Language immersion really works. Even simulated immersion in front of a computer screen. It works more slowly for one of us, than the other. But it works. Here’s what happens.
You are looking at photos—listening and repeating. You stop, go back and do it again. You don’t cheat by trying to translate. You puzzle at the change of words from boy, girl, man, woman to something else. Then it clicks. Pronouns. We have no idea how they translate literally into English, but we definitely know what they mean in Japanese. They are eating, running, swimming—things people do in everyday life. They are singular and, maybe, plural. Are they masculine and feminine? Hard to tell. But that will come with time. Hearing is becoming easier.
If you just jumped in, we are attempting to learn Japanese using Rosetta Stone Totale. This fits with our need to have some Japanese for our writing and publishing venture related to Japan.
Just a note on this. We are becoming convinced Emperor Shōwa was most definitely not the architect of the Pacific War. Basically, his office was used by some in the military to gain support for the war. While we respect other points of view, they are starting to look like conspiracy theories. Emperor Showa as aggressive warrior fails to fit the known circumstances. It makes no sense.
From the movie The Sun, General Douglas McArthur and Emperor Showa discussing responsibilities. It fits the personalities of both men.
Originally appeared in the On Our Minds blog at Village Hiker.
