Japanese Classes

Yes, I know what you'll say...why is he taking Japanese classes while living in Spain? I've already been asked. A bunch.

Well, I figured that I really wanted to learn Japanese and I have the time to devote to it now. Why not take a Spanish class? To be honest, my whole day is filled with Spanish and I figured it'd be a good break, something new, and a little bit challenging. The reality is that I'm learning a lot of Spanish grammar in the process of studying the Japanese. Remember, the classes are being taught in Spanish...I'm learning Japanese in Spanish (and Spanish in my Japanese class).

Oh yeah, did I mention that I'm actually taking two Japanese classes at the same time??? I originally wanted to take the Intro to Japanese at the Escola Oficial de Idiomes (Drassanes) here in Barcelona but they didn't have any space the day I went to register. I ended up registering for another Intro to Japanese class being held at the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (U.P.C.). The E.O.I. class later had an opening and I decided to go for it and do both. Can you say full-immersion opportunity? :-)

The Escola Oficial de Idiomes is located near the Barcelona water front and port (Drassanes) and is in a fairly boring-looking building...but at least it has somewhat-functioning air conditioning in the classroom:


U.P.C. is located towards the airport but still well in town. The building (Industrial Engineering) where the class is being held also houses the gym that I go to. Unfortunately, there's no air conditioner in the classrooms (or gym for that matter)...


The two-classes thing has actually worked out pretty well as my four-and-a-half hour morning class at U.P.C. is fairly technical and most of the time is spent doing grammar while the two-hour evening class at E.O.I. is more casual and conversational. I've definitely got my hands full though. I'm at the same time proud of how much I've learned in a week-and-a-half but frustrated that I can't get more stuffed into what's left of my brain.

Even though I can't remember all my Katakana and Hiragana, I am picking up quite a bit. I'm actually at the point where I can say things like:

わたしわ　ダレン　です。

にほんご　を　べんきようすます。

Pretty cool, huh? Let's see how it looks after four weeks of six-plus hours per day.

Anyway, off to study my kana cards...

あ　い　う　え　お　か　き　く　け　こ　さ　。。。