities. Like the beginner classes, they are also singing Japanese songs. All the classes are having a great time while they learn!

Katelyn


Culture Class

This evening’s culture class surpassed previous days thus far. A majority of the instruction was interactive and hands-on, with students participating in a Japanese literature discussion, a formal tea ceremony, and the tying of yukatas in preparation for Tanabata. Incidents occurred in the bustle: students making faces and spitting out the bitter green tea, knots coming undone or tied too loosely, and a general, playful mayhem. Thought to be the least interesting of the trio, the literature discussion on Kenko’s Tsurezuregusa turned into a period for students to express their opinions, academic or otherwise. Kenko was exposed as a recluse, another human possessing contempt and disappointment; with himself and with the world.
After that session, taught wonderfully by Riggins-sensei, we moved to the next room for captivating instruction on the famous Japanese Tea Ceremony, originally started during the time of Tokugawa. Much more goes into the ceremony than one may expect: everything involved is a symbol and, if chosen incorrectly, could be offensive and break tradition. A chasen, a tea wisk carved out of bamboo, is used to mix the water and matcha, crushed and dried green tea leaves, into a frothy tea then drunk by the guest. Before one drinks, however, the host must turn the cup twice so the decoration faces the guest and follow a series of procedures before, during, and after.
The most exciting aspect of tonight’s culture class was being able to try on and learn to tie the obi for the gorgeous yukata we will be wearing tomorrow night. Childhood fantasies and dreams came true as the girls and boys both decked themselves out in floral cotton robes. Yukatas consist of more than tying a robe and wrapping a big “belt” around one’s waist, as some may think. Much lifting, folding, and tying takes place even before the “big belt,” or obi, is wrapped tightly around the waist. Making a bow in the back of the robe is the hardest, however. Steadiness of hand is required to fold and make a bow Japanese-style out of fabric roughly as thick and textured as a seat belt. Everyone conquered the challenge thankfully and now feel prepared enough to dress for the Tanabata events tomorrow night.

Jillian