Weekly Links 28 June 2009

All moved into to new digs this week. A bit more of a commute to work, but more space and a small garden. Now I can start the worm farm I've always dreamed of.

• A Few Simple Ideas for New Language Learners
  An approach to language learning that needs further attention if you are self directed and motivated. These pages are 10 years old now, but still have a lot to offer. I'm glad I went looking for them again, I thought they'd been pulled.
  
  
• Standby Blog Topics in Japan
  If you've ever wanted to know what most people blog about in Japan, Ken from What Japan Thinks has translated some demographic data from goo Research. I don't feel so bad about talking about worms now.
  
  
• IF... The Adventures of a Gaijin in Tokyo
  This YouTube adaptation of manga by Tadashi Nomura of Tezuka Productions is featured in Giles Murray's 13 Secrets for Speaking Fluent Japanese.
  
  
• Michael Jackson on a Japanese Commercial
  Can't end the week without at least a small tribute to MJ. In this CM for a scooter Wacko Jacko shares his message of love.
  

Weekly Links 21 June 2009

This weeks links are a little out of left field. It has been a big week.

• Why Japanese are negative regarding love | 世論 What Japan Thinks
  It makes me a little sad to hear that Japanese people report they have no self confidence. Maybe it's because they're never taught what it means. There are benefits to this attitude that are less apparent when seen through the lens of a Western mindset.
  
  
• ‘1Q84′, the new bestseller by Haruki Murakami
  I'm really looking forward to getting a copy of this book. I'm currently reading ‘Kafka on the Shore′, about a boy who runs away from home but is haunted by dreams and the death of his father in peculiar circumstances.
  
  
• Learning a language is like having a pet
  A fun analogy to run with (or to pun with) from Thomas at babelhut. You can also follow Thomas and Peter on Twitter.
  
  
• Tadpoles falling on Miyagi: witness
  Is some strange coincidence that I just so happen to be reading a book where fish fall out of the sky? What does it all mean?
  

Unlimited Learning with eduFire Superpass

Blue Sky Learning

When I was growing up I used to ask myself what I could learn if I had all the time in the world. If I was going to live for ever I would need something to do, and I knew that learning was something inexhaustible that didn't cost a lot of money. Those two factors were really important, because as a kid our family didn't have a lot of money, but growing up in Australia we had plenty of time.


[photo by the undergraduate]

I'd lie on my back in the sand and stare up into the deep blue sky above and go through a long list of things that I could possibly learn; judo, flying, Swahili, cake making, oil painting, motor car racing... The list went on and on and on, until the sand got too hot and I had to run down to the water and cool off.

Somewhere along the line most people lose this sense of wonder, and their sense of ownership, in learning. They tell themselves, "oh, I'll never be good at maths" or "I'm too slow for basketball", and they give up trying. Sometimes, even worse still, they let other people tell them what is possible. When that happens it's all too easy to blame your circumstances, the school you went to, the neighbourhood you grew up in or the chances you were given in life. So you do, and you just give up trying, because classes are too hard, the gym's too far from home, work finishes too late, and the teachers a jerk.

Well it's time to take back control. Education is coming to the same crossroads as tourism, the same page as publishing, and dare I say it, but the same red letter as finance. The invisible hand of capitalism has come smack up against the institutions that have lasted since the industrial revolution. The effects of globalisation and dis-intermediation are far-reaching and game-changing. They are also irreversible.

Smart people are not accepting the roles that have been carved for them and are learning to collaborate and cooperate in ways that simply weren't possible even 5 years ago. They are getting together to share knowledge in ever more democratic ways, as the cost of doing so disappears towards zero.

That's why, when I joined eduFire as a tutor last year I knew I was part of something much bigger, part of the education revolution. Part of a team that is committed to the principles of #hackedu. So today I am proud to present you with a chance to be a part of this revolution in learning.

SuperPass is here!

Unlimited Lessons one low price!

