This semester I am happy to say that I have achieved all of my initial goals. To help me achieve my goals, I went to office hours multiple times, I went to the Japanese language tables, I watch several hours of anime each week, I spoke Japanese with my classmates outside of class, and I practiced shadowing every week. I didn't notice how much I improved until recently, when I was watching anime and understood a lot of what they were saying without reading the subtitles--even when they spoke quickly. I also noticed that when I speak, I speak faster, with less pauses and stutters, and I don't have to spend time thinking about my prosody, it's just more natural now! When I learn new vocabulary I try to learn the correct pitch so as not to pronounce anything incorrectly. This semester greatly improved my Japanese pronunciation!

日本に行ったら、たくさんことをしたいです！たとえば、おいしいすしを食べたり、かんこうをしたりしたいです。私の一番好きなりょうりはおすしです。そして、しゃしんをとるのが大好きです。いいぎじゅつやきれいなけしきがあるので、東京に行きたいです。来年の夏休みに日本に行くつもりです。

私が好きな旅行の思い出はカリフォルニアのディズニーランドの旅行です。一昨年の１２月２６日から１２月２８日までディズニーランドにいました。たくさん乗りものを乗りたり、おいしくてちょっと高いものを食べたりしました。たとえば、バーガーは＄１２ぐらい。けれども、家族と時間かかったので、とてもたのしかったです。

このしゃしんに一番目ひだりの人は私の父です。つぎに母です。真ん中の人は私。二番目と一番目みぎの人は私の兄です。

こんにちは！先週の春休みはちょっといそがしかったですが、とてもよかったです。たくさんしゅくだいがあるので、ちょっといそがしかったです。でも、毎日ハウスオフカルド（House of Cards) を見ました。3月12日から3月19日まで、ごじゅうにエピソード(episodes)を見ました。おもしろかったですよ。それから、たくさん寝ました。一日に10時ぐらい寝ました。じゃ、また！

Based on the comments and feedback I have received on my PE recordings, and the oral midterm exam, I think I have improved on speed, pitch, intonation, and overall naturalness (less stutters and pauses).

My goals for the rest of the semester are:

• To further improve on understanding others when they speak Japanese
• Speak even faster until I reach the regular speed
• Further reduce pauses and stutters to sound more natural
• Continue to learn new vocabulary/phrases with the correct pitch and intonation

Activities to achieve my goals:

• Attend office hours once a week
• Go to at least one Japanese language table every week
• Speak Japanese with my classmates outside of class too
• Watch at least one hour of anime every week
• Do about 10 minutes of shadowing every week

私のしんゆうはハントリさんです。ハントリさんは、せが高くて、かみがちゃいろくて、かおがまるいです。たいそうをするのがとても上手で、ちゅうごく語とフランス語が分かります。ハントリさんは、たいていあおいTシャツおきてくて、ジーンズをはいています。ハントリさんはせいかくがしんせつな人です。それから、ハントリさんの好きなしゅみがしゃしんをとります。

This semester I would like to further improve on:

• Understanding Japanese more easily when people speak at a regular speed
• Speak at a faster pace so that my Japanese sounds more natural
• Use the correct pitch and intonation for new vocabulary or new phrases that we learn
• Improve on my overall naturalness by reducing pauses or stutters

To achieve these goals, I plan on:

• Going to a professor's office hour at least once a month
• Watch at least one hour of anime once a week
• Go to the weekly Japanese language tables as many times as I can (I will try to go every week)
• Practice shadowing for at least 15 minutes every week (besides the regular PE exercises)
• Practice speaking Japanese with my friends who speak Japanese instead of speaking English

中休みにうちにかえりました。１月２３日から１月３１日まで、カリフォルニアのサンホゼにいました。たいてう友だちにあうので、中休みはとてもよかったです。月曜日と木曜日に友だちとあって、たいそうをしました。そして、りょうしんはメキシコ人ので、毎日メキシコのたべものをたべました。中休みはいそうがしいですが、たのしかったです。

After a semester of Japanese, I have noticed several improvements in pronunciation. My speed, pitch, intonation, and overall naturalness have gotten much better. All the vocabulary that we learned, I have also learned with the correct pitch, and if a new word/phrase is introduced, I know where to go or who to ask to learn the correct pitch and intonation. The most helpful activities were going to office hours, practicing shadowing anime at least 10 minutes every week, going to the Japanese language tables, and watching anime! As I watch anime, I have noticed that I understand some of it, even when they are speaking quickly. I am very proud of my progress ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

こんにちは！私のいちばん好きなデザートが餅アイスクリームてす。とてもおいしいです。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olTuSpJTL2g