Japanese Translations

[Kurobana Akira]

You might consider emailing the friends you made during the program and seeing if they'd be interested in getting Skype so you could actually speak with them. If I don't practice speaking at least a few times a week, I can feel my accent start to slip. Even if you just get some Japanese music and sing along with it, it all helps.

[Hearts and Stars]

I listen to Japanese music frequently. Although, my inability to memorize lyrics (even in English) keeps me from singing along to almost all music.

I did have a Japanese Skype companion for a while, but I'm sure you and I will discuss that in PMs when that topic comes around again.

I will admit (though it's a bit embarrassing) that I converse with those friends while I'm in bed trying to get to sleep. I talk to them about mundane things. Naturally, it doesn't get very far, because they never answer me.

lol! I'm hopeless!

[Hearts and Stars]

愛犬パックンはどこへいくの？

１　その犬、わたしが飼うわ

「こんなにたのんでも、だめだっていうのね。」
ムッチンは軽（かる）く腰（こし）に手をあてて、くりくりっとよく動（うご）く目で、もう一度教室（きょうしつ）中をぐるっと見まわした。
「ようし、その犬飼ってあげようっていう人が、ひとりくらいいてもいいんじゃないの？」
しかし、だれからも反応（はんのう）はない。
一校時は、もうはじまっているのだが、担任（たんにん）のエリー先生は、まだきていない。体（からだ）のぐあいが悪（わる）く、お医者（いしゃ）さんに寄（よ）ってくるから一時間くらいはおくれるという。


This is the first page of the next thing I'm going to try to translate. It's only a few sentences, but I think it'll be hard as it is.

[fayebelly]

PAnZuRiEL

Hearts and Stars

I mean, I see truth in what he's said, but I'm just getting started, and I don't really see the harm in starting small.

How long were you in Japan? Even if it was only for a short time, it's conceivable that your skill with the language could surpass mine, as I've never visited or lived there and my functional fluency is low. I've been translating reasonably advanced works, and I wouldn't think that a children's book would be sufficient to maintain my abilities at even the meagre maybe-middleschool level that they're at now. But I guess that's just me.

I was in Japan for 10 months and my ability isn't great. Exposure to the country is overrated in my opinion... I mean, it's great and all, but it doesn't mean that you're going to be fluent. If you don't know enough Japanese, then you don't get many chances to practice.

I've actually started learning faster and more Japanese since I came back because I feel far less pressure to know important things that may or may not come up in a conversation I may or may not have... So I can learn whatever I want at whatever rate I like.

Also, Hearts and Stars... Well done on the translating! I'm jealous! >,<

[Hearts and Stars]

I'm sure that if you tried translating that book, you'd be as successful or even more than I was. It was a very simple book to translate.