midorin's Days

final exam

It was the last interpreting lesson last saturday. I took Japanese-English final exam.
Five months is too short to feel that my interpretation skills improve or not. When I get accostumed to the lesson, the term is over.
I am sure that I have a long way to go to become an interpreter. But, I will continue to study!!!

My teacher gave us useful advices in the last class.
I am alwasy encouraged by his advices and words. I've never consulted with him personally, but he adequately points out my good point and weakness in the class. 　Those his words are really useful for me to improve not only English, but also Japanese. Until the last term, I was weak in Japanese- English translation compared with English-Japanese one. However, since I took his lesson, I've changed a lot. Instead, I've lost confidence my English-Japanese translation. When I saw English script after the exam, I was astonished that I missed so many important parts. My performance was so terrible. Now, I am giving up to move up advanced class next term.

When I take interpreting class, my main goal is always to move up to advanced class. So, when I stay at same level in several terms, I am frustrated with my lack of progress. In terms of this question, my teacher told us that we should not stick to move up to upper class. He says, there is not so big differences between my level and one upper level class from a long-term viewpoint. Yes, it is!!!
I felt released from the pressure of my frustration. I learned that I don't
have to care about the result of exam too much.
Finding another goal would be good for me as well.

Opening Party and Japanese comics

Yesterday was my first work day of the year. The office was renovated during new year holiday and it was brand-new office. I was so pleased to see that my desk and chair were also new even tough I went office only once a week.

The place I work is a kind of government organization and it provides traning programs about Japanese evergy saving technology and oil refining technology to enterprises in oil producing countries. Most of foreign trainees are from Middle East, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and Asia. Before training program starts, the opening party is held every month. I joined that party for the first time yesterday. It was so fun and good opportunity to talk with many people from various background. Especially, I enjoyed chatting with thai lady who works for Thai oil company. She told me that she wanted to buy some animation character goods in Akihabara after the training. But, I didn't catch what she said even I heared many times. Eventually, I knew that she mentioned the name of cartoon character, "Mobile Suit Gundam" and "Sailor Moon". In Thailand, comics and TV cartoon series "Doraemon" seems to be the most popular!!!!

In recent years, Japanese cartoons have had a high reputation around the world. I think it is very good phenomena for Japanese. It can help drawing public attention about Japanese culture and life from cartoons worldwide. When I was a child, my parents didn't allow me to read comic books. So, I rarely read them now. But, some of them are good for education. I hope to read comic books sometime.

Hello again

I've not been writing this English blog for a while. Since I take Eiken 1st grade this month, I decide to re-start this blog again. Writing part is one of my challenging part. Hopefully, I can practice it in my blog.

In the past, I just translated Japanese blog to English. However, I will write what I want to in English this time. It seems to be easier. I still can't recover from New year holiday. I did nothing special during holiday, instread I kept watching one Korean Drama under the tytle of "Successful girl story". I was so shocked and fell in love with Gite who is the main character of this drama. I don't know why, but I was struck by him!!! I can't help watching him more than once a day!!! That's really strange, I know it. I bought DVD through the Korean internet site and am looking for sound track of the drama. One of my friends will visit Cheju Island soon, so I will ask her to get it in South Korea. Wow..... am I crazy???
Anyway, I hope I will keep writing this blog.....

TOEIC

I got a result of TOEIC by online a few days ago. Since TOEIC management office started online service for applicants, now we can learn the test result before we receive it in writing. It's very good system. I always feel uneasy after the test. When I took TOEIC last month, I thought I didn't do well ever before. Because I made many mistakes in grammer parts and didn't have enough time to solve reading parts. I remember that I was so exhausted after finishing test. So, I didn't expect hish score this time. But........Wow........I can't believe it!!! I got 905. It's unbelievable. It it the highest score for me. I was so happy and I wanted to yell out!!!

Actually, my listening part was almost perfect (485). On the other hand, reading part was not so good. I have been thinking for a long time that I had to study English grammer and reading. I have focused on listening practice for years. So, grammer, reading and writing have left behind. I even don't have any grammer book. I must get one as soon as possible.
It is my foremost task.

Some people say TOEIC is not good test for measuring English ability. I have to agree with them in certain way. But, it is still important for getting a job. Whenever I apply for jobs, I am asked the English qualifications such as TOEIC or STEP Eiken. I think Eiken is more reliable qualification. Within a year, I will try to get STEP Eiken 1st grade.

Funny story

I went the library today. It was the first time to go there since last year. I read some magazines and Japanese and English newspapers. One article from Japan Times was so funny. It's kind of city news.

Man gets back 5 million yen wife trashed

The man in Saitama was hiding 5 million yen in the trash bag in his home. But his wife threw it away by accident without realizing cash was in it. He didn't believe that money had been stolen from his home. A few days later he saw the TV news that garbage men found 5 million yen at the waste-collection point. Eventually, he was able to his money back. That was funny story, but something more interesting is the fate of that money...... I wonder if his wife will aske him to give her some amount of his secret pokect money.