Update: Week 7 will start on Jan 30 and go for another 6 weeks. Links to individual threads of each week at the bottom.
The Plan:
- Daily update with a new picture by 9am (Tokyo Time) starting Dec. 12th for 6 weeks (will extend if people are interested)
- Bite-size Practice for acquiring information in Japanese in the Wild by responding to a short question or prompt
- Multiple ways to participate, choose whichever way you feel comfortable with (Suitable for all levels)
- Weekly theme (One thread per week, links to each thread below)
- Challenge yourself to use Japanese everyday
Since it seems like the Bunpro team will have their hands full with other projects for the foreseeable future, I wanted to try something similar to GitW but with more of a focus on practicing understanding information in the wild, rather than how it breaks down. The material will be mostly limited to things that are meant to be understood quickly without much knowledge required beyond the immediate context. For example: signs, menus , museum labels, packaging, FAQ answers, and etc. The weekly theme will provide supplemental context.
Some sample posts:
- What is the most important piece of information the sign is telling you?
Sample Answer
The employee is hearing impaired.
- What is the sign requesting you to do?
Sample Answer
To show your receipt when getting your drink
- How much would an order of one Tall Soy Latte, one Venti Caramel Frappuccino, and two Grande Drip Coffees be?
- 1640
- 1690
- 1710
- 1750
0 voters
Answer
1690 (420 + 550 + 360 + 360)
Main Goals:
- Normalize using Japanese to acquire information in the wild
- Engage the material rather than deciphering it
- Challenge yourself on speed and accuracy rather than complexity (For people who are further along)
How to Participate
The primary way would be to make a post and add answers to it each day of the week but this will not be the only way. There will be a poll in each of the weekly threads to indicate your participation that week, so that would be an option if you would prefer to just follow along at home. There will also be multiple choice for some pictures so those can be answered directly.
Since we are trying to simulate encountering this information in the wild, donât feel restricted in using any tools at your disposal. Find strategies that work for you when youâre stuck. For example in the first sample picture, you may have been able to figure out the request just by being able to read the two repeated katakana words in the sign.
Weekly Theme
The themes will typically be location based whether physical or virtual but they really can be anything. Feel free to suggest themes you would like to see. (If anybody in Japan would like to help with pictures, let me know. If you recently arrived in Japan, this may be the perfect opportunity to understand all the text you keep walking by each day.)
There will be a gradual increase in complexity within each week when possible.
Upcoming themes
Week 1 Simple Signs around the Station
Week 2 Recyling and Garbage Day in Mito
Week 3 A Stroll around the Neighbourhood
Week 4 Signs around the Stations - Corona Measures Edition
Week 5 Basic Signs at a Museum (w/ Experimental âAdvancedâ version of prompts)
Week 6 Signs at the Local Post Office
Week 7: Information related to Starbucks
Week 8: Browsing a Gift Shop
Week 9: Shopping at Itoyokado
Week 10: A Visit to the Pokemon Center at Ikebukuro
Week 11: Leaflets in your mailbox
Week 12: Reading Compression Drills for All Ages
Would you be interested in joining in?
- Yes
- No
0 voters
