Nihongojouzu

iTunes Podcasting

Apple has just updated iTunes. Version 4.9 lets you browse for and subscribe to thousands of podcasts (internet radio shows) for nix. Update iTunes, go to the iTunes Music Store and browse the Categories - choose International and then Subcategory Japanese. There you will find two Japanese podcasts, My Cup of Tea and Podcast Soundsystems. Subscribe to them and sync them to your iPod and you have instant free Japanese listening material.

Sanyo Digital Voice Recorder

I picked up a Sanyo ICR-S170M digital voice recorder from Yodobashi Camera in Shinjuku and I am well impressed. My former voice recorder was a Sony model and while it looked beautiful the controls were counterintuitive and the use of the proprietary .MSV file format meant either running an emulator on my Mac (takes up space, slow) or extracting files to my work PC and then converting them to a Mac friendly .wav format. The ICR-S170M has no such problems - it records as mp3 and connects via a USB cable, so moving files onto my PowerBook is a simple drag-and-drop operation. I have been recording everything from formal speeches, workplace conversations, party talk and even my own weekly lessons - nothing like listening to yourself speak Japanese to know how good or bad you sound! Up to 8 hrs of recording time, depending on the recording quality selected. And the best part - only 12,000 yen!

Japanese Language Proficiency Test: Test Content Specifications

I picked up a copy of the 日本語能力試験出題基準 - the specifications for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test from Kinokuniya in Shinjuku (2,100yen, Bonjinsha). The specs list the kanji, grammar and vocab for each level of the JLPT but be warned - the foreword explains that the specifications were developed as a guide for those compiling test questions for the JLPT and were NOT designed as a study or teaching guide. In particular the foreword also points out that 20% of the kanji appearing in the JLPT may be kanji which are not contained in the lists and can be selected at the discretion of the test compilers from amongst kanji of a similar level of difficulty.......

White Rabbit Press

Today I met Max Hodges, software engineer and owner of Whiterabbitpress. Max has produced some very well designed kanji flashcards for Levels 4 and 3 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test and Level 2 cards are on the way. I'll review the cards at greater length later, but for the time being checkout the info on his website.

Back from Kobe

Just got back from the JET Programme 2005 Conference for Re-contracting JETs where I presented two 75 minute seminars on Learning Japanese. The text for my presentation (an updated version of last year's seminar) is here. I will write up my notes of what additional material came up during the two sessions (notably some earthy expressions which made even me blush :-)) but give me a day or two. Looking forward to the feedback - I can make improvements in preparation for presenting the same seminars at next week's conference in Tokyo. Note to self: learn more gutter slang.