If you sign up now for SuperPass you get unlimited lessons on eduFire for the one low price of $29 per month. That's not just for my classes but for all classes on eduFire, you can learn whatever you want! That means even if you only choose to do 2 of my classes, Japanese for Absolute Beginners and the Language Lab, you'd get both classes for less than $8 a week!

Rainbowhill's Classes on eduFire

Rainbowhill's Japanese for Absolute Beginners $5/class (free with SuperPass)
Rainbowhill's Japanese Language Lab for Absolute Beginners $5/class (free with SuperPass)
Rainbowhill's Fast Track to Fluency in Japanese $5/class (free with SuperPass)
Rainbowhill's Fast Track to Japanese Fluency Lab $5/class (free with SuperPass)
Rainbowhill's Japanese for Beginners $5/class (free with SuperPass)
Rainbowhill's Japanese Language Lab for Beginners $5/class (free with SuperPass)


SuperPass only launched on Friday and already there are well over a hundred SuperPass classes, with more being created everyday.

You could have all these classes for $29

Japanese Classes

• Veteran Japanese Beginners Class – $5/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• Nihongo Power Up Class: Quick Question Pattern – $10/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• Gakuranman’s Japanese Masterclass 4 – $7/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• Beginning Japanese Grammar: Lab – $5/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• Everyday Basic Japanese (有料) – $5/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• Everyday JLPT4 (有料) – $5/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• Kanji, Kanji, Kanji!! – $5/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• Japanese – Level 10 Kanji (Easiest) – $5/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• Japanese – Level 9 Kanji – $5/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• One Step Closer to Speaking Fluent Japanese – $5/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• Tofugu’s Japanese for Beginner’s 1 – $10/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• Simplifying Japanese Particles – Tofugu x Gakuranman – $10/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• Sound fluent in Japanese with Katakana – Tofugu x Gakuranman – $10/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• JLPT level 4 (有料) – $5/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• 日本語道場　Intermediate Japanese with Wren – $12/class (free with SuperPass)
  
• Japanese Literature - Haruki Murakami – $7/class (free with SuperPass)

Join now win an iPhone 3GS

Don't wait a moment longer, join now and you will go in the draw to win an iPhone 3GS on the 19th of June. That's only 3 days a way, so be quick.

Your 7day trial starts with just one dollar!

Sign up now and you'll go into the draw to win a $200 gift voucher at the apple store, which you can use to buy anything you want. Funnily enough it's just the right amount for a brand-new iPhone 3GS. The winner will be announced on the 19th of June, so you only have 3 days to subcribe for your chance to win.

It's no secret I think eduFire is a great way to learn, but don't take my word for it! Listen to what other people are saying about eduFire on Twitter and then come back and sign up for your SuperPass!

Weekly Links 14 June 2009

I've been flat out this week, creating lists on smartfm and getting content ready for the launch of my next season of classes on eduFire at the end of the month, including a new workbook. I haven't had time for a full post, but that's the way things fall sometimes.

• Inside the Google Translator Toolkit
  This post from Tony Ruscoe of Google Blogoscoped gives a bit of a run down of what to expect from Google's new push in the area of machine translation. Again Google leverages the power of user generated content to refine translation. But most of us agree, it's not going to take the place of human translators any time soon.
  
  
• WaKan Project Website
  WaKan is not only a translation tool, but it provides text editing functions and printing options so you can develop your own flashcards (hint hint). I wish I'd know about this much earlier, thanks for bringing me the link LostInInaka!
  
  
• Examples of the Wisdom of Crowds in Daily Life
  Derek Powazek is a highly observant guy, and this is eye opener for you if you wonder about the wisdom of crowds. See also his article for A List Apart, The Wisdom of Community.
  
  
• eduFire SuperPass: Unlimited Education for Less Than a $1/Day
  Jon Bischke has a plan to change the world, one day at a time. If you don't think this is ground breaking, then listen to...
  
  
• journik's posterous - a grade A shouldery
  I first came across WangQi Kim surfing the #hackedu conversation on Twitter. He's an edurevolutionary, 'nuff said!

I've got more on the revolution in education in the next couple of days, including how to win yourself a free iPhone.

