I just took my second Japanese test at ACC. And while I think I did okay at it, I’m feeling very discouraged and I’m very close to giving the whole thing up.
I am pretty good at remembering kanji, pronunciations, and grammar, but it all falls apart when I need to actually put together coherent sentences. Perhaps I’m not getting enough practice, perhaps I’m just not good enough. But I really feel as if I have about hit the limit of how well I’m going to do if I keep going the way I’m going now.
But I’m really embarrassed to speak it. I feel like I’m not good enough to hold even a basic conversation and that everyone I attempt to speak to would rather I just didn’t, but I also know that there’s no way I’m going to get better unless I find people to speak with. So I’m in a position right now where I don’t know why I’m learning it, I find it interesting but I don’t have a really persuasive reason to continue, and every time I attempt to speak with someone it just leaves me embarrassed.
So, why try?
I recognize that learning a language is grammar, etc., second, and exposure and familiarity first. If I can’t find that, then there’s no point in wasting my time.
I’m certainly not throwing in the towel until this class is over, but after that, I don’t know. I don’t have a reason.