Comments on: What’s your major time sink? http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/12/02/whats-your-major-time-sink/ Japanese, Chinese, and a dash of Korean Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:42:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: elephant http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/12/02/whats-your-major-time-sink/comment-page-1/#comment-7169 elephant Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:08:56 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=327#comment-7169 my time sinks come in phases, being in my 4th year at university and not a very diligent student, over the years ive had alot free time to spend in various time wasting ways. one of the most unproductive was ff12, i dont remember my play time now, but i do remember drinking energy drinks, coffee and eventually just straight caffeine pills to keep playing days straight. that was for about 7 months. as you can imagine my grades were shit and i didnt have many real friends. but in contrast i've also had random less embarrising time sinks. for example, sometimes i would obsess about learning things that were very difficult like brain physiology or mathematics of quantum theory or whatever else that was out of my league so i would go to the university library and live there reading books, but ultimately it was a time wast because i could never commit myself to learn anything real. i got bored as soon as i started. but my studying japanese was different. ive studied on and off for 5 years now, but ive diffenetly learned something even though i may never apply it towards my career, i still fell proud have having accomplished something that takes consistent effort over a long time. and i think anyone who has studied a foreign language knows that its relatively easy compared to other things you could learn. but for those of you who have devoted enough of them selves to leave the beginner stage and reach more sophisticated foreign language learning related activities, it becomes more than just a hobby, but an aspect of your way of life. learning a foreign language requires your immersion and by that i mean you need to be obsessed with what your learning to really learn it. the difference between obsession and ambition lies in your plans for achievement. my time sinks come in phases, being in my 4th year at university and not a very diligent student, over the years ive had alot free time to spend in various time wasting ways. one of the most unproductive was ff12, i dont remember my play time now, but i do remember drinking energy drinks, coffee and eventually just straight caffeine pills to keep playing days straight. that was for about 7 months. as you can imagine my grades were shit and i didnt have many real friends. but in contrast i’ve also had random less embarrising time sinks. for example, sometimes i would obsess about learning things that were very difficult like brain physiology or mathematics of quantum theory or whatever else that was out of my league so i would go to the university library and live there reading books, but ultimately it was a time wast because i could never commit myself to learn anything real. i got bored as soon as i started. but my studying japanese was different. ive studied on and off for 5 years now, but ive diffenetly learned something even though i may never apply it towards my career, i still fell proud have having accomplished something that takes consistent effort over a long time. and i think anyone who has studied a foreign language knows that its relatively easy compared to other things you could learn. but for those of you who have devoted enough of them selves to leave the beginner stage and reach more sophisticated foreign language learning related activities, it becomes more than just a hobby, but an aspect of your way of life. learning a foreign language requires your immersion and by that i mean you need to be obsessed with what your learning to really learn it. the difference between obsession and ambition lies in your plans for achievement.

]]> By: taekk http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/12/02/whats-your-major-time-sink/comment-page-1/#comment-6992 taekk Sat, 26 Dec 2009 04:39:17 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=327#comment-6992 I would suggest the forum: www.guidetojapanese.org/forum I would suggest the forum: http://www.guidetojapanese.org/forum

]]> By: Ampharos64 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/12/02/whats-your-major-time-sink/comment-page-1/#comment-6987 Ampharos64 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:39:28 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=327#comment-6987 Games for me. Wouldn't give them up though, they're my major hobby, and I don't really consider it worse than reading (taking a English MA, so also do that a lot) - I'm not convinced that reading the epic tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (<3 Medieval Lit.) is really somehow 'better' for me than playing Final Fantasy. I'd say for a lot of people, a time sink like video games, movies or manga has been what prompted them to learn Japanese to begin with. I can try to play games in Japanese, too, so it can be productive that way (not that anyone can be productive all the time). So, for me, my time sink is worth it. Thanks for the guide, btw. Think I'm finally getting somewhere with grammar, and it's really down to it. ^_^ Games for me. Wouldn’t give them up though, they’re my major hobby, and I don’t really consider it worse than reading (taking a English MA, so also do that a lot) – I’m not convinced that reading the epic tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (<3 Medieval Lit.) is really somehow 'better' for me than playing Final Fantasy. I'd say for a lot of people, a time sink like video games, movies or manga has been what prompted them to learn Japanese to begin with.
I can try to play games in Japanese, too, so it can be productive that way (not that anyone can be productive all the time). So, for me, my time sink is worth it.