Weekly Links 7 June 2009

Here are just a few of the places I found interesting on the web over the last week. I had a fairly productive week blog wise, and I'm constantly surprised by the quality content out there, enjoy.

• Ajax IME: Web-based Japanese Input Method
  This is an oldy but a goody. It's a Japanese input method when you aren't in control of the machine you're sitting at. Perfect for updating your Japanese friends from the internet cafe or a work computer ;) Recently updated with a bookmarklet to turn any input field into a a Japanese text box.
  
  
• J-BLOGGERS - jibtv
  Danny, Clay Anna and Martin launched their new blog this week. I don't know much about JIBTV, so it will be interesting to see how this develops.
  
  
• Good Beer and Country Boys: A Wet Start to Weekends in June!...
  This blog is fun, I always look forward to catching it in my feed reader to lighten my mood on the bus home from work. It's not your typical J-blog, and that's refreshing. Oh, and it's about beer.
  
  
  
• The Wabi Sabi of a Japanese Table Setting | Nihon Sun
  I've seen quite a few posts on Wabi Sabi and the Japanese Aesthetic over the past week or so. Shane demonstrates that you can find this aspect of Japanese culture permeating everything, even the simplest table setting.
  
  
• Right-winger Bus For Sale « JapanSoc
  We all dream of doing a road trip in Japan, so imagine the stares you'd get in a full blown right winger bus with tinted windows and speakers blaring.
  
  
• Cup Noodle Monsters : Pink Tentacle
  I love the colours and shapes in this post.
  
  
• Néojaponisme » Everybody’s Fujoshi Girlfriend
  Otaku culture is typically male, but do the girls get into it in the same way? Are media representations of this phenomenon misguided?
  
  
  
• Practice Kana, Kanji, and Particles with Nihongoup | Tofugu
  About a month ago I wrote a review of Nihongoup for Philip, I'm glad to see his really handy software getting some more exposure, don't miss out on a free copy.
  

So there you have it, this week's links.

7 J-bloggers far from Japan

Last month I blogged about six expats blogging from Japan, because I wanted to give you an impression of what it's like to live there. The vast majority of visitors to this blog are however are from the United States, some from Australia and Europe, so I started to wonder why people have such an interest in Japan. Sometimes it can be a passing interest in manga or anime, but other times it develops in to an full blown geek obsession with all things Japanese.

I'd like to explore where that obsession comes from, and how it drives people to create beautiful blogs and engaging content about Japan. These are people that have felt the call so hard that they've poured hundreds of hours into blogging about their passion for a place that only a few have been to, and all for you, the blog reader.

I've met most of the bloggers mentioned through Twitter, YouTube or Flickr, or just by reading and commenting on other peoples blogs. If you have a passion for Japan but don't know where to start or even why you have one, don't be afraid to speak out. We've all had that feeling! I want to hear your story in the comments, or even better, on your own blog.

Liv O.

Liv O. (ieatmypigeon) on Twitter
Name: Liv O.
Location: New York City
Web: http://www.ieatmy...
Bio: Please enjoy the daily humiliations of an American writer trying to get used to New York again after 2 years in Japan

A self deprecating humour is absolutely essential for enduring the trials and tribulations of an "adored international celebrity" in Japan, read "English Instructor". Honestly though, I thought colonials, along with the parochial use of "zed", had a monopoly on this kind of thing. Not so, it would seem. These days Liv is offering Japan-inspired tips for laundry in New York whilst getting her travel writing career off the ground. Liv was recently accepted to a Creative Writing Master’s program in Dublin, Ireland. I'm really happy for her, because her enthusiasm for writing is obvious, and she is sure to tell a good story.

Jonas

yonasu (yonasu) on Twitter
Name: yonasu
Location: Sweden
Web: http://www.yonasu...
Bio: A blogger who loves social networking and everything Japanese!

