My motivation for taking an elementary Japanese course is to gain a basic understanding of the language and culture. In 9th grade, I participated in an Youth For Understanding exchange program where I lived with a host family for six weeks in Kumamoto. That experience impacted my perspective on life and I will cherish those memories forever. As my six weeks were coming to a close, I felt like I was finally becoming comfortable with the customs and daily routine of life in Japan. Although I will never forget the life lessons I learned in Japan, I lament to say that seven years later I have forgotten nearly all of the language. After forgetting Japanese, I truly understand the importance of being immersed in a culture in order to gain fluency in a language. My hope is to learn the basics in a structured setting so that I no longer forget how to say simple phrases.
Lincon