Thanks for the guide, btw. Think I'm finally getting somewhere with grammar, and it's really down to it. ^_^

]]> By: ferran http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/12/02/whats-your-major-time-sink/comment-page-1/#comment-6986 ferran Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:23:02 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=327#comment-6986 Sometimes doing nothing productive is really productive to oneself ;) I didn't know where to post this... Could anybody tell me if this is correct? は and が particle always mess me up 「 お姉さん は しゅみ が 何 ？」 I tried to compare it with the examples of the grammar but I failed learning the right way :S Thanks :D Sometimes doing nothing productive is really productive to oneself ;)

I didn’t know where to post this… Could anybody tell me if this is correct? は and が particle always mess me up
「 お姉さん は しゅみ が 何 ？」

I tried to compare it with the examples of the grammar but I failed learning the right way :S
Thanks :D

]]> By: Elliott http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/12/02/whats-your-major-time-sink/comment-page-1/#comment-6975 Elliott Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:53:58 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=327#comment-6975 My biggest time sink is definitely Japanese TV Dramas. I usually watch them to escape really studying Japanese, and I use the "there's no subtitles" excuse to convince myself that I'm studying. I can sometimes sit and watch 4 or 5 whole 45 minute episodes in a row without getting of the couch! (>_<) It's true that it's listening practice, but I never really go back and re-watch a scene that I didn't understand 100% so I just reinforce what I already know and don't really learn anything new. Its not so bad though, is it? My biggest time sink is definitely Japanese TV Dramas. I usually watch them to escape really studying Japanese, and I use the “there’s no subtitles” excuse to convince myself that I’m studying. I can sometimes sit and watch 4 or 5 whole 45 minute episodes in a row without getting of the couch! (>_<)

It's true that it's listening practice, but I never really go back and re-watch a scene that I didn't understand 100% so I just reinforce what I already know and don't really learn anything new. Its not so bad though, is it?

]]> By: Warwick http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/12/02/whats-your-major-time-sink/comment-page-1/#comment-6966 Warwick Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:07:23 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=327#comment-6966 I'd say that my major time sink is me. I can spend a lot of time simply mulling things over and puttering along, and can sometimes appear to myself to be being productive when I'm not really. Really I'd say it's more how I do things than what I actually do. I’d say that my major time sink is me. I can spend a lot of time simply mulling things over and puttering along, and can sometimes appear to myself to be being productive when I’m not really. Really I’d say it’s more how I do things than what I actually do.

]]> By: Micah http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/12/02/whats-your-major-time-sink/comment-page-1/#comment-6948 Micah Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:53:15 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=327#comment-6948 I'm trying to make Japanese my time sink :) I’m trying to make Japanese my time sink :)

]]> By: Ktkn http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/12/02/whats-your-major-time-sink/comment-page-1/#comment-6924 Ktkn Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:55:41 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=327#comment-6924 The thing is, games for me also become (retarded) goals to achieve... especially Maplestory, which is mainly a grinding game on which I wasted a lot of my time on. Good thing I'm not in college yet, and I think I've learned my lesson. Let's see... 95 items in Google Reader, the vast majority of which are webcomics- and I normally wait for webcomics to have a few unread posts so that I can read a longer chunk of the story in one go. Incidentally, I was reading this post via Google Reader when it cropped up. Recently I've been studying for the JLPT3... and the main reason I haven't been distracted is that a family friend is helping me with studying, and I would feel bad if I looked like an idiot in front of her, and that since she's putting in effort I feel obligated to do so as well. o_o Such is the power of social (and probably self-imposed) pressure. Also, I approve of taekk's avatar. :D The thing is, games for me also become (retarded) goals to achieve… especially Maplestory, which is mainly a grinding game on which I wasted a lot of my time on. Good thing I’m not in college yet, and I think I’ve learned my lesson.