Jonas is a university student that first got in to Japan through listening to trance remixes of Hamasaki Ayumi when he was just 12 years old. He launched into blogging in lae 2007 to share his passion for Japanese entertainment. His interest in J-pop developed alongside his interest in manga and anime, and now his site yonasu.com contains a stunning array of content that has to be seen. He may have an unhealthy obsession in Kamei Eri of Hello! Project, but he isn't what you'd call "hikikomori" or socially withdrawn, he's a very social guy. Long Live Kameism!

Joe Kester

Joe Kester (JoeInJapan) on Twitter
Name: Joe Kester
Location: Maine, USA
Web: http://joeinjapan...
Bio: Former exchange student in Japan. I love studying Japanese. 日本語もOK!

Joe recently came back from Japan where he was studying at Hirosaki University as a foreign exchange student. Joe chronicled the year in video, everything from journey to Japan to the endless college parties. Now that he has settled back into things in his home town of Auburn Maine, he's focussing his attention back on study of the Japanese language. He might even be able to give you some encouragement with your study as he prepares to take the Japan Language Proficiency Test.

Sheila G.

ShiiraShiira (ShiiraShiira) on Twitter
Name: ShiiraShiira
Location: Florida
Web: http://japanesedr...
Bio: I'm just me and nobody else...

Shiira is travelling to Japan and back the easy way, with her 15 year old son in August 2009. Her blog "Gisuru" is packed with practical advice to help you prepare for a trip to Japan on a budget. Shiira fell in love with Japan in November of 2008 when she went to visit a friend who teaches English to elemenary school children. She tells the heartwarming story of how the children there gave her her name. I'm sure she'll be coming back from in a couple of months time with plenty of adventurous tales riding the rail.

Kirk Brown

Jamaipanese (Jamaipanese) on Twitter
Name: Jamaipanese
Location: Jamaica
Web: http://www.jamaip...
Bio: Jamaica + Japan

Kirk blogs about Japan with such a passion you'd think that he'd lived there for ages, but to my surprise, he plans his first trip in early 2011. Kirk is a proud Jamaican blogger who also covers positive news about Jamaica and Jamaicans. His Flickr photostream shows the kind of carefree island life most of us can only dream about. He is bringing the best of Jamaica and Japan to his readers, hence the portmanteau for his personal blog, Jamaipanese. He's an infidel gamer and an avid photographer, whose obvious enjoyment of blogging is kind of infectious.

Ryan Taylor

Ryan Taylor (c_rh) on Twitter
Name: Ryan Taylor
Web: http://www.caught...
Bio: Yorkshire lad looking to get to Japan by hook, or by crook..

Caught*Red-handed is the "wacky ramblings" of a self confessed obsessive compulsive Yorkshire lad. Ryan sure fits the bill of a passionate J-blogger. He may be wabisabi potty at the moment but he certainly isn't glossing over some of the finer points of Japanese language and culture. Just check out his series on Japanese aesthetics, he presents prose as poignantly as photography. I was really impressed by his intimate knowledge of the history and structure of the Japanese written language.

Koichi

Tofugu (tofugu) on Twitter
Name: Koichi
Location: Portland, OR
Web: http://www.tofugu...
Bio: A Wonky Japanese Culture/Language Blog

No post on J-bloggers would be complete with out a mention of Koichi, whose wonky Japanese culture blog, Tofugu, must be one most well known blogs in this little pond. I first met Koichi on YouTube when he was doing both Japanese and English posts on his Japanese channel koichiben. In the middle of 2007 he decided to separate the English blog about Japan, from the Japanese blog about America, and invite contributors Erin and Viet to form Tofugu. Koichi is one of the most sincerely generous guys in the blogosphere (if that's really a place), who always goes out of his way to help the little guy. These days he's doing the marketing for the live video learning platform where I teach Japanese.

The round up

As is always the case for a post like this, there are always people I could have mentioned, and plenty that I wanted to. Please don't feel left out if that's the case, let me know, maybe we can build our blogging relationship.

If you have an interest in Japan and you want it to develop, get involved! Join the conversation at a social bookmarking site like JapanSoc, follow us on Twitter, start commenting on some of these blogs, we'd be happy to hear from you.