One thing I've realized about myself from coming to Japan is that I won't do something unless I can view it as a game with some sort of visible gain. It doesn't have to be a big gain mind you, something as small as getting a piece of paper saying I've accomplished something equates to a win. For most things to be worth doing, there has to be a goal and an external sign to signify that the task is over.
To this end, I've been able to set almost everything up as a game with clear win-lose conditions. Whether its a job, college applications or travel arrangements, it's clear to see the line between winning and losing.
However, I've been having trouble setting up kanji as a win-lose situation. I can't just randomly choose a number of Kanji as a 'win' condition, so my studying method has been a bit scatter brained. But no more! I've challenged another ALT (heather) in my town to master 90% of Heisig's Remembering the Kanji. Winner gets bragging rights, an apparent 90% knowledge of the 2000 daily use Kanji, and a 2000 yen sushi dinner or asobi-hodai of their choice. Loser gets booed and hissed at until the winner's throat is sore and dry, and must continue to study Kanji a bit poorer than when they started.
Between smack talk, I've hit 350, but Heather has more time at school and more passion for Kanji atm. It's going to be a tight race, but I won't give up!
2 comments:
Chris! I wish you luck on your Kanji taisen!
ALSO: JET GET! Kast-san mo! I don't know when we leave, but it will be SOON. ish.
!! Omedetou to you both! As expected, your patience and hard work paid off in spades.
I hope you get your desired placement (what were they, btw). When you get to Japanland, we got to have a shindiggery of some sort. I expect 'Karaoke' and 'all you can drink' and 'international sexy misunderstandings' to be part of the party vocab.
Thanks for the ouen-ing. I'm ahead now at 500, so I've gotten fat and complacent. However, I can't let my guard down!
Post a Comment