The fact that you need to consider when you try to find a language exchange partner Today, I'd like to state how to find ideal language exchange partners efficiently. All contents are based on my past experience, therefore I don't say if you follow all of my advice, you'll definitely be able to find a language exchange partner. Just it may increase your chance of finding ‘ideal’ language partners. First of all, it's better for you to think what your ideal condition is. In other words, you need to find a clear reason why you need to study the language. Let's say, you decided to study Italian. Because of what? Maybe because you're keen on fashion, especially Italian brands. At this stage, you already have to be precise your learning path. For example; 1) Would you like to study fashion in Italy?2) Would you like to open an Italian clothing store in your country by yourself? 3) Would you like to work at a clothing store in Italy? Or 4) Would you like to talk about fashion with Italians who are also keen on fashion? As you may notice, each goals requires you to have different levels and learning methods. The first example requires you to master all skills since your goal is learning fashion with others in Italy. You definitely need to know how to write academic reports, make presentations and discuss in Italian. You also need to conduct daily conversation in Italian. The second one requires you to know business Italian especially. Since you decided to do everything by yourseslf, you have to read and write legal documents in Italian. And of course, you have to communicate with your clients in Italian. The third one requires you to know mainly formal and informal Italian speaking skill. Of course, you also need to have the skill of writing formal Italian since you ‘work’. The last one doesn't require a lot. You need to focus on only casual Italian conversation skill. You don't need to know complicated business phrases or learn every single Italian grammar by heart. After you precise your goals and required skills, you can start to think what kind of people you should send a message to be a language exchange partner. Even though you want to learn business Italian, you send a message to 9 years old children, people call you a fool. In my view, sending request messages to native speakers just because of their nationality actually wastes the time of others. It's a matter of course that you definitely waste your time talking with people with no knowledge about your interests and requirements. P.S. You also need to know about your language.

Particle が and は This time, I would like to explain what the difference is between particles が and は. When I talked with my language exchange partners and correcting some friends'postings, I realized that understanding their differences are s common difficulty for beginners of Japanese learners. The point is what you would like to emphasize in your sentences. Let imagine, your name is John Smith. You are in a hospital and waiting your turn. Then, finally a nurse calls your surname 'Mr. Smith!' But you are not sure she called you or not. Maybe, there are other Mr. Smith because some other people are also looking around. Then, the nurse shouted your full name, 'Is there Mr. John Smith?' So, now you are sure she called you, not a person who is sitting next to you or a person who sitting in front of you and reading a book. Thus, you go close to the nurse and say 'I am John Smith.' In this case, you emphasize 'I' and imply 'I' am John Smith who you are looking for, not the person who is sitting next to me, nor the person who is sitting in frot of me. So in this situation, the sentence, I am John Smith, has to be translated 私'が' ジョン スミス です。When you use 'が', the sentence must emphasize 'subject', not 'objects'. Well, how about 'は'? So, now you are still John Smith and in the hospital. Suddenly, a stranger came toward you and asked, 'Are you, by any chance,Mr. John Brown?' Unfortunately, you are John but not Brown. So you may answer 'I am John Smith, not John Brown.' In the sentence, you emphasize your name, John Smith which is the object. So in Japanese, you can say '私はジョン スミス(じょん すみす)で、ジョン ブラウン(じょん ぶらうん)ではありません。' So, as you can see, when you would like to emphasize an object, not a subject. So I hope now you can easily translate the sentence, He is my favorite actor, in Japanese. There are two versions. 1)かれ　は　私の　好きな　俳優(はいゆう)です, in the sentence emphasizes 'actor'. 2)かれ　が　私の　好きな　俳優です, in this case, the sentence emphasizes the subject, わたし. I would like to cut the explanation about them because I am fed up with typing with a phone. If you have any question about these particle, you just ask your language exchange partners. And unfortunately if it is me for you, just ask via Skype. I'm willing to answer your question.

The Word You Must Know But May Not Know The Fact Today, I would like to introduce how to change the meaning of ありがたい. One of popular Japanese words, ありがとう comes from the word, ありがたい. When you write the word in kanji, it is 有り難い. It has said that it meant 'difficult to exist', 'rare' or 'difficult to achieve' during the Heian period. These kanji clearly describes their meanings, so it is easy to memorize their meanings. You can find their examples in 'The tale of Genji' or 'Makura no Soushi'. It had changed its meaning to precious or reverend, which meant 尊い(とうとい) in Japanese, in the Muromachi period. Its meaning was changed however, the transformation was based on previous meanings, difficult to exist, rare or difficult to achieve. Since there is some difficulty to exist or rare to see for you, you may think it is precious. You can find its example in 'Hamaguri no Soushi'. It had changed its meaning to 'to thank', which meant 感謝したい(かんしゃしたい) in Japanese, until around Edo period. The process of the transformation was same with previous one. Since the situation or the thing is precious, you may think you would like to thank it. You can find some examples used the meaning in 'Shunshoku Umegoyomi', *Before the Edo period, people used 'かたじけない' as the word expressed their thanks. By learning that kind of process, I think you can understand Japanese much more deeply.

Nice to Meet You This is the first time for me to write here. I decided to use the site to find some personal language exchange partners or tutors, not to find a teacher. At my university, I took some course which for teaching Japanese for foreigners and I already have some experiences of teaching Japanese for English natives. However, I am not interesting in earning money as a teacher via the site. I am interested in having a win-win relationship with English native speakers who are keen on learning Japanese and know how to write academic writing in English and English grammar.