Let’s see… 95 items in Google Reader, the vast majority of which are webcomics- and I normally wait for webcomics to have a few unread posts so that I can read a longer chunk of the story in one go. Incidentally, I was reading this post via Google Reader when it cropped up.

Recently I’ve been studying for the JLPT3… and the main reason I haven’t been distracted is that a family friend is helping me with studying, and I would feel bad if I looked like an idiot in front of her, and that since she’s putting in effort I feel obligated to do so as well. o_o Such is the power of social (and probably self-imposed) pressure.

Also, I approve of taekk’s avatar. :D

]]> By: Dale http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/12/02/whats-your-major-time-sink/comment-page-1/#comment-6918 Dale Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:40:22 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=327#comment-6918 Games used to take up a vast amount of time. I love RPGs like Neverwinter Nights, Divine Divinity and Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines. Unfortunately I would play these six hours a day a few months ago. In the end I've forced myself to curtail gaming to the weekend only and 3 hours per session. I also treat myself to games when I've completed a goal in my language learning. Games used to take up a vast amount of time. I love RPGs like Neverwinter Nights, Divine Divinity and Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines. Unfortunately I would play these six hours a day a few months ago. In the end I’ve forced myself to curtail gaming to the weekend only and 3 hours per session. I also treat myself to games when I’ve completed a goal in my language learning.

]]> By: rswood http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/12/02/whats-your-major-time-sink/comment-page-1/#comment-6913 rswood Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:32:04 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=327#comment-6913 Games are it for me, but I enjoy them too much to give them up. I value them for entertainment, but know that they can take far more time than their value should allow. So I created an artificial barrier for myself--if a game I'm interested in doesn't Metacritic a rating higher than a certain %, I don't buy it. And I stick to it. As it was, my backlog of games to play was piling up faster than I could play through them. Regardless of any arguments one might make about score aggregators or even the validity of reviews, this was an objective way I could control my impulses. And as my life has gotten busier, I raise that score a point at a time. I'm at 82% currently (started at 80%). You'd be surprised how many games don't qualify, games I would've bought in the past. I already cut out television entirely except for two shows my wife wants to watch together. I installed Leechblock on Firefox and put things like Facebook on it during the workday. I only buy Japanese games for my DS (and their American release counterparts have to match that % to qualify). When the next gen systems come out, I will import one and buy only Japanese games for it. The extra cost of importing also serves as a barrier. Etc., etc. Discipline + workable strategy = success. Games are it for me, but I enjoy them too much to give them up. I value them for entertainment, but know that they can take far more time than their value should allow. So I created an artificial barrier for myself–if a game I’m interested in doesn’t Metacritic a rating higher than a certain %, I don’t buy it. And I stick to it. As it was, my backlog of games to play was piling up faster than I could play through them. Regardless of any arguments one might make about score aggregators or even the validity of reviews, this was an objective way I could control my impulses. And as my life has gotten busier, I raise that score a point at a time. I’m at 82% currently (started at 80%). You’d be surprised how many games don’t qualify, games I would’ve bought in the past. I already cut out television entirely except for two shows my wife wants to watch together. I installed Leechblock on Firefox and put things like Facebook on it during the workday. I only buy Japanese games for my DS (and their American release counterparts have to match that % to qualify). When the next gen systems come out, I will import one and buy only Japanese games for it. The extra cost of importing also serves as a barrier. Etc., etc. Discipline + workable strategy = success.

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