Hello everyone!
My updates are getting a bit slowly lately and I don’t show up that much on twitter too, so I thought I could write something for my readers anyway!
I’ve always wanted to make this blog more personal and interactive, but somehow I never did, since personal posts felt “out of place” here… but in the end, who cares? It was born to share my opinions about otoge, but it doesn’t mean it can’t evolve a little from there.
Then, let’s talk about the recent happenings in my life.
We’re almost done with May, so I guess it’s a good moment to take a look back at my resolutions for 2018 and try to make them come true by the end of the year, while I still have time:
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I wanted to change job when my contract expired in May.
My boss realized I wasn’t going to apologize to him for all the problems we had back in november, but since he needs me to complete at least my work before August, he asked me to stay some more. I signed for two more months, but I settled everything with my supervisor since I didn’t want to see his face or pretend I’m happy. Let’s see what will happen in July.
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I wanted to learn Finnish and I started in April!
It’s way more difficult than I expected, but I’m having lots of fun and I listen to Finnish rock bands like Uniklubi, 51Koodia and Happoradio to help me memorize the vocabulary easier.
Music has always been a great way to learn without even realizing it, and I’m slowly starting to improve! Actually, I’m watching many amazing tutorials on youtube too and they make me want to teach Italian to foreigners. Who knows, maybe in the future I’ll try!
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As a result from studying Finnish, I kinda dropped my Japanese self study. Learning too many languages it’s not easy, my poor brain can’t keep up with all those words and I get confused… but I keep playing otoge and watching anime, so there’s no way I’m forgetting too much, no need to worry!
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I wanted to improve this blog, but I don’t know if I really made some progress? I don’t have time enough to make everything as I wanted… but I’m not giving up!
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I wanted to write on another anime blog, but that project hasn’t started yet and I don’t even know if it ever will. Let’s see what happens this summer.
How is your 2018 so far? Are you keeping up to your resolutions, or do you still have to start?
Since I want this to be more interactive, here’s a little poll for you:
Elli
Hello, so I have been obsessed with your blog lately. I love reading your posts but I also want to learn Japanese I have read your post on learning but I am still confused. I know hiragana and katakana and am starting to learn kanji BUT I don’t know any word so even if I know what it sounds like and can read the characters I still don’t know what it’s saying I am very confused but I really want to learn.
if you can help me please dm me on Instagram @otome.lover101 or just reply here thanks so much lol .
otomeland
Hello! ^^
I can suggest you a few ways to memorize words:
– read a dictionary. Not only when you look up for words, read it from time to time, as if it was a book, and try to memorize the meanings. Don’t use a huge one, since you’re a beginner what matters the most is learning the basic common words.
– try to play otoge as you study, even if you don’t understand that much at first. Trust me, I was like you when I started, I barely could understand a few words, but it keeps getting better!
– if you like japanese music, search the lyrics of your favorite songs and look up for the meaning of each word. It’s a great way to memorize!
Keep in mind it’s not easy, there’s no way to learn a language in a few days without struggling. But if you really love japanese and otome games, I’m sure you can do it!
Let me know how it goes! ^^
Elli
What dictionary do you recommend? any online ones?
otomeland
I can’t recommend you mine, since it’s not in english! (I’m italian)
But anything is fine, just focus on basic words. A pocket dictionary is more than enough!
Elli
Hi again,
Sorry for bothering you but I really want to learn and your blog helps me so much because you had self-studied and didn’t take formal lessons.
I bought a pocket dictionary so do I just read it now?
otomeland
Don’t worry, you’re not bothering me at all!
I can’t guarantee you my method of learning will be useful for you too, but that’s what I did: I read a few pages of the dictionary every day, trying to memorize words and kanji; I also kept studying grammar. Otoge really helped me a lot, since I looked up for kanji every time I found one I didn’t know. I also translated songs. Without realizing, words and phrases started to become more understandable, until I could play on my own. Of course, you have to start with easy games too!
Elli
Thanks so much, you are so helpful actually the reason I’ve been asking you is that since I loved to I read your blog and you inspired me to learn Japanese!
otomeland
Thank you! it means a lot to me, inspiring someone else makes me happy and proud! ^^
Elli
HI again sorry for bothering you I feel like such a jerk (lol)
just wondering if you used a textbook because I’m doing what you said and learning words. I just wondered if you had a textbook.
otomeland
Hello, don’t worry, ask me whatever you want!
I used a lot of textbooks, but I can’t help you since they were in italian and probably don’t have an english edition (at least I guess your first language is english?). I had a grammar, a couple textbooks with excercises and also a book with important sentences for travellers, since I’ve been to Japan twice.
Search for textbooks with autocorrect excercises!