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During summer, I participated in #vana11. This is “virtual summer holiday homework”. On Twitter, the people participating in it set study goals for the summer holiday, and posted their progress each day.

My goals were

1. Finish my Chinese language textbook (50 units)
2. Finish my Chinese workbook (50 units)
3. Read two novels in Japanese

Then I added daily Duolingo, Chinese grammar wiki, or daily Chinese listening to my goals.

I reached goal number 3. I read two novels by Matsumoto Seicho, my favourite Japanese author. They were really exciting.

I didn’t reach my goal of finishing by Chinese textbook, but I went from unit 21 to unit 44. I was pleased with this progress. With my workbook, it only arrived halfway through my studies, but I reached unit 19. I decided to finish my textbook first, and then use the workbook for reviewing the language in my textbook.

I managed to do Duolingo, Chinese grammar wiki, or Chinese listening every day.

I’m glad I participated in the virtual summer homework event. Every day, I saw other people’s study reports and it motivated me. It is also motivating to post your own study reports. I think I will continue doing this now that the summer homework has finished.

by Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press

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It seems like summer was short this year. We had a long rainy season in June and July, and then about three weeks of sunny and hot weather. In mid-August, we had a typhoon. Since then it has been cool and rainy.

Some parts of Japan had torrential (torrential = very heavy) rain, and there was flooding and mudslides. Luckily, the area where I live didn’t have any disasters.

Apart from the disasters, I am glad that summer was short. Recently, summers have been getting hotter and hotter in Japan. When I came to Japan 19 years ago, summers were pleasant. I used to ride my bicycle to the beach in summer. Now, it is too hot and humid to go outside in summer. I stay inside, with my air conditioner on.

My parents visited Japan nine years ago. They visited in September. That year, it was still very hot and they struggled with the heat and humidity. I think this September is going to be autumn-like and cool. I hope so. Autumn is my favourite season. I love drinking coffee and reading a good book on a cool autumn day.

by Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press