Shiira.Shiira

 Week before last on Monday night, I attended another class in UWF’s “Intro Japanese II” series.  If you’ve followed me (for whatever reason) on Twitter, you’ll probably know this is a more advanced class for which I am not in the least qualified to attend.  Chie-sensei and her students, however, have been most gracious not only in allowing me to be present, but to include me in the class as well.

It’s a tough class because of my lack of expertise in the Japanese language but I really do get a lot out of it.  It’s awesome to come away at the end of the night not having been absolutely, totally lost, and also to be this close to the only pseudo-immersion I can find around here.  I am grateful for the experience though it looks, with my crazy school and home schedule, like I will not be able to continue. [Inserts sad face here].

But on to more interesting things about the class.  Imagine for a moment, Marilyn Monroe is still alive …  and with that being said, let’s begin the lesson …

Upon my arrival in class that night, this is what was written on the board:

 

Disclaimer:  Hopefully these are typed correctly : )

With these sentences, Sensei explained the uses of the phrase “ように”.  Now remember, I’m just a lowly beginner Japanese student.  As a result, while I was able to read the phrases and to understand the concepts as they were explained to me, my understanding seems only to have lasted as long as the class. Now I am at a loss.

Of course, being lost in this lesson isn’t such a big deal for me because it’s a more advanced study than I’m used to and perhaps, more advanced than I am ready for.  But, as they say, “knowledge is power!” so I attempt to learn in whatever circumstance presented.

So can you help me?…

Take a look at the above sentences and see if you are able to give accurate interpretations of what the speaker might be trying to say.  Just in case you need it, here is another set of helpful hints chalked by Chie-sensei:

 

Were these sentences as easy for you as they were difficult for me?