Self-Introduction (HIRAGANA)

はじめまして　エリザベタ　です。
Columbia だいがく　の　ひしょ　です。
しゅっしうん　は　New Jersey です。　
ロシヤ　から　きました。　
たんじょぅび　は　はちがつ　じゅぅさんにち　でぅす。　
どぅぞ よろしく。

Self-Introduction

Hajimemashite Erizabeta desu. "Columbia" daigaku no hisho desu. Syusshin wa "New Jersey" desu. Roshiya kara kimashita. Tanjôbi wa hachi-gatsu jûsan-nichi desu.

Dôzo yoroshiku.

Midterm Exam

i can't say i love exams, i doubt many people do. if i must be tested then i would like to be tested on the following criteria:

1. my understanding of what i am seeing/reading: reading comprehension type questions preferably in romanji since i still cannot read hiragana comfortably.
2. practice of speech/accent: a practical speaking portion to an exam.
3. matching of vocabulary to their english translations from one column to another.
4. short answers and some multiple choice.

...not so easy...

The japanese class is fast paced and is taking a lot of effort from me to keep up with. Since this language is so different in the alphabet, the sound, the grammar - everything it is basically difficult to relate it and committ things to memory. I often wonder how the other students handle it in addition to a full class load. Personally I am doing the best that I can and dedicating as much time to it as possible. The homework is taking a lot of time but it is easy to follow and the repetition is helpfull. The vocabulary and the hiragana at this point are the most difficult aspects. I am having a hard time memorizing both but will continue to practice and put forth an effort.