Saturday, September 27, 2008

Presidential Debate Round1

Presidential debate seems to have nothing to do with GTS nor Japanese language/culture. Yet, we all must be responsible for the future generations. According to CBS poll, 51% thought Obama-san performed the better job. There was one interesting conversation exchange about "a mother" who lost her son in Iraq (so about 2 different mothers). McCain quoted as "the mother had told him not to make her son's death meaningless/ wasteful /useless...." Obama quoted as "the mother had told him not to create the similar mothers like her again..." In this exchange, I saw the parallel of "Remember Pearl Harbor" mentality vs. "No More Hiroshima/Nagasaki" mentality. GTS sincerely hopes that every student of GTS' will follow what's going on in the U.S. as well as what's going on in Japanese language/culture class! Both are really IMPORTANT!!

Friday, September 26, 2008

Second test creates more mysterious chairs!

Japanese 1101 morning classes had the second test. The average score is about 75%. Most problems are still about Hiragana reading and writing. For those who master Hiragana by now, it must have been "a piece of sushi." Those who are still behind in Hiragana skill, it was just an evil as usual. Night class will have it on Monday night. The average score will probably get to 80%. There will be more ghost students until the mid-term attendance verification day in October. Chapter 2 grammar was just ~はorも~です。Actual ~ますverbs appear in Chapter 3 with those 'headache maker' particles of に、で、へ、を、がetc. and may let GTS' lovely students suffer. May God Bless Them! Next Friday will be JCC cinema and dinner day. Wow! Time flies!!!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Japanese Delegation visited to COD!

There are 4 college personnel from Yamaguchi Prefectual University came to COD to learn about academic field studies programs as well as interdisciplinary course offering which they are plan to developing. Their English professor (as also a international program coordinator) wrote and spoke perfect Japanese and he played a role of interpreter of his group. They didn't expect too much from us since this visit was just an addition of their departure day, but it turned out to be the best day! Why? Because of GTS, of course! (GTS is too much Americanized and forgot to be modest!) Hopefully future GTS trip to Japan may visit their school and several historical sites around it! JAPAN 2201 first test was over and it was as evil as usual GTS test! Never give up, folks! Future is yours!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Blog-site connected to GTS!

Three of GTS students created the GTS TRIO blog which, I hope, is and will be positive and productive and up-lifting for every member of the GTS community. Their blog site does suggest some good links for Japanese learners that I can also recommend. I truly hope that those three cooperatively continue the blog. GTS fan club isn't necessary but rather the community intertwined and positively connected through GTS is really wonderful and ideal. Some are connected through Facebook and/or My Space. GTS certainly plays some unique role in Facebook. Students can connected with former GTS students via Facebook. Let's have fun but be thoughtful as well!

Saturday, September 6, 2008

First JCC Dinner passed quickly!

JCC monthly dinner passed quickly! Several folks showed up after a few months silence, some even showed up from rather distant like NIU, UIC, DePaul U, U of Chicago, Loyola U.... There were students who just celebrated her birthday. There were students who tried Tempura ice cream, Gyoza, Edamame, Yakitori, Sukiyaki, Tonkatsu as well as Sushi. Though it was rather small group, tension got as high as it could be. Hopefully everyone comes back again in a month. Oh, yeah! Sometimes money got short but no problem our trust among GTS circle takes care of it! Japanese culture is pretty convenient in such a occasion. What is exactly the Japanese culture? You guess! And must guess right!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

"Mysterious Chairs" began appearing!

About 10 days have passed since the beginning of the semester and "mysterious chairs" began appearing as expected though each class is still in pretty much full. For 1101, Hiragana memorizing lesson has almost finished and by the mid-next week, Hiragana must be mastered. So another wave of "shaping up the class" will come soon before really getting into the "Language Learning mode." The size of 2201 is just a good size and I really hope everyone be successful in his or her individual goal setting! This is the first week of September so the first Friday event day is coming up and hope to see as many faces as I can on Friday 9/5. Japanese prime minister resigned again a few days ago, and as an overseas Japanese I feel kind of shame of our leaderships' irresponsibility in the important political arena. After the long reign of Premier Koizumi about just 1.5 years ago, 3rd Prime Minister will be elected by just ruling party MPs this month. Where will the boat "JAPAN" be heading? Sigh!