1st comment today!
All that blank space. The benefits of my time zone I suppose.

mata mata. Let’s try out the new stuff here–>
http://www.japanesepod101.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=465
just one sentence. Ah go on, you will, you know you want to.

Belton-san, just wrote my sentence of the day. Great idea!

Daniel-san, Ebert, wherever he is, can feel the bad ora coming from that poor review! Come on, a bit more effort.お願いします！ And, when are you coming down here?

Hello!

I won’t have time to listen to this today put I just want to ask a question. What is the difference between 友 and 友達? Is it plural or what?

Danielsan - I can’t wait to see that movie! Even if it’s not spectacular, I’m sure I’ll like it more than Howl’s Moving Castle.

I’m glad “kureru” was mentioned in this podcast. When it’s brought up again you guys should mention the joke about crayons! Ya know–”kureyo kureyon”.

Belton-san,

How have you been?
Your question about ageru is a good one. I just had lectures from 4 different sensei´s on this, so it shows how important this topic is!!! Generally, when you want to use a neutral expression ( in other words not too formal and not informal) you can use ageru. So, when talking about someone in your company or about yourself you can use this. However, if you want to be polite you could use sashiageru. For example, kochira kara kippu o sashiagemasu.

Take care and have a great week.

Konnichiwa here in NYC its already afternoon just wanted to say good lesson keep it up JP101! I’m going to vote now and hello Brasil _ agradeç você para _ escut
JP101 _ mant acima! _ eu amor fuchibol! _ _ como você guys!

To The Community: 第2 変更をありがとう! S_R_C

though I’m out of town

Vicky-san,
That’s amazing! Rain in Texas!! I’m glad you got to go home early!

Re: the Learning Center. I guess I will need to study about 10 times more than I do. Or, I need to go back to many Beginner Lessons because I am finding the Quizzes are way too difficult for me. How about anyone else? Analyzing it, I think I am way too dependent on romaji I do understand the dialogue and I enjoy it. I would appreciate anyone’s advice.

Vicky-san, glad to hear you made it home okay. Good opportunity for the 30 comments, over halfway already!

Liz-san, when I first signed up I took a glance at the quiz for survival #1, and it was too difficult for me. It probably still is - so much to learn!

Will vote today, Vicky-san remind me later today eh?

Re: I did like Howl’s Moving Castle, but not as much as I loved Spirited Away–which was one of the best movies to come out of Ghibli in a long time. Howl was good, but it’s not something I can wholly recommend to others or watch every day (like I did Princess Mononoke). What’s your favorite Ghibli movie overall? Mine is Whisper of the Heart without a doubt; if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend you do so. It’s finally been released in the States, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding it wherever you may be.

Ok, I understand ‘ageru’. It means sense that you raise something up when giving it to someone. And ‘kureru’ almost sounds like ‘kuru’ so it follows that the thing is coming towards me. But what’s this word that was added at the end of the dialogue? “watashite?’

(Also, I think this might be the word that the poster above is referring to.)

In short:
watashimashou = watasu + masu + ou

Detail:
watasu = To deliver, to hand over
watashimasu = polite form of watasu (-su -> -shi, then add masu).
watashimashou = polite volition form of watasu (-su ->-shou).

Meaning:
watashimashou = Let’s deliver

Similarly, watashite is the te-form of watasu. (-su -> -shite)

Robさん、
I also like ‘Whisper of the Heart’ very much. ‘Spirited Away’ is great, but I’ve watched it too many times now. I also very much like ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’, although that isn’t on a japanese theme.

‘My Neighbours the Yamadas’ was interesting as a parady of japanese life. ‘Grave of the Fireflies’ was also interesting from that perspective, although too depressing to watch repeatedly. Both of those were directed by Isao Takahata rather than Hayao Miyazaki and have a different feel. In terms of shock value the non-ghibli ‘Bare Foot Gan’ also is worth watching from a war historical perspective.

I guess that ‘Pom Poko’ is my least favourite from the Ghibli stable. There were some interesting references to Japanese myths, but the story didn’t really grab me.

Straying away from Ghibli, both ‘Azu Manga Daio’ & ‘Fruits Basket’ give an interesting perspective on Japanese schools, while the ‘Oh my Goddess’ videos (not so much the movie), give some limited insight of college life. Apart from the aforementioned ‘My neighbours the Yamadas’ there doesn’t appear to be much based on realistic adult life. Maybe time to pick up a j-dorama.

Oh, by the way Danielさん, a little bird told me you didn’t use 「さん」when referring to me… what’s up with that?

Jonas

Alan-san and Rob-san
Whispers of the Heart is my favorite as well.
I found Howl better on later viewings.

usagi-san
Thanks.
Of course with me the higher up the organisation the less respect I have for my superiors It’ll have to be yaru then
Some day the concepts of relative status will finally click. (Sometimes I think I have it and then… it’s gone. )

Liz-san
Have a great holiday. I think you keep up with the lessons because they come so often that if you miss a week you’re scrambling to catch up again. I’m still working through the early episodes.
We expect a full report in Japanese with slides when you get back (warau)

– I had a conversation with a Japanese student. She pointed out a major thinking difference to me. If I met someone in the library I would say on leaving “don’t work too hard” not so with the Japanese “ganbatte” stick with it, do your all approach –

I too find the learning centre quizzes more advanced than the podcasts level and content. I don’t think it’s just a case of romaji dependence. (I’m ok with kana / kanji )
The JLPT4 quizzes are a bit more advanced than the actual test (IMHO)

There’s also the fact that although the podcasts are only 15 mins long they pack in what would probably be covered in a weekly 1 hour class. The daily pace is quite fast if you listen a couple of times, review, try to do quizzes, maybe write something, read a little about the grammar.
Then there’s a new lesson the next day.
I find it takes a while for the information to “settle” so it can be used. So it’s easy to find the 15 mins to listen but hard to find the extra time to process it… and of course there’s the time needed to hang out here too

I have a question regarding the Miyazaki thread. Which movie was “Whisper of the Heart?” What was the Japanese title?

Personally my take on his movies is that 千と千尋の神隠し (Spirited Away) is his best, and ハウルの動く城 (Howl’s Moving Castle) is probably second. I enjoyed 魔女の宅急便 (Kiki’s Delivery Service) and となりのトトロ (My Neighbor Totoro). I’m not a fan of もののけ姫 (Princess Mononoke). Although very lush & stylish, it’s dark themes bothered me. Too 神道 (Shinto) for me.

I’m so glad to see that you guys enjoyed Whisper of the Heart as much as I did!

Alansan, yes I’ve seen all of those films. In fact, I’ve seen every movie to come out of Ghibli! Grave of the Fireflies is very depressing, yes, so I don’t own that one, though I’d say it’s in my top 3 favorite from that studio. If I need a good cry I’ll look into it again

Beltonsan, yes that’s so sad that Kundo died after “Whisper”–he had nothing but good things ahead of him, I think, as far as film is concerned. So sad!